Autism and College Support Services

College Support Services Overview

Understanding the landscape of college support services is crucial for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as they navigate the transition from high school to higher education. These services play a vital role in helping autistic students succeed in a college environment.

Accessing Support Services

Accessing college support services for students with disabilities, including autism, can be a complex process. Unlike the K-12 systems which operate under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the college environment offers protection to individuals with disabilities through Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, the process for accessing these services and the extent of services available vary significantly.

This variation in access can have a significant impact on autistic students. For instance, only 24% of students with ASD notify their school of their disability, which affects their eligibility for disability-related accommodations.

Variation in Available Services

The type and level of support services available can vary greatly between colleges. Some universities excel in helping students with disabilities, including autism, achieve postsecondary success by offering exceptional support services. These services may be provided by general disabilities services offices, or through structured programs that offer specialized support for students with disabilities, sometimes for an additional fee.

The variation in services can include the number of professional staff in the disabilities office, service descriptions, and other program achievements. It's important for parents to thoroughly research and understand the support services offered by potential colleges to ensure they can meet the specific needs of their child.

By understanding the process of accessing support services and the potential variation in services available, parents can better prepare their child for the transition to college life. While the process can be complex, the benefits of these services in supporting the success of autistic students in college are invaluable.

Challenges Faced by Autistic Students

Autistic students face numerous challenges when pursuing higher education. Despite increased awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), many obstacles remain. These challenges are reflected in enrollment trends, completion rates, and the disclosure of disabilities.

Enrollment Trends

Enrollment trends indicate that students with ASD are more likely to enroll in a 2-year college (32%) than a 4-year college (17%). This trend might be attributed to a variety of factors, such as the perceived flexibility of a 2-year program or the potential for a less overwhelming transition from high school. Regardless of the reasons, it's clear that there's a significant difference in the enrollment patterns of autistic students compared to their peers.

College Type	Enrollment
2-year college	32%
4-year college	17%

Completion Rates

Academic completion rates for students with ASD remain significantly lower than that of their peers in the general population or that of students with all types of disabilities. Statistics show a completion rate of 39% for autistic students, compared to 59% for the general population, and 50% for students with various disabilities. This discrepancy reveals the unique challenges autistic students may encounter during their college journey.

Student Group	Completion Rate
Students with ASD	39%
General Population	59%
Students with All Disabilities	50%

Disclosure and Accommodations

Disclosure of ASD is another significant challenge faced by autistic students. It has been found that only 24% of students with ASD notify their school of their disability. This low disclosure rate affects their eligibility for disability-related accommodations that can support their learning [2].

Without these accommodations, students with ASD may struggle more in their academic pursuits. It's crucial for colleges and universities to create an environment where students feel comfortable disclosing their disabilities and accessing the support they need.

Disclosure	Percentage
Students with ASD	24%

These challenges underscore the importance of autism and college support services, and how critical they are in promoting successful outcomes for autistic students in higher education.

Impact on Academic Performance

Understanding the impact of autism on academic performance in higher education is crucial in identifying and implementing effective college support services. This impact can be evaluated by focusing on two key areas: interaction patterns and the utilization of support services.

Interaction Patterns

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have different interaction patterns compared to their peers. According to a study published on NCBI, students with ASD interact less frequently with faculty, academic advisors, and graduate students during their first year of college compared to students with Learning Disabilities (LD). However, they are more likely to interact with close friends and family. These patterns could influence their academic experience and performance.

Interaction With	ASD Students	LD Students
Faculty	Less Frequent	More Frequent
Academic Advisors	Less Frequent	More Frequent
Graduate Students	Less Frequent	More Frequent
Close Friends and Family	More Frequent	Less Frequent

Utilization of Support Services

The same study reveals that students with ASD reported lower utilization of support services such as health services and the writing center compared to students with LD. This could be due to several reasons including a lack of awareness about the availability of these services, difficulties with access, or challenges related to social interaction and communication.

Support Services	ASD Students	LD Students
Health Services	Lower Utilization	Higher Utilization
Writing Center	Lower Utilization	Higher Utilization

Furthermore, only 24% of students with ASD notify their school of their disability. Without disclosure, students are not eligible for disability-related accommodations, which can significantly impact their academic performance and overall college experience.

These findings underscore the importance of autism and college support services in promoting academic success among students with ASD. By understanding the unique needs and challenges of these students, higher education institutions can create more inclusive and supportive environments that enhance the academic performance and wellbeing of all students.

University Success Stories

The journey toward a college degree can be complex and challenging for students with autism. However, with the right support services in place, these students can thrive academically and socially. In this section, we'll explore some university success stories where effective support programs have made a significant difference.

