Re: COLLEGE for my Aspergers' son.... next year....

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Here's some suggestions that I can think of offhand to try. Being the

aspie adult I am, I would also use these ideas myself if I had the same

challenges is experiencing currently. Anyway, here you go:

* Writing down & Drawing

When feels the urge to speak aloud, he can write it down instead in

his notebook or on in his own personal mini marker board. He can also

try easing tension and releasing energy by doing a little bit of

doodling, drawing, or artwork in his notebook in the margins. Many

students and others doodle, and it is fairly socially accepted. Another

way for keeping focus (ex. on listening and not talking) is to have a

concentration object held in your pocket or hands (ex. koosh ball,

special ball, rubber band, paper clip). I have a pair of lucky rocks

that have helped me to keep focus and decrease my stress level on exams.

When I'm walking around town and about to cross a very busy

intersection, I put one hand in my pocket as a signal to myself to pay

very strong attention to other things happening in the environment

around me and to exercise a high degree of caution and visual alert and

hypervigilance. could perhaps maintain a long-term journal or

record of his classroom thoughts.

* Internal Thinking

could practice internal thinking at home by speaking without

uttering anything auditorily. I bet you could perhaps play a game where

you think internally of concepts and a sentence (with pausing each time

you think of a word) and then write down what you were just thinking on

paper without saying anything aloud. Likewise you could think of

countless other game ideas, such as timing him for how long he can work

on writing a short story or other creative activity without saying

anything aloud and playing games of charades where you can only make

guesses about what the other person is pantomiming by writing down your

response on paper. The game of charades, by the way, is a great way to

learn nonverbal communication gestures, body language, and expressions.

* Rewarding Holding Back From Speaking

could reward himself for holding himself back from thinking aloud

with an extra purchase of something (ex. a musical CD), extra activity

(ex. going to the movies), or favorite food.

* Talking to His Professors

could try talking to his professors about the issue. They'll likely

be more understanding once they become aware of it and may offer some

practical solutions of their own. (Note that as an adult in college

will now be in charge of his needs and accommodations and will need to

learn to self-advocate for himself. Most colleges will insist that he

advocates for himself if he's not doing so already.) He may also wish to

tell some or all of his peers about how he has some troubles with

thinking aloud at times. (Note that he can disclose this without having

to tell them he has Asperger's Syndrome if he doesn't feel comfortable

telling others that he has AS. This is known as selective disclosure.)

* Taking Breaks

It might help to take short breaks that involve short walks and/or

going to use the restroom.

* Classroom Buddy

The professor may be able to set up with a buddy whom he could very

quietly whisper to in a way that does not district the rest of the class.

These are some strategies I can think of readily offhand. Most of these

could be tried in combination. I'll let you know if I think of other

options. I hope that is really proud of himself. A 4.3 GPA is

simply amazing. I only had I believe a 3.7 or 3.8 in high school as my

average GPA though I made up for it in undergrad with a 3.96. (You can't

get any higher than a 4.0 in college as colleges don't do extra

weighting of classes, and most (if not all) colleges don't have a notion

of A+ in the grading system being above a 4.0. I graduated one B shy of

the 4.0 during my undergrad studies at Rensselaer.)

By the way, , I'm one of the board members for the Autistic

Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), a new non-profit autism spectrum advocacy

organization. We're currently planning on providing mentoring,

educational/advocacy/consulting services, and social support groups in

the NY/NJ/PA and Washington D.C./Baltimore areas. However, based on

interest we're already looking to expand ourselves to Florida and

Georgia. Many other states will hopefully make the list eventually, and

we do anticipate becoming a nation or semi-national organization at some

point in the next 5-10 years or so. Let me know if might be

interested in being a mentor to kids and younger teens on the autism

spectrum in Illinois and/or receiving mentoring support. The same also

goes for others out there. Please visit www.autisticselfadvocacy.com if

you have an interest in us reaching into your area and/or partnering,

coordinating, or joining ASAN's efforts. ASAN is only a few months old,

but we're already moving fairly quickly and are close to having 5013c

tax-exempt non-profit status and incorporation in the state of New

Jersey. Many of our members are adults on the autism spectrum. We're

also actively working on a college student/transition autism spectrum

portal that will likely provide blogging by people on the autism

spectrum who are in college among other features and services. Perhaps

might be interested in participating next year when he starts at

college. He would be able to blog under a pseudonym, his first name, or

an assumed name. I hope at one point that we may be able to publish a

book on the college experiences of our bloggers similar to the format of

the book " Aquamarine Blue 5: Person Stories of College Students with

Autism " ed. by Dawn Prince-. If you don't already have this book,

I recommend picking it up in addition to the books: " Realizing the

College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome " , " Succeeding in College

with Asperger Syndrome " , and " Managing Asperger Syndrome at College and

University " . Also take a look sometime at the website

www.professorsadvice.com written by Dr. Lars Perner, a professor in

marketing at USC who has Asperger's Syndrome.

