Parenting

Finding Autism-Friendly Colleges and Universities

Parents should trust their instincts

Parents should trust their instincts

First, when considering various colleges, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Especially for those that do not have an autism support program, ask questions like how often will the school officials meet with the student, is there any long-term counseling provided, do they have any staff experienced in autism disability services, do they have caseloads disability services and what kind, and whatever else you think is pertinent. She advises to go with your gut; parents generally know what’s best for their child.

And when you take the next step and visit college campuses, try to meet the residence life and gauge the campus atmosphere. Since the social aspect to may be the biggest obstacle to overcome for the student, he or she will need every ally and friend they can get. See if the campus offers any peer-mentoring, neurodiversity clubs, counseling services, or anything else that might make the transition easier and enable the student to become more independent.