The college experience is one that is mired in responsibility, independence, and challenges both academically and socially. As a soon-to-be high school graduate you should be ready to put those transition skills you learned through your IEP to some good use with the pursuit of a college education. In college, you are no longer guaranteed services under IDEA, but are instead provided with the supports the institution you're attending offers for individuals on the spectrum. With that said, learning as much as you can about a campus before you arrive is critical to getting the most of your college experience. Some college programs cater to students with autism better than others. However, regardless of where you lie on the spectrum, campus life is ripe with any number of clubs, sports, volunteer opportunities, and other social activities that you can take advantage of during your quickly fleeting college years. Below we will discuss some ways to increase your independence, boost your sociability, and bolster your chances for academic success during your post-secondary career.
Assistive technology is a great way to improve your college learning experience, which encompasses more than just what is taught in the classroom. To be clear, assistive technology can increase your academic prowess, as well as your sociability, and even your overall independence. While assistive technology is not provided for you free of charge as it was under IDEA, there are ways to constructively utilize technology on the all too restrictive budget of a college student. Assistive technology can be as advanced as smart tablet technology or as basic as a stopwatch that helps to remind you it is time to take a study break. It is necessary to disclose your diagnosis and you will likely have to provide documentation of your condition to utilize any assistive technology in the classroom. Using smart tablet technology, you can download apps designed specifically for individuals with autism that can help you with everyday routines, scheduling, studying, and even help you to work to increase your sociability. Explore what smart tablet technology has to offer by researching different apps that are within your budget. You should take advantage of apps which have the ability to greatly enhance your college experience by allowing for important and everyday events to become more organized, challenging problems to become simpler, and socializing to become less intimidating.
Independence
Independence may be something that you have longed for in terms of getting out from under your parents’ roof and not having to adhere to their rules, but at the same time the responsibility could be a little more than you bargained for if you do not seek out the proper supports. College may be the first time you have lived for any period of time on your own and that can be an intimidating notion. An important skill that goes a long way towards developing and increasing independence is self-advocacy. Self-advocacy skills should be taught during your transition planning and should be used to negotiate desired accommodations so that you are comfortable and productive in a given environment. Self-advocacy skills teach you disclosure, or how to properly reveal your diagnosis, so that you are able to request accommodations for the classroom. Failing to disclose your diagnosis to your professors and the proper parties could result in your missing out on helpful accommodations that can enhance your college experience inside and outside of the classroom.
A post on Wrong Planet offers the following advice regarding disclosing your diagnosis to your professor:
Quote
Be polite to your professor and make sure everything sounds like a request, not a demand
Be specific about the difficulties you experience and what the professor can do to accommodate your needs
Make the conversation short and sweet with a “hello,” “good-bye,” and plenty of thanks to show your gratitude
Only provide the relevant information about your diagnosis and your difficulties.
By advocating for yourself, you can request accommodations for testing, including longer time or taking tests in a quiet area, minimizing sensory issues, and the utilization of assistive technology. Self-advocacy or disclosure may seem nerve-racking, but, like anything else, it gets easier with practice. The consequences of not disclosing and advocating for yourself regarding the accommodations you may need can greatly affect your overall academic success.
With the freedom of independence comes the burden of responsibility. Some individuals are not prepared for the lack of restrictions that accompany college life and don’t make it pass the first semester. In college, you are responsible for your transportation to class, engaging in class, completing assignments, remembering to take any medications, balancing finances, making your own meals, and a countless amount of other obligations that may make you yearn for the safe haven of your parent’s home. However, being independent is all about making choices and you must weigh the pros and cons of your decisions before you do find yourself back at home. Take advantage of all the services available on campus, including signing up for disability services. Living in the dorm with another individual, especially a stranger, can create complex social issues that can drastically affect both your academic and social well-being. If you feel like you would be more productive living by yourself, then put in a request months before your first semester for special housing. Many individuals on the autism spectrum may have trouble with starting or completing assignments in a timely manner. Seek out help from the writing center if you have writer’s block and tutors for other areas with which you may have difficulties. There are dozens of people on campus that work solely to help students with any number of problems. Fortunately, being independent does not mean you have to do everything alone and having a peer to help you with a homework assignment or even blow off steam can go a long way towards your success in college.