- on, adult with Asperger's Syndrome

Ph.D. Candidate, Information Sciences & Technology

The College of Information Sciences & Technology

The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA 16802

(www.ist.psu.edu)

Pennsylvania Regional Director & Board Member

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (www.autisticselfadvocacy.com)

Laha1960@... wrote:

>

> I visited the college, our local CC, on WED. I talked to the Special

> Ed lady. She seemed to have a very good understanding of Aspergers.

> Her actual title is working with the Special Needs Population there.

> They deal with those who are single mom's, those who have needs,

> English as a Second Lang Students and so forth, and all disabilities.

> She does this part- time as well as another staff member, a male who

> works part time too, I believe.

> Anyway, the college is close to home, not too large. Seems like she

> has had a few ASpergers's students from what she told me and has a few

> there now.

> She seemed to be a great resource. However, she did mention, when I

> told her that one of 's biggest problems was his his inability to

> be quiet in class and his sometimes constant thinking out loud,

> leading to carrying on classroom discussions and asking questions, she

> seems to tell me that most professors will not like that and would be

> upset. I know his teachers now have a rough time with this when it

> happens.

> I am getting a wee bit scared about her statement about that. Of

> course I know that is a true statement and accurate.

> Just what should I expect and just what can we do to help him? We have

> tried and tried all kinds of things in his high school, and still do

> in all his classes. He just got his report card and again got a 4.3

> GPA out of a 4.0- ALL A's. His teacher comment areas were very good to

> good too. At least one teacher always mentions that he is a

> distraction. That is his favorite place to ask questions as he loves

> books and of course the class is AP English. That is the area where he

> tends to ask the most and talk the most.

>

> Any suggestions besides duct tape ( that does not work!) GRIN.

> HE really can't help this and tries hard. This is something that I

> just can't explain, just a major problem with his disability related

> things.

>

> Any idea for what to do when we get him to college next year and how

> we can help? He will be under a 504 plan at the college and now has an

> IEP in high school.

>

> Thanks

> in IL

>

>

[Guest guest]

SCOTT SAID----***When feels the urge to speak aloud, he can write it down instead in his notebook or on in his own personal mini marker board. He can also try easing tension and releasing energy by doing a little bit of doodling, drawing, or artwork in his notebook in the margins. Many students and others doodle, and it is fairly socially accepted. Another way for keeping focus (ex. on listening and not talking) is to have a concentration object held in >>>

** THANKS SCOTT

Some of these ideas we have tried. Some we have never tried and some I have wanted to try and have not done yet. I also was a doodler kid in school. I had ADHD and never knew this until my 40s. I am now in my mid 40s, and was officially diagnosed many years after graduating from college in my 20s and high school in 1978. I was always wondering why I became so interested in art work and drawing. HA, You see it was my sanity to long lectures and classes.

Anyway, thanks much for all your ideas. They are wonderful. I will print them out.

My son is Aspergers and ADHD. Life is not easy for him. He excels with all A's, but he has a social and behavior deficit in class each day that makes school tough sometimes for him.

Thanks

in IL

[Guest guest]

Congratulations!! There is a national scholarship for disabled

children which you can access at www.chairscholars.org . My 14 year

old has one and it will help with your college bills. It is a simple

application to fill out and the celebration in April is wonderful and

a lot of fun. Also, please go to www.cec.org as well and apply for

the International " YES I CAN " Award to be presented in Kentucky this

year. THere are 9 different areas in which he could be awarded. I

would suggest " ACADEMIC " as his grades are awesome and he has been

accepted at a college. The experience is amazing. Matt won last

year and we met the neatest kids and parents and tons of

professionals and got a lot of good input and ideas.

