Students with autism can do well in college

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Students with autism can do well in college

Colleges and universities offer support to help them succeed

By Kayleen Reusser

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Posted on Sat. Apr. 18, 2009 - 06:00 am EDT

Ley, 19, listened closely to the words of , her English tutor, as he

explained the reading assignment for her class. The two met weekly for the

tutoring sessions, during which might explain the definitions of words

used by the professor during a lecture, help Ley establish a thesis statement

for an essay she needs to write, or draft an outline.

Later in the week, Ley, a freshman carrying a full load of course credits at

Huntington University in Huntington, met with her psychology tutor for two

sessions to go over notes from that class. The notes come to students by e-mail,

so Ley didn't have to take notes during the lecture.

Ley's schedule included review of a Western Civilizations test with a girlfriend

and three practices for Women's Chorale, an activity connected to her declared

major of Worship Leadership.

Just as many other college students do, Ley retreated at the end of each day to

her dorm room to seek solitude from her hectic pace.

It may sound like the routine of any student adjusting to the demands of college

life, but Ley - and a growing number of students - may face more than the usual

challenge in pursuing higher education. The reason? They have been diagnosed

with autism.

Kris Chafin, director of learning assistance at the Learning Center at

Huntington University, said she has noticed an increase in the number of

students with autism attending college.

" We usually have one or two students with that particular disorder, " Chafin

said. " This year, we have five students with Asperger's (an autism-related

disorder) and one student with autism. "

April is Autism Awareness Month

More attention is focused on autism spectrum disorders during April, which is

National Autism Awareness Month.

According to the Indiana chapter of the Autism Society of America (ASA -

www.inautism.org), autism is one of five neurological disorders that falls under

the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The others are

Asperger's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Rett's Disorder

and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Autism is the most common of the

Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007 data

showed autism affected about 1 in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of

the United States.

While the American Disabilities Act of 1973 provides for certain educational

accommodations for high school students with disabilities (extra time for tests,

help with notes), the scenario changes slightly for college students with

autism.

Dorm life distracted him

Zachary McConnell, a sophomore at Ivy Tech, was diagnosed with autism at age 5.

McConnell, 22, graduated from Valparaiso High School. He moved to Fort Wayne to

attend Ivy Tech Community College after attending his first year at a private

college.

Although McConnell lived by himself in a dorm room that first year, he opted to

live with his parents while taking classes the past two years at Ivy Tech.

" I thought I'd like dorm life, but I wasn't ready for it, " he said. " It was

noisy, and I couldn't get my work done. "

McConnell doesn't drive, so his mom takes him to school, where he carries six

hours while working toward a degree in marketing.

At Ivy Tech, McConnell takes advantage of the campus's offer to provide note

takers and extended test time for him.

" Everyone here is focused on my needs, " he said. " They talk with me and work

with me. "

Schools provide services

Other local colleges also try to serve students with autism or other

disabilities.

Scudder, director of Freshman College at Indiana Tech, said her campus

wants to coordinate services for students with disabilities and encourages

visits from high school students.

" This advance preparation gives students and parents the opportunity to talk

with the person coordinating services at our career planning and development

center, so we can get to know the students and understand what they need, "

Scudder said.

J. Wagenfeld, director of the Office for Services for Students with

Disabilities at IPFW, agrees communication is the key to success for a student

with special needs.

" A student must provide me with documentation about his or her disability, " he

said. " Then I'll conduct an interview to determine what services that student

needs. It may be extra test time, having tests read to them, taking an exam in a

room without distractions. "

Wagenfeld estimates his campus has eight to 10 students with autism.

Bonnie O'Connell, director of academic support at Manchester College, starts

each school year by introducing herself to the freshman class.

" I give presentations to new students and talk to them during the orientation

process about our services, " O'Connell said. Throughout the semester, she meets

individually with students with disabilities.

" I help them identify time-management, active-listening and note-taking study

skills, as well as test-taking strategies, " she said.

He earned a degree

Experience shows students with autism can succeed in college.

Diagnosed with autism as a child, Zavodny, 24, graduated from Indiana

Tech in 2008 with a degree in electrical engineering. Zavodny, a 2003 Snider

High School graduate, moved into a dorm at his parents' encouragement.

The living arrangements — Zavodny shared two rooms, including a bathroom, with

two suite mates he had never met before — worked so well Zavodny was eventually

initiated into Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Now he is in the market for a job.

Have realistic expectations

The key to success for students with disabilities such as autism is

understanding limits, says Tricia Bugajski, director of Student Academic Support

Services at University of Saint Francis.

" I encourage students to be realistic about expecting to finish a degree in four

years, " Bugajski said. " It may not happen. Take it one step at a time and don't

get overwhelmed. "

Although Ley, the Huntington University student who was diagnosed with autism at

age 3, doesn't know yet how long it will take her to graduate, she has a good

start.

She and her parents visited Huntington three years ago when she was in high

school. Now Ley takes part in activities outside class when she can, but goes

home on the weekends to get a break from campus routine.

She sounded confident when she offered advice to students with autism who want

to attend college:

" Pray, have faith, know you can do it, attend class, study hard, join helpful

study groups, be satisfied with your grades, learn to manage your time, " she

said.

" I'm working on making college work for me. "