College Transition for Students On The Autism Spectrum: Integrating Interdisciplinary Perspectives From Personal Experience, Research, & Autistic Self-Advocacy

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College Transition for Students On The Autism
Spectrum Integrating Interdisciplinary
Perspectives From Personal Experience, Research,
Autistic Self-Advocacy

• Scott Michael Robertson
• Ph.D. Candidate (IST)
• Penn State University
• srobertson_at_ist.psu.edu

www.autisticadvocacy.org
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My Contact Information

• Email
• Email Address srobertson_at_ist.psu.edu
• Subject Line include the word asperger or autism
• Instant Messaging
• AOL Instant Messenger hppalm
• MSN/Windows Live srobertson_at_ist.psu.edu
• Yahoo Messenger psuresearcher
• Google Talk aspiegeek_at_gmail.com
• Available on Facebook
• Mobile Phone
• Available upon request

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Rapid Rundown

• My Background
• My Connection Perspective on Autism
• College Autism
• My Research on College Autism

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Quick NotePenn Autism Network Conf. 08

• Friday, March 28, 2008 830-430 pm
• Philadelphia, PA
• 3 Session Tracks
• Postsec. Education, Employment, Housing
• Website
• http//www.med.upenn.edu/pan/annual_conference.htm
  l
• Ill likely be presenting on college autism

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Quick NoteASPEN Spring Conference 08

• Sunday, April 6 (all day)
• Iselin, NJ
• Session Topics
• Transition, College, Relationships, Job Search
  Interview Skills, Autistic Student Panel
• Website http//www.aspennj.org/events.asp
• Ill be presenting on college autism

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The Autism SpectrumMy Background

• 27 years old
• Aspergers Autistic Adult
• Ph.D. Student at Penn State
• Work TA/Teaching Fellow
• Studies Dissertation Research on autism college

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My BackgroundThe IST Building _at_ Penn State
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My BackgroundThe IST Building _at_ Penn State (2)
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The Autism SpectrumMy Complimentary Hats

• Autistic Adult (Aspergers Autistic)
• Presenter
• e.g. Opening Keynote for 2007 PSU Natl. Autism
  Conference (July 2007)
• Researcher
• e.g. Dissertation Focus on online technology
  support for transition to college for autistic
  students
• Self-Advocate/Advocate
• e.g. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, ASCEND,
  service work for PA state Bureau of Autism
  Services
• Teacher
• e.g. State College Autistic Teen Social Group,
  Pittsburgh summer program, etc.
• Friend Mentor To Many Autistic Individuals

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The Autism SpectrumMy Perspective

• Differential Way of Understanding Interacting
  w/ the World
• Lifelong Brain Differences
• Language, Communication, Social Understanding
• Sensory Integration Motor Action
• Executive Thinking

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The Autism SpectrumRivers Flowing North

• "To many Americans . . . , north is the wrong way
  for a river to flow, which leads to geographic
  confusion."
• Angus Phillips, National Geographic, 1996

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The Autism Spectrum3 N. Flowing Rivers

• Three Rivers flow north in U.S.
• Two of these are
• St. Johns River in Florida
• Willamette River in Oregon
• Can you name the third?
• Hint Its in Pennsylvania

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The Autism SpectrumPA N. Flowing River

• The Mongongahela River
• Flows from West Virginia thru Morgantown,
  crossing the Mason Dixon line, continuing into
  Pittsburgh (joins w/ the Alleghany River to form
  the confluence known as the Ohio River)
• Flows more directly straight north than the other
  2 north flowing rivers in the U.S.
• Origin American Indian for high banks or bluffs

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The Autism SpectrumChallenge Support

• Main Challenge
• Living in an Autistic Unfriendly World
• Sensory Bombardment, Social Ambiguities,
  Information Overload, etc.
• Lack of Understanding Acceptance
• Support
• Best w/ a two-way street
• Individual Learns to Adapt
• Society Accommodates Differences

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The Autism SpectrumQuotes from Autistic Teens

• It all started in elementary school when I
  realized that I wasn't like everyone else....I
  might be different because I have different
  interests than other teenagers, but that doesnt
  give them the right to be so mean and cruel to
  me. Kids at Oak Valley make fun of me for liking
  what I like the most.....Sometimes I wish I were
  like everyone else, but not really. Because I
  believe people should be respected for being
  different because we're all different in our own
  ways.
• --Joshua Yuchasz, autistic teen (Michigan)
• This I Believe piece that aired on All Things
  Considered

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The Autism SpectrumQuotes from Autistic Teens

• I dont know what normal is, but I know that
  people like me are the minority...Being different
  may not be a problem for me, or other kids like
  me, but it sure seems to cause problems for
  normal (ha!) kids. The result...bullying!...If
  others would take time to stop and get to know us
  (autistic teens), then they would see that we
  have a lot to offer.
• Luke Jackson, autistic teen (U.K.)

