Thriving with Autism/Asperger’s
in the College Setting
Lorrie Ness, Ph.D.
Part I
What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
Other Characteristics of AS
•
Difficulties reading body language
•
Facial emotional expression
•
Understanding the impact of behavior
or language on others
•
Speech peculiarities
•
Literal interpretation
•
Problems with facial recognition
Other Characteristics of AS
•
Fine motor challenges
•
Sensory hypersensitivity
•
Focus on details
•
Trouble with social interactions
•
Difficulty adjusting to change
•
Problems with attention
•
Becomes lost easily
Other Characteristics of AS
Planning
Initiating
Organizing
Executive
Functions
Working
Memory
Inhibition
SelfMonitoring
Many individuals with
Asperger Syndrome will
face challenges with
executive functions.
Without support, this can
negatively impact grades
resulting in academic
performance that is below
their actual ability level.
Other Asperger’s Strengths
• Strong visual reasoning skills
• Intense focus on areas of interest
•
Strong vocabulary skills
•
Average or above intellectual ability
•
Excellent memory for factual information
•
Adherence to the rules
•
The ability to excel in a domain of special
interest
•
Attention to detail
•
Less susceptible to social demands
Part II
The college experience with Asperger’s
What Makes College Different?
•
College is a time to pursue higher education AND independent living skills
Possible New Challenges
Laundry
Keeping a Sleep Schedule
Cooking
Developing a Daily Schedule
Finding Your Way on Campus
Shopping & Money Management
Keeping a Tidy Dorm or Suite
Cleaning the Bathroom
What Makes College Different?
• Self-Advocacy
New Challenges
Less Parental Involvement
No IEPs
Students must identify their
needs and request
accommodations
This can be especially challenging for students who attended high schools with
very specialized programs for autism spectrum disorders.
How is College Different?
• New Interpersonal Challenges
Speaking to professors
Decoding the “hidden” rules
Group assignments
Larger student body & class sizes
Negotiating with others
Making friends
Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend
How is College Different?
• Moving Out
Possible New Challenges
Cleaning shared space
Personal hygiene
Negotiating with roommate(s)
Sensory issues in the dorm
Single vs shared rooms
How is College Different?
Increased need to work independently
Breaking the assignments into small steps
Making deadlines for each step
Time management
Prioritization
Seeking out tutoring
Asking instructors for help
How is College Different?
• More Frequent Changes in Routine
Changes in routine can bring about anxiety.
However, changes are also opportunities for
growth and for learning new coping skills
Roommates
Dorm assignment
Roommates moving around belongings
Class schedules
Transportation schedules
Class format
How is College Different?
• Reduced contact with friends and family
Less parental intervention
Less contact with old friends/family
More pressure to make new friends
Fewer people you know to introduce
you to new people or places
Strategies for College Success
•
Contact the Disability Resource Center
Strategies for College Success
•
Contact the Disability Resource Center
• Summer semester or summer orientation to
ease the transition campus/dorm life
Strategies for College Success
•
Contact the Disability Resource Center
• Summer semester or summer orientation to
ease the transition campus/dorm life
• Arrange for medical/psychiatric care in
advance to prevent lapses in medication
Strategies for College Success
•
Contact the Disability Resource Center
• Summer semester or summer orientation to
ease the transition campus/dorm life
• Arrange for medical/psychiatric care in
advance to prevent lapses in medication
• Plan routes to class in advance with a guide
Strategies for College Success
•
Contact the Disability Resource Center
• Summer semester or summer orientation to
ease the transition campus/dorm life
• Arrange for medical/psychiatric care in
advance to prevent lapses in medication
• Plan routes to class in advance with a guide
• Plan ahead for appropriate bus routes/parking
Strategies for College Success
•
Join a support or social group for students with Asperger Syndrome
•
Consider participating in a social skills group for college students with AS.
This can provide concrete instruction for managing the new social
experiences one encounters in college
• Inquire if your college has a mentoring program
• Seek mental health services for any symptoms
of anxiety, depression, etc. that may arise
Strategies for College Success
•
Sensory sensitivity can impact life in the classroom and the dorms.
Consider the following environmental management techniques:
1. Reserve a study carrel at the library to reduce
unpleasant noises
2. Consider sleeping with a mask or earplugs to
reduce light/noise
3. Seek permission to use earplugs or noise
cancelling headphones during exams
4. Seek out a roommate with similar environmental
preferences if possible
Strategies for College Success
•
Sensory sensitivity can impact life in the classroom and the dorms.
Consider the following environmental management techniques:
1. Negotiate with your roommate regarding use of
fragrances.
2. Ask permission to wear a mask during labs to
reduce smells.
3. Inquire about taking exams in a quiet room
free of distracting lights/smells/sounds.
4. Plan ahead to carry snacks of a particular
texture.
Strategies for College Success
•
Some individuals prefer to feel a higher level of sensory feedback or find a
higher degree of sensory feedback to be calming
Seek permission to use a sensory toy in class.
Sit with backpack or books on lap to provide
heavy pressure. Formal accommodations
may be necessary for tests/exams.
Wear tight clothing (i.e., bike shorts) under
street clothes for added pressure.
Experiment with various felt pens to increase
friction with the page.
Strategies for College Success
•
Sensory issues, dysgraphia, difficulties with attention and slow processing
speed can also make note taking a challenge.
Consider accommodations for a
note-taker
Audio tape lectures
Use a smart pen
Accommodations to type notes on a
laptop
Accommodations to provide you with
print-outs of slides in class
Strategies for College Success
•
Difficulties with attention, anxiety, OCD, Tourette’s make it necessary to be
provided with extended time on exams.
•
Consider working with a tutor skilled
in fostering the development of
stronger executive functions
-planning
-organizing
-initiating tasks independently
Strategies for College Success
Accommodations for reading and writing
Pursue tutoring if difficulties with
organization impact essays or writing
Sometimes over-focus on the details can
impact comprehension of the broader
message when reading. Guidance about
assembling the details into the whole
could be helpful.
Strategies for College Success
INDEPENDENCE!!!
Some accommodations may be necessary for the duration of college and
beyond (i.e., typing rather than handwriting).
HOWEVER
Other accommodations should be phased out as you master these skills.
Remember that just because something makes you feel a little bit out of
your comfort zone doesn’t mean you can’t do it!