Guide for Students with Autism

Overview of Autism in College

Students with disabilities face unique learning challenges that require specialized teachers and counselors. For this reason, it's crucial to search for the best colleges with programs for autistic students. These online schools for autism offer resources, support services, and accommodations for neurodivergent students. 

Types of Autism

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior, learning, and communication. Today, ASD is diagnosed based on the spectrum as a whole rather than with individual disorders. Doctors and mental health professionals have moved away from using separate terms (such as autistic disorder and Asperger's syndrome) due to the wide range of conditions and treatment plans required for each individual. Similarly, colleges now offer ASD programs for a broad range of disabilities, with counselors assigned to each student to support their specific needs. 

Although treatment plans vary from person to person, many common traits are observed in autistic individuals. Most people with ASD exhibit two main types of symptoms: repetitive behavioral patterns and a lack of communication, social, and interactive skills. Doctors examine children at a young age, sometimes as early as 18 months old, to monitor and track these symptoms before offering a diagnosis. Because each autistic student is unique and requires individual attention and support, it's important to find the best colleges for autistic students. 

What Are the Best Colleges for Autistic Students?

Finding the right college is difficult, but it's even more challenging to find colleges for disabled students. 

To help readers better understand their options, OnlineU reached out to Rachel Coleman, a Standford graduate and an experienced education consultant who assists learning-disabled students in finding the college of their dreams.

She says one of the most meaningful steps is ensuring appropriate college accommodations for autism. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, secondary schools must provide free public education to students with disabilities. In college, however, schools are only required to provide auxiliary aids and services and any academic adjustments needed to accommodate disabled students. 

Here are some of the most common accommodations Coleman has helped autistic students request from their colleges:

• Presentation accommodations, such as listening to audio recordings instead of reading text.

• Response accommodations so students can give responses in either oral or written form (whichever is easier for them) or dictate answers to a scribe.

• Setting accommodations to take tests in different settings, such as a quiet room with few distractions. This is important for online colleges that require proctored exams. 

• Timing accommodations that allow students to take more time to complete a task or take frequent breaks.

• Scheduling accommodations that allow more time to complete a project or take test sections in a different order.

• Assignment modifications so students can receive models or step-by-step instructions to understand tasks better.

Keep in mind that only some colleges will be able to accommodate each and every request. However, working with counselors and faculty is vital to develop accommodations for college students with Asperger's and other disabilities that now fall under ASD. Coleman recommends students get an up-to-date note from their doctor outlining their disabilities. "That way," she says, "when the student enters college, (they) could meet the college's requirements to have the 504 plan transferred over."

Online colleges may offer some unexpected benefits to certain students with autism. Students whp struggle with hypersensitivity may find they study better from the comfort of their own home, rather than in a crowded classroom under bright lights. Some ASD students also struggle with in-person social interactions, an issue that may feel more manageable during occasional live video sessions. Although, most online classes are delivered asynchronously, allowing disabled students more freedom to complete their studies at their own pace.

Do Some Colleges Have Programs for Autistic Students?

Many undergraduate schools have support programs specifically designed for autism and college autistic students. They specialize in integrating ASD students into post-secondary learning environments and providing them with the skills development needed to find success. Examples include the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center from the University of Arizona and Eastern Illinois University’s Students with Autism Transitional Education Program (STEP).

There are some colleges for students with autism that are designed from the ground up to benefit their specific needs. They offer accredited online coursework to meet associate and bachelor's degree requirements. 

Resources for Autistic Students

There are many resources for students on the autism spectrum both inside and outside of the classroom. The first and most common place to seek assistance is through the college's disability services office. This dedicated space is staffed with counselors who have experience assisting ASD students with their accommodation requests. Disability services offices are also where students register their disability by filling out a request form. As mentioned, there's an autism accommodations college for all types of students on the spectrum, regardless of their individual needs and challenges. 

Resources can also greatly benefit online learning for students with autism. They may come in the form of advice, counseling, or online places to connect with other ASD students. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) provides a list of helpful autism resources, including support centers that assist autistic adults in finding employment after college. 

Bottom Line

There's no doubt that autistic students face more significant challenges than nondisabled students. Fortunately, there are schools that offer programs specifically meant for students with learning differences. These programs can come in the form of associate degrees or support programs with pathways to college credits and workforce integration. It's important to find the right college for autistic students that fits their specific needs. 

As education consultant Rachel Coleman puts it, "Students on the spectrum should pay special attention to the accommodations offered by a school." This allows them to ensure they are set up for success during their coursework and beyond.