Welcome

I’ve had the pleasure of watching my three daughters go off to college. There were a few ups and downs along the way but they each fairly easily found their footing and navigated the experience with no lasting scars.

Most young people face some challenges in navigating the transition from high school to college: choosing a college and major; leaving the comforts of home, beloved pets, and best friends; dealing with a difficult professor, a challenging roommate, lousy dining hall food.

For high school students on the autism spectrum, the challenges are compounded and the journey can seem to be filled with unexpected stumbling blocks. Once at college, students with autism find that the supports they became accustomed to at home and school are no longer readily available and we see them quickly become overwhelmed with navigating new experiences and a complex college system.

According to the 2018 National Autism Indicators Report: Transition into Young Adulthood study, fewer than 20% of college students with autism had graduated college or were on track to graduate after five years. Students who attend but don’t earn a degree can find themselves saddled with college debt and facing an uncertain future.

Parents and guardians of college-bound students on the autism spectrum, who are often highly engaged during the college planning process, the transition to higher education, and sometimes well into the college journey, are looking for ways to give their student the best chance for college success.

This blog is intended to help college-bound students on the autism spectrum, and those who support them, to anticipate the challenges and proactively prepare for the transition to higher education. Through this blog we will walk the journey together, discussing how to plan for expected setbacks, identify appropriate supports, and deliberately step back and allow the student to take the lead.

I look forward to sharing this adventure with you!