During his first experience with college, Alex Birdsong faced some challenges he wasn’t sure how to handle. He also didn’t know that he had autism spectrum disorder.
In his early twenties, Birdsong was diagnosed with ASD, a developmental disability also known as autism that can cause communication, social and behavioral challenges. Then, he heard about Marshall University, where he is currently a senior.
Through Marshall’s program for students with autism, which was established in 2002, he has found mentors who understand his point of view.
Autism diagnoses have more than doubled in the past two decades, according to federal data. Twenty years ago, it was rare for colleges to know how to work with these students or to even know of the disorder, says Jane Thierfeld Brown, an autism expert and an assistant clinical professor at Yale Child Study, part of Yale Medical School.
But that’s not the case today, says Brown, who is also the director of College Autism Spectrum, which offers resources for families, schools and professionals.
Since students with autism have different needs, families should research and visit colleges to find an autism-friendly and supportive institution. But parents should remember that teens need to lead the decision-making process, experts say.
[Learn how to make a college short list.]
Federal law mandates that almost all colleges provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, says Brown. These may include extended test time or a note taker, adds Amy Edwards, director of the Drexel Autism Support Program at Drexel University in Philadelphia. But students will need to communicate with college officials that they have ASD and follow established procedures to receive accommodations.
To find the right school, families should consider the type of support that is helpful for their high schooler and look for colleges that can provide these services, Edwards says.
About 60 college autism support programs are available in the U.S. and offer support well beyond federal mandates, says Brown, and they may provide students help with socializing, tutoring and adjusting to campus life.
But they do usually have an associated fee. Brown says the average is about $3,000 a semester, although she notes that families may be able to receive financial assistance through scholarships or through their state’s vocational rehabilitation services office.
[Find college scholarships for students with autism.]
Most parents have a good sense of the type of school that would be the right fit for their child, says David J. Sales, whose son Rowan is a junior at Marshall University. He tells parents to trust their instincts, consider prior experiences, visit campuses with their student and meet with the officials who will provide support services.
He found through researching colleges that the commitment and level of service provided to students with autism varies greatly.
Families considering schools without autism support programs should ask officials what kinds of caseloads disability services has, how often school officials see students, what kind of autism experience disability services staff have and whether long-term counseling is available, among other questions, Brown says.
They should also anticipate that their student may need time to get used to college-level academics before fully embracing college and campus life, Brown says. She notes that some students may want to start at a local university or community college.
Birdsong started at Marshall University in the summer. Rebecca Hansen, the school’s autism program coordinator, says the campus is quieter in the summer, making it a good time for students with ASD to transition to college life.
Now 24, Birdsong is working on a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and recreation management and aspires to become a park ranger. The Tennessee native says he’s found a second home at Marshall, where he is thriving.
Hansen says visiting a school and getting a feel for the physical campus is critical for students’ transition. During the visit, she recommends families see how much students, faculty and staff know about autism, because their students will need allies on campus.
[Ask these questions on a college visit.]
But an autism-friendly school shouldn’t be the only consideration, say Armon Owlia, a sophomore at Drexel who has Asperger’s syndrome, a milder form of autism. Size and location were other important factors to him.
Further, Hansen advises families to meet with residence life during a campus visit, since students will spend a lot of time outside class. “I think the primary difference between a traditional college student and someone with autism is going to be in social communication and how they manage free time,” says Hansen.
Owlia says academically he’s doing pretty well at Drexel, but he’s still working on his social skills. He’s found peer mentoring and a neurodiversity club helpful.
Brown reminds families that there isn’t one ideal school for students with autism. She says families can work with their teen’s high school counselor to explore their undergraduate options. If families opt to use private college consultants, Brown advises that they consider cost, whether the individual has a background in higher education and an understanding of disability services.
The goal is to help students become independent, Edwards says. And Owlia encourages parents to let their students take the lead with the college process.
“I’ve had to go through a lot of experiences to get where I am and I still made it,” he says.
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Families: Learn How to Find Autism-Friendly Colleges originally appeared on usnews.com
