Higher Education and Transition Issues For Students With Asperger's Syndrome

August 3, 2006

Hi Everyone,

My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

parents and students for the big ride to come.

I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Email: Jew001@...

Phone: 832-452-3155

August 5, 2006

It's good to see that you are able to go to school. I think one reason that

schools aren't skilled at preparing students and parents for the ride is because

aspies ride life differently and what worked for you wouldn't necessarily have

worked for my son. I know his teachers and I all tried to find what would work

and I'm not sure we succeeded. What I would really like to know from you is how

you " got along " with the other students in HS. Do you carry " wounds " from that

period and if you do how are you able to cope with that and still concentrate on

what you do now? My son, now 27, gets focused on the past and can't function in

the now. The problem is that these past ordeals are not constantly apparent.

When they do appear, he just can't seem to do other daily tasks such as dishes,

laundry or even throw things out. His knowledge base on things is extensive but

his way of showing it would drive a professor to drink! I know it did us and his

teachers in school totally batty! He performed better than I did on the English

portion of the SAT's. The math also being his learning disability, was very low.

( ) Higher Education and Transition Issues For

Students With Asperger's Syndrome

Hi Everyone,

My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

parents and students for the big ride to come.

I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Email: Jew001@...

Phone: 832-452-3155

August 5, 2006

Thanks! That would be great. -

" E. Jr. " <jew001@...> wrote: Hi Everyone,

My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

parents and students for the big ride to come.

I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Email: Jew001@...

Phone: 832-452-3155

August 9, 2006

I think the fundamental problem is that many of our kids are being educated by

mainstream teachers who have no formal training in ASD's and no special ed

background. There needs to be more done at a university level to teach gradute

teachers about ASD.

Beck

( ) Higher Education and Transition Issues For

Students With Asperger's Syndrome

Hi Everyone,

My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

parents and students for the big ride to come.

I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Email: Jew001@...

Phone: 832-452-3155

August 10, 2006

Hi ,

That is great that you are willing to offer some information! That

is awsome of you.

I am an Aspie, too, but I am 36 (37 in 16 days) I decided last year

to go back to college. I have had a good time in college this time

around, but I think mainly because I do a lot of my courses on line.

What has been hard for you in College?

Did you get ANY help at all?

I know I haven't, but I didn't have a 'real' label until last year.

I have been taking a couple of 'live' courses,,, after all, if I go

for my Masters, I will need to be comfortable doing so.

They have been great, but it is funny how my fellow college students

love to say things that are not really understandable to me (you

know, the raining cats and dogs, 3 sheets to the wind) those phrases

that don't mean what they say?

It has been an adventure, that is for sure!

I wish I had help when I was younger, I would have done much better.

Now I am doing well, but I have a LOW grade point average to bring

up and that is hard to do.

Well, , it will be a pleasure to hear your insight! I hope you

share often!

*smiles*

Bishop

August 10, 2006

Hi. My son is 18 and has Asperger's Syndrome. He still does not have a drivers

licence, but does have a permit. He will be a senior this year. He is a

straight A student. I think he has one B. Anyway, was it hard for you to learn

to drive? He drives, but we feel he is not ready to be on his own yet. As long

as he pays attention he is a very good driver, but sometimes he does not pay

attention and that is dangerous. . Also, he wants to go to collge next year. I

want him to stay in the dorm because of the commute. He is very reluctant to

stay in the dorm because of the public restrooms. Any suggestions on how to

help him overcome this?

Thank you for sharing your story. Our son does not like to talk about his

Aspergers although we till him it is okay to be different.

" E. Jr. " <jew001@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

parents and students for the big ride to come.

I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Email: Jew001@...

Phone: 832-452-3155

August 11, 2006

I didn't get my driver's license until I was twenty-one, in my third

year in college. My parents had to pay for private driving lessons

that took three times as long as the average person for me to

complete. This was all way before I was diagnosed, and with so many

things I felt ashamed of myself, with even my instructor wondering

aloud if there was something " wrong " with me, and that it had never

taken so long for him to teach a guy how to drive, et cetera.

I can now look back and understand that for Aspies like myself, that

is what it takes. More recently, my own grasp of a Tai Chi form

involved me having to learn each movement by intense repitition over

an extended period of time. I could lament the situation and not

learn, or I could accept the situation, and now I can do the entire

form.

Rick

On 8/11/06, THOMAS WOLFE <okwolfepack@...> wrote:

>

> Hi. My son is 18 and has Asperger's Syndrome. He still does not have a drivers

licence, but does have a permit. He will be a senior this year. He is a straight

A student. I think he has one B. Anyway, was it hard for you to learn to drive?