>

> I visited the college, our local CC, on WED. I talked to the

Special Ed

> lady. She seemed to have a very good understanding of Aspergers.

Her actual

> title is working with the Special Needs Population there. They

deal with those

> who are single mom's, those who have needs, English as a Second

Lang Students

> and so forth, and all disabilities. She does this part- time as

well as

> another staff member, a male who works part time too, I believe.

> Anyway, the college is close to home, not too large. Seems like

she has had

> a few ASpergers's students from what she told me and has a few

there now.

> She seemed to be a great resource. However, she did mention, when I

told her

> that one of 's biggest problems was his his inability to be

quiet in

> class and his sometimes constant thinking out loud, leading to

carrying on

> classroom discussions and asking questions, she seems to tell me

that most

> professors will not like that and would be upset. I know his

teachers now have a

> rough time with this when it happens.

> I am getting a wee bit scared about her statement about that. Of

course I

> know that is a true statement and accurate.

> Just what should I expect and just what can we do to help him? We

have tried

> and tried all kinds of things in his high school, and still do in

all his

> classes. He just got his report card and again got a 4.3 GPA out of

a 4.0- ALL

> A's. His teacher comment areas were very good to good too. At least

one

> teacher always mentions that he is a distraction. That is his

favorite place to ask

> questions as he loves books and of course the class is AP English.

That is

> the area where he tends to ask the most and talk the most.

>

> Any suggestions besides duct tape ( that does not work!) GRIN.

> HE really can't help this and tries hard. This is something that I

just

> can't explain, just a major problem with his disability related

things.

>

> Any idea for what to do when we get him to college next year and

how we can

> help? He will be under a 504 plan at the college and now has an IEP

in high

> school.

>

> Thanks

> in IL

>

[Guest guest]

Congratulations!! There is a national scholarship for disabled children which you can access at www.chairscholars.org . My 14 year old has one and it will help with your college bills. It is a simple application to fill out and the celebration >>

** WOW thanks for telling me about these!

How is your child that is 14 accepted, if they are not near college age yet?

I was not sure who or how these scholarships work. Sometimes there are so many college bound students, disabilities included that are college bound, or have a good high school record, that the competition for the scholarships nationwide is not easy. Thanks , I will check your links on this. The school has not told him about any in particular at all, but they have a book with a list where he can apply for a bunch, but the national and state wide ones are tough to get..

Thanks

in IL

[Guest guest]

Congratulations!! There is a national scholarship for disabled children which you can access at www.chairscholars.org . My 14 year old has one and it will help with your college >>

** I did check out this web site. The web site continually talks about the student having SERIOUS PHYSICAL and FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

While we have a disability, my son is Aspergers , ADHD and has OCD- anxiety issues, he has severe enough problems, but he is not physically challenged. I thought that this site was alluding to the student having to be physically challenged. The site shows a child in a wheel chair? Anyway, then it talked about financial. We have some money saved for my son to go to college. However, he will not get through all of college with that money. I know we do plan for him to start at the local ( CC) college. In any case, our income is NOT high at all, but we do have some college fund ( set up by my dad ) savings and that almost sounds like it would disqualify us perhaps?

I am not sure. What do you think?

in IL

[Guest guest]

I would certainly apply. Matt is in FLorida so he gets $10,000 a year for 4 years. 2 years and a Community College then transfer to any college or university in Florida. It may not pay everything but it is a good start on Matt's education.

[Guest guest]

Please download the application. It explains how the program works. You can see the list of national students who have been accepted into the program. It really is awesome. Dr Keim and his wife are wonderful folks. Thanks

[Guest guest]

would certainly apply. Matt is in FLorida so he gets $10,000 a year for 4 years. 2 years and a Community College then transfer to any college or university in Florida. It may not pay everything but it is a good start on Matt's education. <<'

'

HI SUSAN in FL

I looked over this web site that you sent to me a few weeks ago about college and shcolarships for those with disabilities. I have since lost that site and information. Please send this to me , as I do not have the link.

I am confused as when I read this site, I was sure that this was nothing my son would qaulify for since he does not have a PHYSICAL disability. I thought it talked about that having to be in the criteria?

Maybe I am misunderstanding. Did your son qualify on ASPERGERS alone?

My son has ASPERGERS and ADHD.

