College & Autism: Insight and Resources for Students with ASD

Difficulty reading social situations

Individuals with ASD can have difficulty reading verbal and nonverbal cues and facial expressions in social interactions. They may also be unsure about how to engage friends or strangers, causing them to feel overwhelmed by the new social challenges in college settings. Students with ASD may need the help of a professional, such as an occupational, speech, or behavioral therapist, to practice communication and social skills such as timing, attention, and navigating group conversations.

Changes to routine

Many individuals with ASD prefer predictable routines. College-level learners with ASD may experience disruptions in their routines, especially with less predictable day-to-day schedules, variable classroom settings, and new social situations. Changes in routine for ASD learners can lead to anxiety and depression.

Self-regulation of emotions

Students with ASD may have trouble adapting their behaviors to stressful or challenging situations, finding themselves overreacting or experiencing long-lasting negative emotions. According to the Applied Behavior Center for Autism, students with ASD may also be prone to emotional outbursts, have short tempers, or be less likely to consider the consequences of their responses to stressful scenarios.

Executive function issues

Planning ahead, setting goals, scheduling activities, and staying organized fall under the category of executive functions. For many learners with ASD, these goal-oriented, priority-setting traits can be daunting. Other issues related to executive function include remembering details, multitasking, and time management. Even with assistance from on-campus resources and accommodations services, managing complex schedules can be quite difficult.

Distractions in education settings

Learners with ASD can also have difficulty paying attention in class for long periods of time, especially if they find the topic uninteresting. The challenge becomes even more difficult in large classes or in classes with a distracting physical environment such as large windows, multiple entrances and exits, or flickering lights.

Types of Colleges

Let’s take a closer look at the types of programs that may fit ASD learners the best, from four-year universities and community colleges to trade schools, cooperative education, and online learning.

Four-year universities

Four-year schools often have the staff and resources to offer excellent support for ASD students. Some schools may even offer supportive services beyond those required by federal law. When looking into services at larger schools, however, it’s important to find out how much one-on-one advising or personalized attention ASD learners receive.

Community college

Community colleges offer affordable certificates and two-year programs that ease ASD learners into college life. In many cases, students can find community college options that are close to home, allowing for a more comfortable experience overall. Community colleges may not have the same extensive resources as four-year institutions, though, so it’s best to find out what support services are available for ASD students and if faculty is certified in teaching students with autism.

Trade, technical, and vocational schools

Vocational schools help ASD students learn practical skills and trades from trained professionals. While developing these career-oriented skills, students also work on their communication and social skills. Trade, technical, and vocational schools are often excellent, affordable choices for ASD learners who want to train in a specific area and enter the workforce sooner rather than later.

Cooperative education

Cooperative education programs offer learners hands-on, practical work experience to complement their classroom studies. These programs are increasingly popular and help students with the school-to-work transition. In many cases, cooperative education is more intensive and demanding than a traditional internship. Typically students are paid for this work.

Online college

Many colleges and universities offer degrees online. With their increasing popularity and use of the latest learning technologies, online degrees offer many of the same educational experiences as traditional in-classroom learning. They can be a good choice for ASD students who are more comfortable learning from home. Remote programs usually offer great scheduling flexibility and are good for students who manage a complex life or work schedule outside of school.

College Models for Students with Autism

As you research your options, you’ll discover that there are three main learning models for accessible degrees in the U.S.: hybrid, separate, and inclusive individual support. These models serve to get students with disabilities in the flow of college life while catering to their unique learning needs.

Hybrid

In hybrid learning models, ASD learners take some courses with students with disabilities. These are sometimes referred to as “transition” or “life skills” classes. The remainder of their coursework is academically focused and takes place in standard classrooms with neurotypical peers. While life skills classes help students develop valuable tools for college and work life, ASD learners in traditional classrooms may not receive the necessary attention or specialized instruction to help them thrive.

Separate

In separate models, ASD learners take classes alongside other students with disabilities. Students can benefit greatly from a specially tailored curricula and smaller class sizes. These programs typically incorporate both academic and life skills classes. One downside of this model is that some learners may struggle with their classmates’ attitudes or behaviors, making this a difficult environment for sensitive or easily distracted students.

Inclusive individual support

Individual support models provide learners with individualized services to help them tackle college life and coursework. This support comes from off-campus resources and third-party organizations and relies on the student’s active participation, vision, and decision-making (along with help from their parents or guardians). While these support services can be highly beneficial for many college students, some learners may not be ready to make decisions, define their career goals, or participate in a directed path of study.

What to Look for in a College

While looking into colleges, you can identify a handful of services and characteristics that might better serve you or your child as an ASD learner. From garnering institutional support through accommodations and disability services to finding programs that offer more individualized attention, there are options out there to meet your needs.

Disability services

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972, academic institutions must provide accommodations for their enrolled students whether they’re taking classes online or in person.

Many schools also have a dedicated disability services office to provide targeted support for learners with documented disabilities, including ASD. Contact your student support services office or disability services office directly to submit a formal request for accommodations.

Smaller class sizes

Whether you’re looking into smaller schools in general or programs for learners with disabilities that feature smaller class sizes, fewer students in a classroom could mean more individualized attention. Moreover, smaller classes usually mean that you’ll experience fewer distractions from other students and be able to focus more on your schoolwork.

Interest-based clubs

Social engagement through clubs is a great way for any college student to make connections. While some ASD learners may benefit greatly from meeting with their peers in person, others may benefit from meeting virtually. ASD students who are less comfortable with entirely in-person meetings may want to seek out clubs with a hybrid format.

Support networks

All students—neurotypical and learners with disabilities—need support networks. Whether you choose a school near home so you can be closer to family and friends or you pick a college with a supportive community for learners with disabilities, support networks are invaluable for navigating college life.

Student demographics

If you’re a learner with ASD, find out if your prospective school has experience supporting students with autism. Ask if recently or currently enrolled students are on the autism spectrum; if so, there’s a good chance that professionals at the school have the experience and resources to provide the support you need for success. Moreover, if there’s already a population of students with autism at the school, this could serve as a great starting point for making contacts and building a support network.

Getting to Know Disability Accommodations

In educational settings, all students have the same rights. Public and private schools that aren’t affiliated with religious organizations must follow the laws put in place by the ADA. Any school that receives $2,500 or more in federal funding per year must also follow ADA laws. To sum it all up, as a learner with ASD, the ADA prevents schools from denying you admission, excluding you from classes or activities, and persuading you to pursue a particular career or major because of your documented disability.

If you feel that your rights are not being met, contact your academic advisor and your school’s disability services office. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice.

Attending College Away from HomeFair Housing Rights

Moving away from home can be a challenging and stressful life change for any student. For learners with ASD, moving to a new location can cause a serious disruption in their routines and familiar surroundings. In the beginning, attending a new school can also negate your usual avenues support. Educational consultant Janet Ferone suggests that students take advantage of telehealth counseling in addition to any on-campus resources to help ease the transition.

There are other steps you can take to feel more comfortable away from home. Ferone stresses the benefits of ASD learners immediately setting a predictable and detailed schedule to help reestablish a sense of normalcy. Secondly, Ferone suggests making multiple visits to campus after you receive your acceptance letter and before classes start to get more familiar with your new surroundings.