By Kathryn North, LPA | Licensed Psychological Associate
When your child was first diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the last thing on your mind was planning for their college education. Like most parents, you were consumed with understanding the diagnosis, getting through each day, and adjusting to your family’s new reality. That new reality could now include post-secondary education for your child with ASD. As the rate of ASD diagnoses has exploded, so have effective treatments and interventions as well as appropriate programs and educational accommodations that are enabling individuals with an ASD to realize their college dreams.
Several colleges and universities have specific programs and supports for students with ASDs. While these programs are specifically designed for those with an ASD, almost every college or university has a disability services office or program. These services are designed to help all students with disabilities obtain reasonable accommodations in order to have equal access to programs and services. Accommodations can be provided only if the accommodations do not change the nature, outcome, or requirements of the class or program.
Accommodation plans are not the same thing as the Individual Education Plan (IEP) your child may have had in high school. Qualifying for these plans is not automatic, even if your child has always had an IEP. Specific test scores and documentation is typically required and specific information regarding this procedure should be obtained from each institution your child is considering well in advance of the possible attendance dates. The responsibility for pursuing these accommodations will fall primarily with the student and family.
Preparing your child with an ASD disorder for college begins early in a child’s schooling. Not only will your child be required to meet the same standards for admission as any other incoming student, but most likely they will be facing academic work harder than they have experienced to date, and they will be required to exert a level of independence that they may find especially challenging. Besides making sure that your child is academically prepared, you can do things at each level of their schooling to assist them in preparing for college.
- Choose educational programs and settings that best meet the current needs of your child, even if that includes self-contained and/or resource settings. More restrictive settings don’t indicate a poor prognosis. Your child may benefit more fully at this stage by being with a specially trained teacher that can understand their specific needs as student with an ASD.
- Don’t be afraid to let them try new things and fail.
- Tell your child that they have a disability. Make it a gradual process with more information given as they get older and can comprehend more information. Most children know they are “different” and sometimes it is a relief to know there is a reason.
- Don’t panic! You need to prepare for the transition as well. Communicating with multiple teachers will be challenging. Meeting with as many teachers as possible before the school year starts will be crucial.
- Begin to prepare for middle school around 4th grade by specifically including goals about independence, social, and organizational skills required for middle school students.
- Help your child to understand safe and dangerous situations and what information they must always communicate to teachers and parents.
- Connect with your child’s guidance counselor early in their high school career to identify an advocate that may be available to your child at school. Work with the counselor to ensure that your child is meeting the course requirements for college admittance.
- Make sure your child has a complete psycho-educational battery of testing before graduating.
- Work with school personnel to develop a transition plan (required for each special needs student of high school age) that addresses basic life skills, community skills and experiences, and self-advocacy skills.
Having a child with an ASD does not equal the end of college dreams. Your child is different, but don’t be afraid to hope for more. College will not only be a big transition for your child, but for you as well. Your job will change. Letting your child go and letting your child experience success and failure will be one of the hardest things you ever do.