THanks in Illinois

[Guest guest]

would certainly apply. Matt is in FLorida so he gets $10,000 a year for 4 years. 2 years and a Community College then transfer to any college or university in Florida. It may not pay everything but it is a good start on Matt's education. <<'

'

HI SUSAN in FL

I looked over this web site that you sent to me a few weeks ago about college and shcolarships for those with disabilities. I have since lost that site and information. Please send this to me , as I do not have the link.

I am confused as when I read this site, I was sure that this was nothing my son would qaulify for since he does not have a PHYSICAL disability. I thought it talked about that having to be in the criteria?

Maybe I am misunderstanding. Did your son qualify on ASPERGERS alone?

My son has ASPERGERS and ADHD.

THanks in Illinois

[Guest guest]

Matt has high functioning Autism, ADHD, OCD, and ODD. He takes OT and PT. They just want to confirm he has a disability and is not just a behavior problem. Cite is : www.chairscholars.org .A doctor note is required with the application to confirm he/she has a disability. Thanks

[Guest guest]

www.chairscholars.org national scholarships unless you are in florida and have children in elementary or middle school. thanks susan

[Guest guest]

Hello!

I seem to have missed the info on college scholarships for children with disabilities. Could someone please forward to me. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

[Guest guest]

I'd also like information on the site re:s cholarships/funding for

those with disabilities as my son, is in college. Could you

please post it to the site? Thanks. Louise

>

> would certainly apply. Matt is in FLorida so he gets $10,000 a year

for

> 4 years. 2 years and a Community College then transfer to any

college or

> university in Florida. It may not pay everything but it is a good

start on

> Matt's education.

> <<'

> '

>

> HI SUSAN in FL

>

> I looked over this web site that you sent to me a few weeks ago

about

> college and shcolarships for those with disabilities. I have since

lost that site

> and information. Please send this to me , as I do not have the link.

> I am confused as when I read this site, I was sure that this was

nothing my

> son would qaulify for since he does not have a PHYSICAL disability.

I thought

> it talked about that having to be in the criteria?

> Maybe I am misunderstanding. Did your son qualify on ASPERGERS

alone?

> My son has ASPERGERS and ADHD.

>

> THanks in Illinois

>

[Guest guest]

I'd also like information on the site re:s cholarships/funding for

those with disabilities as my son, is in college. Could you

please post it to the site? Thanks. Louise

>

> would certainly apply. Matt is in FLorida so he gets $10,000 a year

for

> 4 years. 2 years and a Community College then transfer to any

college or

> university in Florida. It may not pay everything but it is a good

start on

> Matt's education.

> <<'

> '

>

> HI SUSAN in FL

>

> I looked over this web site that you sent to me a few weeks ago

about

> college and shcolarships for those with disabilities. I have since

lost that site

> and information. Please send this to me , as I do not have the link.

> I am confused as when I read this site, I was sure that this was

nothing my

> son would qaulify for since he does not have a PHYSICAL disability.

I thought

> it talked about that having to be in the criteria?

> Maybe I am misunderstanding. Did your son qualify on ASPERGERS

alone?

> My son has ASPERGERS and ADHD.

>

> THanks in Illinois

>

[Guest guest]

ChairScholars is a program that is two-fold. First, for children in the Tampa Bay area and then the National Program for High School and College-aged children. The website is:

www.ChairScholars.org . Download the paperwork, fill it out, and mail it in to Dr. Keim for the committee to select winners. There is a HUGE picnic on his estate April 21st for the winners. GREAT PROGRAM!! Also, please put your children in for the YES I CAN! International Awards. Ages 3-21 can apply. Trip to Kentucky this year and a marvelous chance to mingle with parents, educators, teachers, professionals, just everybody. Site is: www.cec.sped.org . Thanks

[Guest guest]

ChairScholars is a program that is two-fold. First, for children in the Tampa Bay area and then the National Program for High School and College-aged children. The website is:

www.ChairScholars.org . Download the paperwork, fill it out, and mail it in to Dr. Keim for the committee to select winners. There is a HUGE picnic on his estate April 21st for the winners. GREAT PROGRAM!! Also, please put your children in for the YES I CAN! International Awards. Ages 3-21 can apply. Trip to Kentucky this year and a marvelous chance to mingle with parents, educators, teachers, professionals, just everybody. Site is: www.cec.sped.org . Thanks