He drives, but we feel he is not ready to be on his own yet. As long as he pays

attention he is a very good driver, but sometimes he does not pay attention and

that is dangerous. . Also, he wants to go to collge next year. I want him to

stay in the dorm because of the commute. He is very reluctant to stay in the

dorm because of the public restrooms. Any suggestions on how to help him

overcome this?

>

> Thank you for sharing your story. Our son does not like to talk about his

Aspergers although we till him it is okay to be different.

>

> " E. Jr. " <jew001@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

> My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

> 19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

> become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

> has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

> ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

> parents and students for the big ride to come.

> I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

> that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

> Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

> contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

> elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this issue.

> Thanks and Good Luck,

>

> Email: Jew001@...

> Phone: 832-452-3155

>

August 11, 2006

Changing the subject, would you share your ideas about the Tai Chi?

I thought about putting my boys into that but wasn't sure about it.

Do you like it and does it help you in any way.

As far as your drivers Ed guy,

Phooey to him!!!!!!!!!!!!

He could have thought what he wanted but he should have kept it to

himself! (the jerk) hehe

In , " Rick Segreda "

<rick.segreda@...> wrote:

>

> I didn't get my driver's license until I was twenty-one, in my

third

> year in college. My parents had to pay for private driving lessons

> that took three times as long as the average person for me to

> complete. This was all way before I was diagnosed, and with so

many

> things I felt ashamed of myself, with even my instructor wondering

> aloud if there

August 11, 2006

Well, I am not Rick but my son takes Tae Kwon Do and it has made a world of

difference. Tae Kwon Do has an element of stretching in it that basically mimics

a lot of what my son was doing in OT. His particular instructor was having them

do animal walks at the beginning of the class then stretches and then a lot of

crossing over movements. It has been great for us because it reinforces what the

OT is doing but in a fun setting and he doesn't even know that it is OT. The

deep pressure of the animal walks calms him and gets him ready to focus. It was

just something the instructor did.

It has also helped with self-control. He is 7 and has been taking for 1.5 years.

Before that he took karate for a year but the karate was a mix of different

disciplines and wasn't taught very well or consistantly. I think it is important

to go watch some classes to see if it is consistant (my son just needed to know

what was coming next) and if they do things that doubles what they are getting

at school or OT. Also, his instructor believes in everyone achieving their

personal best and pushing them to get it from them. He feels like he has

achieved something when he gets his next level belt but he usually is a little

sloppier than the other kids because of the weak muscle tone and being a tiptoe

walker etc.

( ) Re: Higher Education and Transition Issues For

Students With Asperger's Syndrome

Changing the subject, would you share your ideas about the Tai Chi?

I thought about putting my boys into that but wasn't sure about it.

Do you like it and does it help you in any way.

As far as your drivers Ed guy,

Phooey to him!!!!!!!!!!!!

He could have thought what he wanted but he should have kept it to

himself! (the jerk) hehe

In , " Rick Segreda "

<rick.segreda@...> wrote:

>

> I didn't get my driver's license until I was twenty-one, in my

third

> year in college. My parents had to pay for private driving lessons

> that took three times as long as the average person for me to

> complete. This was all way before I was diagnosed, and with so

many

> things I felt ashamed of myself, with even my instructor wondering

> aloud if there

August 12, 2006

Cool thanks!

> >

> > I didn't get my driver's license until I was twenty-one, in my

> third

> > year in college. My parents had to pay for private driving

lessons

> > that took three times as long as the average person for me to

> > complete. This was all way before I was diagnosed, and with so

> many

> > things I felt ashamed of myself, with even my instructor

wondering

> > aloud if there

>

August 13, 2006

Hi ,

In college my most difficult adjustment has been the practice and

idea of living on my own and taking care of the day to day things.

Basically, Life Management. When mom makes you appointments, does

your laundry, and makes you food, you can get very dependent.

I am actually doing much better at these things but it took a good

year to accomplish this.

Another very difficult aspect for me is relationships.

It is hard enough to make friends socially, but having an intimate

relationship is very difficult.

I of course struggle with Non-verbal cues and can't recognize

flirting, dating politics, and interest.

This is something I have lately been struggling with.

I have received minor accommodations in college with minor intuitive.

Unfortunately, some professors are more accommodating than others

despite the fact that Federal law requires their participation.

It's awesome that we can communicate. I attend a monthly adult

support group in Sugar Land, Texas near my home.

