The Autism College Connection

Americans do not always agree about the purpose of higher education. Some believe that colleges should be places for building knowledge. Students should read, and even struggle through, thick books written by the smartest people in history. The end goal of college, they believe, isn’t about producing anything tangible or profitable, but about sharing Plato, deTocqueville, and Shakespeare with a new generation of learners. 

Because college is a highly expensive proposition, others believe that the primary purpose of college is to provide skills that will increase the employment propositions for its graduates. Even if college doesn’t provide a concrete skill in accounting or architecture, the degree should open some doors to middle class employment after graduation. 

The disability movement has added a new purpose to the college mission. Disability advocates believe that college should be a place that reflects the diversity of the larger world, which includes people with disabilities. A college campus, and even the advanced academic classes, should be a home for everyone regardless of intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

I believe that colleges can manage all three missions — excellence, employment, and equity. But let’s focus on employment for this quick newsletter.

Currently, 85 percent of all people with autism — even those that graduate from college — are unemployed. This number is far higher than those with other disabilities. I frequently drop that statistic, because I think parents should make decisions with maximum information about reality. 

Parents might send their autistic student to college for lots of reasons that have nothing to do with employment. They might want their child to experience independence on a college campus. Or maybe a college is the best place for them to pursue their intellectual passions. All great reasons to go to college. 

But if employment is the main purpose of college, then choosing the right major is  essential. Research shows that some majors have a higher ROI than others. Internships are also important for all students, but they are especially useful for people with autism to gain experience with practical social skills in an office. If your kids can be nudged into a STEM field or a STEM-adjacent major, then nudge them. 

Parents might want to investigate the many vocational options at the local community college. Certificates degrees in professions like cyber security or hospitality can provide a student with a concrete job path. Certificates also enable students to bypass some of the academic requirements in Associate Degree programs. 

Parents should also contact their state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Office to get work experience at any point during their child’s education — in high school, during college, and after college. (Here’s the entire state list.) In New Jersey, this department is the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS). 

Although the barriers to employment are high for our kids with autism, we can get them on the right path with strategic decisions and partnerships with state agencies.