2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Supporting First-Year Students with Autism: Inclusion Begins with Understanding
Brad Cox, Florida State University and College Autism Network
First Year Experience Annual Conference
February 12, 2017 - Atlanta www.CollegeAutismNetwork.org
College Autism Network
Outline for the session
Participants will:
1. Get some background about Autism/ASD/Asperger’s in college
2. Consider how ASD traits might manifest on campus
3. Identify potential adjustments to improve student experiences & outcomes
4. Discuss some real-world examples of college students with autism
5. Discover useful resources for learning more
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Recent Estimates: 16,0001 or 143,5002 or 389,5002 … but by 2020: up to 433,0002
Autism Coming to College
1 From Wei, Wagner, Hudson, Yu, & Javitz (2015)
[n=920; 13-16 year-olds from 2000 using national NLTS-2 dataset]
2 Author extrapolations from White, Ollendick, and Bray (2011)
[n=667; enrolled college students at single 4-year institution]
3 Author extrapolations from CDC data
College Autism Network
Recent Estimates: 16,0001 or 143,5002 or 389,5002 … but by 2020: up to 433,0002
Autism Coming to College
1 From Wei, Wagner, Hudson, Yu, & Javitz (2015)
[n=920; 13-16 year-olds from 2000 using national NLTS-2 dataset]
2 Author extrapolations from White, Ollendick, and Bray (2011)
[n=667; enrolled college students at single 4-year institution]
3 Author extrapolations from CDC data-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
140%
2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Women Part Time Autism
Enrollment Growth Relative to 20103
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Individuals
Challenges at Two Levels
Social
Academic
Independent Living
“Co-Morbidities”
Identification
Coordination
Individualization
Resources/Efficiency
Institutions
Fewer than 39% graduate
College Autism Network
The Autism Spectrum
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
The Autism Spectrum
High-Functioning Autism
College Autism Network
The Autism Spectrum
High-Functioning Autism
“Asperger Syndrome”
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Understanding Autism
A hard-wired, brain-based difference
Autism is characterized by a set of adaptive responses to the way the brain perceives the world.
College Autism Network
Drilling down into the characteristics
Impairments in social interaction:• Difficulty reading social cues, the unwritten “rules of engagement”• Challenges with social context• Less concerned about social perceptions • Rule-governed and routine-driven
Impairments in communication:• Odd prosody• Obsessive interests and extensive talking• Literal; challenged by sarcasm
Sensory sensitivity (noise, bright lights, tastes, smells, physical contact)
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College Autism Network
College Autism Network
Don’s List
1. Finger-flicking
2. Change in routine is hard
3. Very particular about food
4. Smells can cause anxiety, nervousness
5. Noises, too
6. Hyperfocus on a subject
7. Likes to wear the same thing
8. Doesn’t always get sarcasm
9. Doesn’t tolerate crowds well
10.Talks really fast
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College Autism Network
Don’s List
1. Finger-flicking
2. Change in routine is hard
3. Very particular about food
4. Smells can cause anxiety, nervousness
5. Noises, too
6. Hyperfocus on a subject
7. Likes to wear the same thing
8. Doesn’t always get sarcasm
9. Doesn’t tolerate crowds well
10.Talks really fast
College Autism Network
Perspective and proportion
• Students with autism often have difficulty distinguishing between trivial, or less important, information and significant, “big picture” things.
•When faced with something that doesn’t “fit,” or causes some distress, a student with autism may react in a way that seems disproportionate to the circumstances.
Q: Are these characteristics a problem?
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College Autism Network
Outline for the session
Participants will:
1. Get some background about Autism/ASD/Asperger’s in college
2. Consider how ASD traits might manifest on campus
3. Identify potential adjustments to improve student experiences & outcomes
4. Discuss some real-world examples of college students with autism
5. Discover useful resources for learning more
ASD
Identity
Personal
Connections
Individual
Institutional
Environment
Standard
Operating
Procedures
Personalized
Adaptation
Formal
Accommodations
• Family/Friends
• Past experiences
• Resource advisors
• Knowledge
• Acceptance
• Salience
Individuals w/ Autism
&
College Environments
Which Standard Operating Procedures might be problematic
for students
w/autism?
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College Autism Network
What’s so hard about orientation?
College Autism Network
What does this look like INSIDE the classroom?
Communication can seem odd or different:• Talks too much, goes on and on about a topic• Struggles with abstract concepts and different perspectives
Can be challenged by assignments:• Seeks very specific instructions, is challenged by vague or flexible tasks• Work may not be turned in on time, or at all• Generalizing skills and concepts is difficult
The social aspect of class may be stressful or difficult to manage• Working in small groups• Presenting in front of class• Critiquing others’ work, or being critiqued
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College Autism Network
What does this look like OUTSIDE of class?