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My Lessons Learned Thru Life

• Dogged Determination Tenacity Reap Valuable
  Rewards
• Passions Light the Path
• Heart Comes From Helping Others
• Power Comes From Present-Focus
• Growth Comes From Lifelong Learning
• Trust Your Brain

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College AutismSome Quotes from Autistic Adults

• At college I met people who appreciate me for
  who I was instead of making fun of what was
  different about me. Steven Shore
• College is a tremendous opportunity for many
  individuals on the autistic spectrum
• Lars Perner

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College Autism

• Major Media Attention
• Applying To College
• Planning Preparation
• My Research on Autism College

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College Autism Major Media Attention

• Students On The Spectrum, The New York Times,
  Nov. 2006
• Aspergers Confounds Colleges, The Chronicle of
  Higher Education, Oct. 2004
• An Aspergers Life, The Billings Gazette, April
  2004
• A Chance For Autistic Students, The Times Union
  (Albany), April 2004
• Growing Number of Autistics Want To Complete
  College Education, Associated Press, March 2007

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College AutismApplying to College

• Student-Driven Process
• Stay Open-minded Flexible
• Consider Many Factors Options

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College AutismAdmissions Considerations

• Campus Environment
• Size of College/University
• Physical Social Environment
• Class Sizes
• Disability Services
• Location
• Academics Majors
• Housing Options
• Costs

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College AutismTradeoffs Large vs. Small

• Smaller School
• Smaller Campus (Easier to Navigate)
• Smaller Classes
• Less Overwhelming
• Larger School
• Less Visibility of Differences
• More Diversity
• More Opportunities for Similar Interests (More
  Extra-curriculars Clubs)

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College AutismStrategies for Success

• Regular Counseling Sessions
• Finding Clubs/Activities That Fit
• Peer Mentoring
• Educating course professors about
  autism/Aspergers
• Pre-Preparation Planning

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College AutismPreparations Planning

• Major Focuses
• Self-Advocacy Skills
• College-Related Living Skills
• College Physical/Social Environment
• Suggestions
• Keep an ongoing notebook/binder
• Stay individualized and student-driven
• Tailor Planning to Specific College Experience
• Use All Resources Available

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College AutismDeveloping Self-Advocacy Skills

• Student-Driven IEP Process
• Ownership of differences/disability
• Encouraging Self-Advocacy for Home Needs
• Work together on tasks
• Gradually lessen degree of support
• IEP for the Home
• Community Service Volunteering Activities
• e.g. Special Olympics, community centers
• Encourage Speaking/Writing about Personal
  Experiences Perspective
• Attending conferences/discussions about autism

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An Autism Conference Run by Autistic Individuals
Autreat

• Annual retreat-style conference run by autistic
  adults for autistic adults, teens, children
• Autistic friendly physical environment
• No smoking, no perfumes, no scented deodorant
• Open space to walk around, relax
• Autistic friendly social environment
• Colored badges indicating social preferences
• Red dont want to communicate
• Yellow I have trouble communicating may need
  you to initiate
• Green I desire a large amt. of interaction
  (because I dont know anyone)
• Autistics are the vast majority of attendees
• Website lthttp//ani.autistics.org/autreat.htmlgt

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College AutismDeveloping College Life Skills

• Time/Schedule/Organization Skills
• Dorm/Housing Skills
• e.g. Laundry, Meals, Health-Related
• Academic Mgmt. Skills
• Traveling Skills
• Safety Skills
• Financial Mgmt. Skills

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College AutismTime/Schedule/Organization

• Day Planner/PDA Calendar for home/school
  activities
• Alarms for Waking Up
• Establishing Organized Routines
• Wearing a Watch 24/7
• Using Software Tools
• Microsoft Excel Word for making lists
• Using/Carrying a Cellphone 24/7

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College AutismDorm/Housing Skills

• Laundry
• Washing machine/dryer folding clothes
• Practice w/ many types of clothes
• Orientation to coin/card operation of machines
• Meals/Eating
• Cooperative Meal Planning _at_ home
• Discussion of Nutritious Foods That Fit
  Likes/Dislikes
• Health-Related
• Make a Notebook of Health Needs Routines
• May need guided steps/posters/videos
• Clothing Match w/ Weather
• Roommate
• May want to consider option of a single room

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College AutismDorm/Housing Skills (Cont.)

