Autistic Students Off to College
November 30, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Says Larry Powell, manager of Disability Resources at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in the November 29th Reuters:
“The Asperger’s population is much bigger than we think it is…….If we could put together systems that would adequately support these students, word would get around and more students would disclose it and would come.”
Carnegie Mellon University’s department of Equal Opportunity Services helped in the initial development of Achieving inHigher Education with Autism and Developmental Disabilities (AHEADD), a program that provides mentoring and support services for college students with Asperger Syndrome, autism, ADHD, and non-verbal learning disorder. From the AHEADD website:
Unlike other private programs for students with disabilities in higher education, we support students in the college environment. We are currently serving students who attend college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and anticipate opening in Northern Virginia, Saratoga, NY and Dallas, TX in Fall 2008.
I’ve previously posted about College Living Experience, which is another “third-party program” that seeks to help students with disabilities in college by providing support in academic areas (such as tutoring for classes) and also in life skills (such as taking care of one’s own living space). I know more than a few college students who have Asperger Syndrome or who are on the autism spectrum and none of them are using such programs; as with educating younger autistic students, individual needs vary greatly and students, and their families, choose the arrangements that work best for them.
In September the Penn Autism Network held an Autism Goes to College forum, for professionals from higher education, autistic self-advocates, and advocates for autistic persons. Being a college professor myself—and having taken on many more advising and administrative duties—I am hopeful that colleges can seek to themselves find more and more ways to support students on the autism spectrum. College is a time of transition, a time of growing independence and maturity, for any student, and also a time when many students are introduced to a greater diversity of people than they had previously known. It’s been happening rather frequently that a student comes into my office and, while fully able to do his or her academic work, is baffled at the thought of obtaining transcripts for credit from other schools or of asking for help about a problem with their schedule: Too often, I’ve noted that some students simply do not address the problem until it is too late and I find myself saying, “Well, let’s look forward to next semester.”
And I remember, that we had to teach Charlie not only to ask for help, but to know that he could ask for it—and that we are always glad to give it.
It’s the asking for help part that can be a huge hurdle just in itself. I worry about my son in this regard – often he struggles to even recognise when he needs help at home, let alone in an environment where he would be having to deal with sensory overload at the same time. Hopefully by the time he gets to college age he would have developed the skills necessary to ’survive’ socially.
I feel the same way. My son is 8 and we are trying to foster some self-awareness so that he can learn to ask for help when he needs it. My instinct, as a mommy, is to jump in and help when I see him struggle with something. I have to fight my own instincts.
I’m glad to hear that some of these programs are beginning to emerge. I think a lot of kids with potential won’t be able to get through college without this support. Let’s hope more people get on board.
A recent article in the Denver Post profiles another student’s experience with College Living Experience.
The college my son will be attending has a program called “The Bridge Program” which helps students on the spectrum adjust to college life away from home. They meet a few hours a week on top of their schedules and brush up on executive and organization skills as well as discuss social issues. I feel that some institutions are beginning to recognize exactly how many AS students are college bound and want to keep them. The campus is close enough so that he can commute or stay there. I want this transition to go as smoothly as possible.
Florence, that sounds great—-so the program is something created by the college itself? Have other AS students been successful in it? Thanks so much for mentioning about it.
Here is a link for the program.
http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/wellness/content/docs/MSOT%20BRidge%20Flyer.pdf
Hope it works.
My son, who turns 20 in a week, seems to be at the forefront of the Autism epedemic. After graduation, he tried community college but received very little assistance and has tried working but was fired. He is so discouraged and depressed worrying about his future. We are looking into programs like CLE but they are so expensive. Does anyone have information on similar programs in the Chicago area or if there is any financial assistance for programs like CLE? Their website also talks about it being tax deductible…does anyone have information regarding this?
I have a son who is PDD/Asperger, but low normal on the IQ scale. He graduated from high school and can drive. He needs social skills and life skills training and desperately wants to get training or cllege courses to enable him to hold a job that is steady, provides benefits and is more than janitorial in nature. He is frustrated and depressed seeing his younger brother in college and the youngest heading there in another year. The local community college here in Delaware was very hesitant to even let him in an industrial course in car maintenance that doesnt require entrance exams. There is a program at Lesley College but it costs 2-3 times what we are paying for my other son to go to college. We cant afford that. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Another opportunity for college or vocational program bound ASD students,
Schwallie Family Scholarship Program
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is now accepting applications for the fall 2009 Schwallie Family Scholarship Competition to support qualified individuals with autism or Asperger Syndrome in the United States pursuing post-secondary education. OAR will present a total of 5 awards of $3,000 each across three categories:
1) Four-year undergraduate college or university;
2) Two-year undergraduate college, and;
3) Trade, technical or vocational school.
These will be one-time awards for any recipient.
Note to Applicants:
The Fall 2008 application deadline has passed. The application period for Fall 2009 will open January 2, 2009.
FULL INFO
Just another reminder–the deadline for application is April 24, 2009.
” The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is now accepting applications for the fall 2009 Schwallie Family Scholarship Competition to support qualified individuals with autism or Asperger Syndrome residing in the United States pursuing post-secondary education. OAR will present a total of 5 awards of $3,000 each across three categories:
1) Four-year undergraduate college or university;
2) Two-year undergraduate college, and;
3) Trade, technical or vocational school.
These will be one-time awards for any recipient.
Note to Applicants:
* The application period for Fall 2009 is now open.
Applications are due on April 24, 2009.”
More info and application