These days, colleges are doing more to help out autistic students. They're making changes so that everyone can make the decision to go to college and be successful.
So, why is this happening? Colleges are starting to understand more about autism and how people think and learn differently. They are offering quiet areas for students with sensory needs, adaptive technology for learning and special programming that can help teach life skills in addition to academics.
Some colleges are also setting up special programs and support teams to make sure students with autism get what they need to do well in their classes. They have buddies and mentors who are like friendly guides, helping out whenever it's needed, or aides that meet with students weekly to keep them on track and to make sure life skills are supported.
Many of these secondary support programs have a separate fee from college tuition and varies based on the level of supports. When researching colleges, see if they have an accessibility office or program to get more information.
Here are a few additional resources we recommend that can help navigate the road to college for autistic students:
- Milestones article: Planning and Preparing for College / Top 5 Tips for Preparing for College Exams
- Milestones Post-Secondary/College Tool Kit
- College Supports for Learning Differences
- CollegeAutismSpectrum.com
- Top College Consultants
- Medina Creative Transitions
- Navigating College: A Handbook on Self-Advocacy (ASAN)