Independent residential living• Sensory sensitivities• Social cues and unspoken rules of social life• Roommate challenges/floor and hall interactions can be difficult
Student activities• Seeks social interactions through organizations and activities… • but communication and social differences cause conflicts
College Autism Network
And…
Student conduct:• Stalking/harassment•Disruptions of meetings, classes• “Bizarre” behavior• “Unreasonable” demands
Often heard:• “S/he/they just doesn’t ‘get it.’” • “S/he/they can’t get out of their own way.”• “S/he/they can’t see the big picture.”• “How did s/he/they not know that would happen?”
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Depression and anxiety rates in ASD/AS population are extremely high—perhaps twice what the non-ASD population experiences
Concurrent Complications
College Autism Network
Outline for the session
Participants will:
1. Get some background about Autism/ASD/Asperger’s in college
2. Consider how ASD traits might manifest on campus
3. Identify potential adjustments to improve student experiences & outcomes
4. Discuss some real-world examples of college students with autism
5. Discover useful resources for learning more
2/11/2017
12
College Autism Network
Three sources of reassurance for ASD students
Rules: Rather than respond to a fluid environment, people with autism often rely on “rules” to structure their activities, so…
• Provide “rules” for a situation, e.g. “When you eat in a dining hall, you have to wait your turn to get your food.”
Routine: Predictability and stability are important; interruptions to routine can cause stress, so…
• Support a student’s routine, rather than encourage them to “be flexible.”
Prediction: Surprises are stress-inducing, so…• “We are going to have a guest speaker tomorrow who will show a short video and
then discuss it, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions”
College Autism Network
Facilitating Success through Foreshadowing
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College Autism Network
Working together
1. Be direct! Don’t sugarcoat or soften the message.
2. Provide “rules of engagement” and PRACTICE!
College Autism Network
From Aspergers 101 (Facebook group)
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College Autism Network
From Aspergers 101:
College Autism Network
Working together
1. Be direct! Don’t sugarcoat or soften the message.
2. Provide “rules of engagement” and PRACTICE!
3. Be patient in conversation and in effort (remember: transitions take longer).
4. Don’t dismiss environmental-based requests (to accommodate sensory issues).
5. Write down instructions!
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College Autism Network
Working together
6. Policies must include VERY detailed definitions… “unwanted attention” is unclear.
7. Train staff, faculty and student leaders
8. Suggest to both ASD students and the staff who work with them:
TRY DIFFERENTLY, NOT HARDER!
College Autism Network
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
It’s not just about “accommodations”
Accommodations
+ Understanding
+ Compassion
Success
College Autism Network
Outline for the session
Participants will:
1. Get some background about Autism/ASD/Asperger’s in college
2. Consider how ASD traits might manifest on campus
3. Identify potential adjustments to improve student experiences & outcomes
4. Discuss some real-world examples of college students with autism
5. Discover useful resources for learning more
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Student Stories1) Bryan
2) Karen
3) John
4) Susan
[fake names, composite vignettes]
Reflection Questions1) What about this student’s story is
troubling to you?
2) In your given scenario and functional area, what factors would be more important to consider when addressing this case?
3) What approach would you recommend (think about programs, policies, or procedures) to address similar cases in the future?
4 Case Studies
College Autism Network
Outline for the session
Participants will:
1. Get some background about Autism/ASD/Asperger’s in college
2. Consider how ASD traits might manifest on campus
3. Identify potential adjustments to improve student experiences & outcomes
4. Discuss some real-world examples of college students with autism
5. Discover useful resources for learning more
2/11/2017
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College Autism Network
Useful resources
College Autism Network website: www.collegeautismnetwork.org
• RA Training Module
• Links to colleges with ASD support initiatives
• Literature summaries
• News stories about related topics
• Slides, handouts, etc.
Videos found by Googling “Autism” and “Asperger”
Aspergers101.com (and on Facebook)
College Autism Network
More time to read?
Cox, B. E., *Thompson, K., *Anderson, A., *Mintz, A., *Locks, T. Morgan, L., *Edelstein, J., & *Wolz, A (2017).College experiences for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Personal identity, public disclosure, and institutional support.
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College Autism Network
Changing the conversation
• High-functioning Autism is not inherently a disability.
• Neurodiversity is as valuable to a college community as other types of diversity.
• It is not the sole responsibility of disability services staff to support the success of ASD students.
• Success on the Autism Spectrum is a win for everyone.
College Autism Network
Please fill out our card!!(We may email you in a couple of months, if that’s okay)
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College Autism Network
College Autism Network
TrainingResearchAdvocacy
Dr. Bradley E. [email protected]
Dr. Lee Burdette [email protected]
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