Welcome to our College Prep Series, where we will be exploring the process of seeking out college programs that support the needs of Autistic students. 

In Part 1, we will be discussing some common needs that Autistic students might consider when exploring college options.

One unfortunate reality that many Autistic students face in the transition from high school to college is that college environments are not universally well-equipped to meet Autistic needs, and even colleges that are equipped do not always make it obvious that those programs exist or where to find them! 

But as we point out in our College Living Toolkit, college is still an essential component of many career paths, and luckily more and more colleges and universities are recognizing the importance of a support system that creates an environment that is friendly and accessible to Autistic people.

But where does that leave us as individuals? How do we know what program is right for us? While some people might feel comfortable diving into the available options right away, one helpful starting point when we are not sure where to begin is to start with some of the common needs that Autistic students have when navigating a college living environment and see which ones most resonate with you or the person you are supporting. 

As you read, you may find you have some needs as an individual that are not covered by the common needs listed in this post. There is a good chance that will be true for most people! Feel free to add any of your needs that are not covered here to your list, as the most important thing is finding a program that fits what you want to do!

The lowest bar that any college program can meet is making it easy to access the types of basic accommodations that an Autistic student might need to complete their day to day tasks. 

This includes making it easy to navigate situations where professors are not being cooperative (or preventing those situations from happening in the first place!), having an obvious location for Autistic people to go when they need support or guidance, and functional mental health services for those who need or want it. 

As you read this you may be thinking: “Wait, aren’t I legally entitled to reasonable accommodations under the law?” And you would be correct! But while all colleges must comply with certain reasonable accommodations when pushed, that doesn’t mean they all make it easy. 

If you suspect you might be fighting to receive basic accommodations at a given school, that’s a good sign that the school in question might not be right for you!

One reality every student entering college must face is not only the increased workload, but the expectations around how we manage our workload. 

While many colleges will offer some coursework to help with managing this transition, it is also true that the rule by and large for college is that they count on you to manage the incoming workload and executive functioning challenges and will not necessarily reach out to offer help. 

If you are worried about how the change in structure and workload from high school will impact your executive functioning, it may be helpful to seek out programs that are more actively conscious about supporting students through that transitional period and working on making sure they build up the skills they need.

Sometimes our needs don’t fit so easily into a box, and while a big program might offer us some of the help we need, it’s just not the same as working with someone one-on-one or at bare minimum feeling able to have a discussion about the way your needs might require different types of support. Offering some form of individualized services can help meet students where they are and pave their way forward.

College is no small investment. When we go to college, it is because we have long-term goals that we want to meet. Going to college, especially when facing a myriad of challenges and potential obstacles, is a significant act of self-investment and belief! 

Which makes it all the more frustrating when colleges don’t take their openly Autistic students seriously, or try to define Autistic students by what they feel those students can do rather than what those students want to do. 

While some people are incredibly resilient and can persist through such an environment, others may feel they need the support of a college environment that is on the same page as them.

College is not just a place of learning, it is a community with lots of different interests and affinity groups, people, and opportunities. One unfortunate reality that many Autistic students face when entering college is feeling like they must choose between being their authentic self and having access to that community. 

While it is always up to each individual how much and under what circumstances they would choose to mask, it is understandable that for many prospective Autistic students the choice between perpetual masking or losing a sense of belonging can be an unfair and upsetting dilemma. 

If you are concerned about whether you will feel compelled to mask in a college setting, seeking out programs with established Autistic communities can be a big difference maker.

There is far more to college than just our basic needs, but at the same time when our basic needs are not being met all of the things that make college a valuable experience can seem so far out of reach. 

We hope this post has offered a basic framework for some considerations that might be worth exploring when looking at all the school options that are out there. 

If you’d like to share your own experiences seeking out college programs or want to see us cover this topic more in-depth then we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com and stay tuned for Part 2 where will be discussing some of the types of college programs that are available.