Sociability
Yes, socializing can be intimidating. This is a fact that is not lost on many individuals on the autism spectrum. However, part of the “college experience” is getting out of the dorm and interacting with your peers. The great thing about college from a social standpoint is that “it’s not so high school,” which means there aren’t the same faces, bullies, cliques, and other social pressures day-in and day-out as there were in high school. College is a great time to make your own identity and find out what you want to be professionally. Take advantage of all your campus has to offer and explore new activities and clubs. Before your initial visit or orientation reach out using social media to connect with individuals who already attend the college or even a specific program which interests you. One way to do this is using the National Autism Network's Social Network where you can search for other individuals in your area. Also, seek out individuals who have the save interests as you or belong to potential clubs that you would like to join. In addition to talking with an academic advisor or downloading apps, there are a number of online resources you can take advantage of that are designed to increase your sociability. The Wrong Planet YouTube channel contains a number of videos from Autism Talk TV that discusses specific ways to engage in various social situations. For example, they have a video that provides step-by-step instructions on how to join a social circle or a video detailing how to flirt and get a date. Your sociability ties into your independence because the decisions you make on a daily basis will influence how you are perceived by others. Some societal norms include maintaining personal hygiene, respecting the space of others, adhering to the social cues of others, and understanding the finer points of the hidden curriculum. It is up to your discretion whether or not to disclose to your peers. In all situations there are pros and cons for disclosure whether it is in school, on the job, or socially. Having a healthy social life in college is important because it gives you a chance to unwind and helps build long-lasting relationships.
Academics
Academics should be at the heart of your college experience. Tackling your academic workload on the autism spectrum can be all the more difficult without the proper tools, supports, and mindset. As a general rule, it is recommended that you take your core classes needed to graduate, especially if you are unsure what you want to do for your major. If this is the case, take introductory courses for things that might be of interest. Research has shown that individuals on the autism spectrum tend to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degrees. Half the battle of getting decent grades in college is simply going to class. When you first receive your schedule, map out in advance how you are going to conduct each day between studying, going to your dorm, or other living quarters, going to class, eating meals, and relaxing. As for the classes themselves, you are going to want to conduct yourself in a professional manner, which doesn’t necessarily mean a suit and tie (unless you’re giving a big presentation), but to dress nicely and look presentable. You are going to want to find a nice balance between blankly staring at the blackboard and asking a dozen questions every class. Classroom participation is important and some professors do grade you on your input, but excessive question asking will get on the nerves of your classmates and eventually your professor. If you find yourself wanting to ask many questions, instead of wasting class time, write down your questions and email your professor later or visit them during their office hours. As for disclosure, if you are too nervous or get tired of repeating the same speech over and over again, then you can provide your professor with an accommodations letter, accompanied with the necessary documents explaining your diagnosis, and details as to why your accommodations will benefit you academically. If possible, request the presence of an advocate to help you these types of discussions with your professor. If direct communication with your professor fails to yield you with your requested accommodations, then you should ask the disability support office for support as it is their job to make sure the college is not in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504.
Conclusion
Balancing your social and academic life while being thrust into independence is challenging for all individuals not just those on the spectrum. Self-advocacy and supports like assistive technology can only help you go so far in your college and, eventually, your professional career. How successful you are in college is going to depend upon how much you put into your academics. Do not take the decision to go to college lightly. Those who might not feel they are ready for college, and even those who feel they are, should explore all post-secondary options available to those just coming out of high school. Other suggestions for a smooth college transition include not seeking employment while in school so you can focus solely on your academics, taking a reduced course load than most students so that you can more easily manage the coursework, developing a self-management plan and having an isolated place to unwind in the event of meltdowns, and not putting too much emphasis on what others are achieving, but focus solely on your educational goals.
RESOURCES
Navigating College Handbook- This links to a PDF copy of the Navigating College handbook that was written by adults with autism for college students on the spectrum.
10 Highly Rated Apps for Adolescents and Adults with Autism- A blog from the National Autism Network highlighting some highly rated apps that can be utilized to make life in college a little less hectic.
iPod, iPad, and Android Apps for College Students- The University of New Hampshire Disability Services for Students has compiled this of helpful apps for college students on the autism spectrum.
Autism Talk TV- This links users to TheWrongPlanet Youtube channel that houses a number of videos on how individuals with Asperger’s can improve your social outlook and sociability.
RateMyProfessors- This helpful resource contains a list of nearly every professor from universities all over the nation and essentially tells the user how difficult a professor’s course is based the professor’s helpfulness, clarity, and easiness. Users can even rate a professor’s looks.
College Autism Spectrum- This resource provides a program by program breakdown of universities that have programs that cater strictly to individuals with autism.
The Princeton Review: For Student with Learning Disabilities: Getting the Accommodations You Need in College (Part 1) & Part 2 – Part 1 of this article discusses the proper documentation that may be necessary for your to receive accommodations from your professors. Part 2 of this article lists a series of questions potential college students with disabilities should ask themselves before attending a university.