Going
to College:
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Tips
for People with Autism & Asperger's
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Going
off to college can be an unnerving experience for people with autism and
Asperger's. Usually the high level of help that parents and teachers provide
during middle and high school just drops off, and the person can find the
transition difficult at best. In this column, I'll share some tips I learned
from my college experience.
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Teasing
When
I was in high school, being teased was torture. Teenagers were hyper-social
beings I did not understand. I think that some autistic or Asperger's students
who are capable of doing college level work need to be removed from the
difficult high school scene. Let them take a course at a community college or
university; Parents often ask about age restrictions at the college; I learned
a long time ago it is better not to ask. Just sign up the student.
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Tutors
and Mentors
I
had a great science teacher when I was in high school. When the teasing became
unbearable, I did science projects in Mr. Carlock's lab. He was often there to
help me when I enrolled in college. Having the same mentor in both high school
and college was a tremendous help. I have talked to many students who failed
several classes and dropped out of school because they did not seek help or
tutoring when they started having trouble with a subject. Seek help at the
first sign of trouble. When I had difficulty with math and French class, I
found people to tutor me. It made the difference between me failing and succeeding.
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Uneven Skills
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Many
people on the autism continuum have uneven skills. They do well in some
subjects and poorly in others. Tutoring may be needed in some subjects. It also
may be a good idea to take a lighter course load.
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Living at College
My
first room assignment in college was with two other roommates. This was a
disaster. I could not sleep and I had no peace and quiet. I was then moved to a
room with one roommate. This was a much better arrangement. Several of the roommates
and I became good friends. ?A person with
autism or Asperger's needs a quiet place to live. I recommend visiting the
campus before enrolling to make the transition easier.
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Campus Clubs
I
was active in several campus organizations where I was able to use my skills
and talents. People appreciate talent, and being good at something helps
compensate for being weird. When the college put on a musical variety show, I
made many of the sets. I also made signs and posters for the ski club and the
social committee.
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Tips on Classes
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I
always sat in the front row so I could hear better. It is sometimes difficult
for me to hear hard consonant sounds. After class, I always recopied all my
notes to help me learn the material. Fluorescent lights did not bother me, but
many people with autism or Asperger's cannot tolerate them. The room will
appear to flash on and off like a disco, which makes learning during a lecture
difficult. Some students have found that placing a lamp next to their chair with
an old-fashioned incandescent bulb will help reduce the flicker effect. Wearing
a baseball cap with a long visor helps make the fluorescent ceiling lights more
tolerable. Audio-record the lecture so it can be listened to later a room
without distractions.
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Smaller
colleges and college classes may be a better choice for some students with ASD.
I went to a small college that had small classes. That was a real benefit, as
it gave me better access to my instructors and removed me intense sensory
problems of a large classroom with hundreds of people. For some students,
taking the first two years of classes at a community college may help prevent them
from being overwhelmed by college experiences and either dropping out or
flunking out.
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8ehcwior in Class
There
are certain "expected" behaviors of students while they are in a classroom
setting. Often these "unwritten rules" are not taught to a student
before college. Two big classroom behavior no-no's are monopolizing the
teachers' time and disrupting the class. For instance, I had rule that I could
ask a maximum of two questions per class period. I know of many spectrum
students who will monopolize a teacher's time with an endless stream of
questions, or who will interrupt others who are speaking in class to challenge
what they are saying. These are both inappropriate behaviors. Others include
making excessive noise while others are trying to concentrate (like during an
exam), talking on a cellphone during class, listening to music on an iPod
during class, etc. Spectrum students who are not aware of these hidden rules
can ask the instructor or a fellow classmate for some help. Don't assume you
know these rules innately.
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Grooming Skills
You
have to learn to not be a slob. Ideally, good hygiene skills should be learned
before you go to college. Many grooming activities such as shaving cause
sensory discomfort. The person should try different shavers until they find one
they can tolerate. It is often more comfortable to use unscented, hypoallergenic
deodorant and cosmetics.
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Choice of College Major
One
problem I have observed is that a person with autism gets through college and
then is unable to get a job. It is important to major in a field that will make
the person employable. Some good majors are industrial design (that's my
field), architecture, graphic art, computer science, statistics, accounting,
library science, and special education. For people going to a community
college, take courses such as architectural drafing, computer programming, or
commercial art. Get really good at your skill. People respect talent.
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Transition from College to Work
Individuals
with ASD should start working part-time in their chosen field before they leave
college. A slow transition from college to employment will be easier. While still
in college do career relevant work each summer, even if it has to be on a
volunteer basis. During my college years I worked on my aunt's ranch, in a
research lab, and at a summer program for children with autism. I am seeing too
many talented people graduating from college who have never held a job of any
kind. It was this lack of job experience that made it difficult for them to
find employment after college. They had no experience being in a work
environment, having to do tasks that other people assign, working alongside
other people and the social requirement of doing so, or organizing their time
and their workload, etc.
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Temple
Grandin "The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's"
(2011)