Thanks and good luck with class,

On Aug 10, 2006, at 4:40 PM, advocateforaspies wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> That is great that you are willing to offer some information! That

> is awsome of you.

>

> I am an Aspie, too, but I am 36 (37 in 16 days) I decided last year

> to go back to college. I have had a good time in college this time

> around, but I think mainly because I do a lot of my courses on line.

>

> What has been hard for you in College?

> Did you get ANY help at all?

> I know I haven't, but I didn't have a 'real' label until last year.

> I have been taking a couple of 'live' courses,,, after all, if I go

> for my Masters, I will need to be comfortable doing so.

> They have been great, but it is funny how my fellow college students

> love to say things that are not really understandable to me (you

> know, the raining cats and dogs, 3 sheets to the wind) those phrases

> that don't mean what they say?

>

> It has been an adventure, that is for sure!

>

> I wish I had help when I was younger, I would have done much better.

> Now I am doing well, but I have a LOW grade point average to bring

> up and that is hard to do.

>

> Well, , it will be a pleasure to hear your insight! I hope you

> share often!

> *smiles*

> Bishop

>

August 13, 2006

Hi Tom,

YES!!!! Driving was a HUGE struggle.

I didn't get my license until my 18th birthday because I wasn't ready

for the pressure.

I found the best way to progress was to drive short distances, take

driving breaks when possible, and choose I smaller car that allows

more control and less clearance both vertically and horizontally.

In my case I actually stayed in a house that had shared kitchen and

living, but private bed and bath. Now I live in a one bedroom

efficiency by-myself.

In my personal opinion, avoid a shared living arrangement, instead

encourage him to venture out and socialize outside home(simulating

adult life).

It is less controlled, more diverse, and much more comfortable.

If he has to share try to get him a private bathroom.

If that's not possible, shared living will work, but It WILL be very

stressful for him.

Many colleges will give you a private room, if you explain his

situation(AS, Anxiety, Stress), some at no extra cost.

Another option is to go off campus to another living place, if his

school require on campus living apply for a medical wavier based on

his needs to live campus.

Hope this helps, I just went through this a year ago!

On Aug 10, 2006, at 9:17 PM, THOMAS WOLFE wrote:

> Hi. My son is 18 and has Asperger's Syndrome. He still does not

> have a drivers licence, but does have a permit. He will be a senior

> this year. He is a straight A student. I think he has one B.

> Anyway, was it hard for you to learn to drive? He drives, but we

> feel he is not ready to be on his own yet. As long as he pays

> attention he is a very good driver, but sometimes he does not pay

> attention and that is dangerous. . Also, he wants to go to collge

> next year. I want him to stay in the dorm because of the commute.

> He is very reluctant to stay in the dorm because of the public

> restrooms. Any suggestions on how to help him overcome this?

>

> Thank you for sharing your story. Our son does not like to talk

> about his Aspergers although we till him it is okay to be different.

>

> " E. Jr. " <jew001@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

> My name is ; I have Asperger's Syndrome. I am a

> 19-year-old college student going to Sam Houston State University to

> become a certified Special Education teacher. My college experience

> has been very difficult and there are many things I wish I knew a year

> ago. Unfortunately, public school is not very skilled at preparing

> parents and students for the big ride to come.

> I would love to help parents and students alike to know what's coming,

> that way it is easier and you can take it in stride.

> Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will

> contribute regularly as I receive new information from Sam Houston and

> elsewhere. I would also love to hear how others are doing with this

> issue.

> Thanks and Good Luck,

>

> Email: Jew001@...

> Phone: 832-452-3155

>

August 13, 2006

I sorry driving was so hard for you.

My parents and I did the parent taught driver's ed because of fear of

that.

Good Luck Rick,

On Aug 11, 2006, at 12:25 PM, Rick Segreda wrote:

> I didn't get my driver's license until I was twenty-one, in my third

> year in college. My parents had to pay for private driving lessons

> that took three times as long as the average person for me to

> complete. This was all way before I was diagnosed, and with so many

> things I felt ashamed of myself, with even my instructor wondering

> aloud if there was something " wrong " with me, and that it had never

> taken so long for him to teach a guy how to drive, et cetera.

>

> I can now look back and understand that for Aspies like myself, that

> is what it takes. More recently, my own grasp of a Tai Chi form

> involved me having to learn each movement by intense repitition over

> an extended period of time. I could lament the situation and not

> learn, or I could accept the situation, and now I can do the entire

> form.

>

> Rick

>

> On 8/11/06, THOMAS WOLFE <okwolfepack@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi. My son is 18 and has Asperger's Syndrome. He still does not