Effective Support Programs

Several universities have implemented effective autism support services, contributing to the success of their students with autism. Here are a few notable programs:

Saint Joseph's University: The Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support offers the ASPIRE program. This comprehensive support service costs $6,000 per year and has contributed to an impressive 85% graduation rate for students with autism.
Wright State University: This institution offers transition coaches and support groups for students with autism. The service costs $750 per semester in the first year and $300 per semester for subsequent years [3].
University of Montana: The MOSSAIC program includes speech language therapy and other support services. Costs range from $20 per semester to $130 per session [3].
Austin Peay State University: The Full Spectrum Learning program offers seminars for students with autism and works towards boosting empathy and understanding among students and faculty. The cost for this program is $2,500, but scholarships and funding opportunities are available.
Michigan State University: The Building Opportunities for Networking and Discovery (BOND) program focuses on social and communication development. It provides various support services free of charge for students with autism [3].

Graduation Rates

The success of these programs is evident in their graduation rates. For instance, Saint Joseph's University reports a graduation rate of 85% for students with autism, demonstrating the effectiveness of their autism and college support services.

These programs show how tailored support services can help students with autism overcome academic challenges and graduate from college successfully. As more universities recognize the importance of these services, it's hoped that more students with autism will have the opportunity to flourish in higher education settings.

Hidden Challenges in Higher Education

While the journey through higher education is fraught with challenges for all students, those on the autism spectrum face unique obstacles that can significantly impact their college experience. These challenges often go unseen and unaddressed, but understanding them is crucial for providing the appropriate support services.

Sensory Overload and Anxiety

Autistic students often find the fast pace and constant deadlines of university overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Additionally, they may experience sensory overload and be distressed by the social and communication demands of a class. While some students may have learned strategies to cope and navigate through their classes, the stress may be too great for others, resulting in them leaving the university without finishing a degree [5].

Furthermore, students with autism may struggle academically due to difficulties with time management, group work, information processing speed, and executive function abilities. They often have difficulties with switching tasks, prioritizing knowledge, and monitoring progress. However, they also possess academic strengths, including proficient memory skills, focus in detail, original and creative thoughts, and adherence to rules when clear structure is provided [6].

Social and Communication Difficulties

In addition to the academic challenges, students on the autism spectrum often struggle with the social environments in universities. They may feel overwhelmed by the large number of people and face challenges with social events and peer pressure [4].

These students also reported challenges with social skills, social activities, and adapting to new routines. They reported difficulties with social interactions, loneliness, difficulties making friends, managing emotions, and self-advocacy. Furthermore, they experienced heightened social isolation, loneliness, bullying, and stigmatization compared to their peers.

Understanding these hidden challenges is crucial for colleges and universities to provide effective support services for autistic students. By providing tailored academic and social support, institutions of higher learning can ensure that students with autism have the opportunity to succeed in their college journey.

Addressing Diverse Needs

The diverse needs of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require individualized approaches to ensure their success in higher education. Such approaches should include unique support plans and strategic solutions to common challenges.

Individualized Support Plans

Each student with ASD has unique needs, and as such, colleges must work closely with these students to design individualized plans for proactive support and response to challenges. Such plans should take into account their academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as any motor skill challenges they may face.

For instance, students with ASD often possess strengths in areas such as long-term and rote memory abilities, visual and visual-spatial skills, and creative thinking. However, they might struggle with executive function challenges, poor sequential learning, attention problems, literal thinking, and perspective-taking deficits. Thus, support plans should include accommodations like review sheets, hands-on learning opportunities, and peer mentors to support their unique learning style.

Challenges and Solutions

Understanding the challenges faced by students with ASD is crucial to developing effective solutions. These students often experience sensory overload and distress from social and communication demands. The stress from these experiences can be so great that some may leave university without completing their degree [5].

In addition, many students with ASD face uneven motor skills, both fine and gross. Fine motor challenges may affect writing, drawing, using utensils, and manipulating small objects, while gross motor challenges may affect walking, running, sitting, and balancing. Accommodations such as providing a computer for in-class work, a note-taker, or permitting assignments to be done at a slower pace can support students with motor skills difficulties.

Moreover, academic challenges reported by autistic university students include difficulties with time management, group work, information processing speed, and executive function abilities. They often struggle with task switching, prioritizing knowledge, and progress monitoring. Despite these challenges, they also report academic strengths like proficient memory skills, attention to detail, original and creative thoughts, and adherence to rules when clear structure is provided [6].

Therefore, in addressing these diverse needs, higher education institutions should not only focus on autism and college support services but also highlight the unique strengths of students with ASD. By doing so, they can foster an environment that encourages academic success and personal development for all students.