There is a lot to consider when thinking about the college readiness of a teen with Asperger’s or similar autism spectrum (ASD) profile. It is important to have an honest dialogue with your teen about their college readiness to set them up for success in their college experience. At Beyond Akeela, we focus college readiness specifically for teens with Asperger’s or similar ASD profiles, and there are several key components that we hone in on:
Navigating College
Social Connectedness: This may be the most underappreciated component of college readiness. We all do best in our everyday lives when we are feeling socially whole. It looks different for everyone, so finding the right social fit for your teen with Asperger’s is important. What does your teen like to do socially? What aspects of dorm living will be challenging? Where do you see your teen thrive socially? These are important questions to discuss with your teen and consider when looking at different college programs.
Executive Function: High school provides a structured and routine schedule that usually leaves little unstructured time. The opposite is true in college, and students have to manage their unstructured time while balancing more work outside of class. This is where our executive function skills come in and help us stay organized, punctual, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. How does your teen stay organized at home? What are they balancing outside of school work? What tools do they access to help them with their executive function?
Self-Awareness
Self-Advocacy: Perhaps the biggest change between high school and college is how students access support. In high school, whether through an IEP, 504, or just the general structured nature of high school, more educators and adults take time to check in on teens. In college, the onus to access help for anything primarily falls on the student and there are less check points from adults. Does your teen participate and lead IEP or 504 meetings? Can they communicate to others what accommodations they need to be successful academically? Do they make decisions for themselves on a regular basis? Evaluating your teen with Asperger’s ability to advocate for themselves is imperative to determining their college readiness.
Self-Determination: Students must be motivated to be in an environment and determined to face the challenges that come with it. College challenges everyone in one way or another, however those who have self-determination to be resilient in the face of challenge find the most success. Is your teen engaged in the college search process? Do they want to attend college? Why do they want to attend college? These are critical questions to bring up with your family to ensure college is in fact the right decision for your family at this time.
While these are all key components of college readiness for teens with Asperger’s and similar autism profiles, they are also areas that some colleges provide additional support for. Open communication about these readiness factors is crucial to college success!
