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Autism 101: Supporting Our Neurodivergent Learners: Autistic Voices

As more and more autistic students are registering for college, we need to make sure we and they are prepared for the college environment. This guide gathers together resources, information, first-hand accounts, and further reading.

Autism and the University Experience

The following is an overview of the findings in "Autism and the University Experience: Narratives from Students with Neurodevelopmental Disorders" published in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders on 9 May.
The full text is in the TCC Databases.
The findings of the study explained in the article are:
  • Prior Influences
    • ASD gets more positive support than ADHD
    • family support is key
  • Academic Expectations
    • Don't want "special treatment"
    • stressors: homework completion, timed and pop quizzes, in-class notes, course load
    • unfair comparison to neurotypicals e.g. you can be both an honors student AND need ADHD/ASD accommodations
  • Disclosure of Diagnosis
    • fear of misunderstanding
    • discloser conversations were largely positive
    • ADHD disclosure more negative than ASD
  • Self-Awareness
    • Students know that they are different and appear different
  • Co-morbid Conditions
    • Many students have more than one diagnosis such as: OCD, Bipolar, Borderline PD, anxiety, dyslexia, etc.
    • May also have trauma, seizures, amnesia, illogical thinking, suicidal ideation
  • Medication
    • Fewer ASD students use meds for management than ADHD students
    • students feel judged for taking medication
  • Peer interactions
    • It's hard to navigate the complex social environment
    • Joining on-campus clubs helps a lot
  • Living and Housing
    • additional stressor
  • Anticipation of the Future
    • concern about acceptance, sharing diagnosis

Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Students on the Spectrum

Be the Light