The Autism College Connection

Like a busy California highway, there are many routes to adulthood after high school. In addition to transition programs in public and private high schools, more and more opportunities are opening up in higher education for students with autism and similar disabilities.

Not all these college programs are the same. To pick the right program for your student, a broad array of evaluations is necessary to have precise information about cognitive abilities, educational levels, and more. Once that information is gathered, it’s time to pick the right lane. 

IDD Programs

There are a growing number of college programs aimed at students with an Intellectual AND a developmental disability (IDD). Students should have an IQ between 60 and 85. Many of these programs offer residential housing with support. Students can take special classes offered through the program that are college-lite subjects or are typical classes for an audit credit. 

These programs focus on students with intellectual disabilities, and may not offer the extra supports for autistic students. Students in these programs are easy going, highly social, intellectually disabled, and enjoy structured classroom environment. 

Some examples of these programs include The College of New Jersey’s Career and Community Studies Program and Georgian Court University’s Transition and Career Studies. Think College has a great list of IDD college programs. 

Typical College With Regular Supports

If your student has an average to above average IQ, was placed in a general education setting for all of his academic classes, and is highly independent, then a typical four-year or two-year college might be the right place. With just need a little extra help, some students with autism can succeed.

All colleges have an office for students with mild disabilities, sometimes called the Office for Specialized Services or The Office of Disability Services. It usually takes several months to get registered with these programs, so start the process long before school starts. Students must provide evidence of a disabilities, like an old IEP or school evaluations. Then they will meet with an administrator who will discuss what services they offer students. Once they finish that intake process, students will get a “Letter of Accommodations” that they send to each one of their college professors every semester.

The quality of these programs varies from school to school, but even the most basic programs give students extra time on tests and special testing rooms, which can come in handy. The Letter of Accommodations can provide the professor with the heads-up that this is a student with learning differences.

However, these programs do not offer supports specifically for the autistic student, who might need more support for social and emotional issues. If your student needs that extra level of help, then there are other options.

Typical College With Autistic Supports

Increasingly, colleges are opening up special programs for students with autism. These students can handle the academics, but have a variety of autism issues — problems with reading comprehension, executive functioning challenges, social and emotional issues, and more. They provide coaching for executive functioning challenges and regular social activities, among other services.

Typically a student will need to get admitted to the college first. They must have the right test scores, GPA, and all the usual admission requirements. Then after admission, they apply to these special programs, which usually charge another fee to provide extra help.

Examples of these programs are Ramapo’s Enhance Program and RIT’s Spectrum Support Program. A sample of programs like these are available on this website. The College Autism Network has a little of support programs within four-year colleges.

And more!

But these aren’t the only lanes for students with autism. Keep checking in here to learn more about ALL the options from community college, outside support services, work and life skill supports, and more.