• Social Environment (of living space)
• Make a Notebook of common social situations
• Have discussions about the social env.
• Chat w/ current college freshmen/sophomores
• Physical Environment (of living space)
• Organization structures for room
• Consideration of sensory differences
• Can model a dorm room _at_ home

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College AutismAcademic Mgmt. Skills

• Organize Work Thru The Computer
• Electronic organization may be easier than
  physical organization
• Study Skills
• Actively ask questions about material look
  through book/material on ongoing basis
• Breaking schoolwork/studying into chunks (20-50
  min. periods w/ breaks)
• Practice w/ putting together a review sheet of
  material
• Practice w/ asking others for help on schoolwork

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College AutismTraveling Skills

• Practice w/ Long Distance Traveling Skills
• Open-ended vouchers/tickets for
  bus/train/airplane long distance traveling
• Visit home when they feel the need
• Practice w/ Local Traveling Skills
• Walking Routes/Bus/Local Train

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Financial Mgmt. Skills

• Explain rules of credit card practice w/ credit
  card w/ low limit (50 or 100)
• Practice w/ Using ATMs

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College AutismMy Research

• My Ph.D. Dissertation Research
• College of Information Sciences Technology,
  Penn State
• Interdisciplinary Research on Problems
  Integrating Information, Technology, People
• Online Community Can Support Emergence of CoP for
  Autism Postsec. Education
• Information Best Practices, Approaches,
  Resources
• People Autistic Students, Educators, Parents
• Technology Online community (threaded discussion
  board, blogging, podcasts, IM, email lists, etc.)
• Qualitative Informatory Research

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My ResearchEmerging Community of Practice

• Community of Practice
• Community of Organizations coming together to
  network, learn from each other, share resources
  to develop better best practices for work area
• Penn Autism Networks College CoP
• Spearheaded by University of Pennsylvania
• 25 Colleges Universities
• PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, MN
• Penn Autism Network 2008 Conf. Session Track

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My ResearchQualitative Interviews

• Interviews w/ key stakeholder groups
• Postsecondary Autistic Students
• Secondary Educators
• Postsecondary Autistic Students
• Secondary Autistic Students

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Closing Quote

• All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those
  who wonder are lost The old that is strong does
  not wither. Deep roots are not reached by the
  frost.

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Postsec. Education AutismResources/Video
Audio

• Pesner, J. Autism From The SourceA Monologue by
  Jeremy Pesner, http//www.youtube.com/watch?vdmh
  fm81Vxuo
• BRAIN.HE (UK), http//www.brainhe.com/gallery/
• Western Kentucky University WKU Kelly Autism
  Residence Program, http//www.youtube.com/watch?v
  tA3o6KBSe6A

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Postsec. Education AutismResources/Video
Audio (Cont.)

• College Professors HFA In The Classroom
• lthttp//welkowitz.typepad.com/
• aspergers_conversations/files/pr5_complete.mp3
• Mentoring AS/HFA in College
• lthttp//welkowitz.typepad.com/
• aspergers_conversations/files/pr1.mp3
• Aspergers After College
• http//welkowitz.typepad.com/
• aspergers_conversations/files/pr4_complete.mp3

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Postsec. Education AutismResources/Books

• Prince-Hughes, D. Aquamarine Blue 5 Personal
  Stories Of College Students With Autism
• Palmer, A. Realizing The College Dream With
  Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Harpur, J., Lawlor, M., Fitzgerald, M.
  Succeeding In College With Asperger Syndrome
• Jamieson, J. Jamieson, C. Managing Asperger
  Syndrome at College University
• Towards Success In Tiertary Study With Asperger
  Syndrome and Other Autistic Spectrum Disorders,
  lthttp//www.services.unimelb.edu.au/edp/policy/
• publications.htmlgt
• freely downloadable

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Postsec. Education AutismResources/Online
Articles

• Perner, L. Preparing To Be Nerdy Where Nerdy Can
  Be Cool, http//www.professorsadvice.com/
• Coulter, J. First Year At College Lessons
  Learned, lthttp//coultervideo.com/FirstyrCollegee
  ssay.htmgt
• Williams, G. Palmer, A. Preparing For College
  Tips For Students With HFA/Aspergers Syndrome,
  lthttp//www.teacch.com/college.htmlgt
• Coulter, J. Asperger Syndrome Choosing College
  Courses, http//coultervideo.com/collegecourses.h
  tm

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Postsec. Education AutismResources/Online Sites

• University Students With Autism or Asperger
  Syndrome, http//www.users.dircon.co.uk/cns/
• Facebook Groups, www.facebook.com
• Wrong Planet http//www.wrongplanet.net