The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

An increasing number of students with ASD are attending college. Parents and professionals want more information about how to support these students. Ms. Palmer will talk about making the decision about college, how she helped prepare her son for the transition, and issues he has faced in college and strategies that have helped him. She will also discuss the important issues of self-advocacy and self-disclosure for the student with ASD and the parent’s role in supporting the student in college. Increasing numbers of individuals with autism spectrum disorders are going to college. Parents and professionals need information on how to help prepare the student for the transition and support them once in college. Ms. Palmer will talk about her experience with her son with autism who graduated from a large state university. She will talk briefly about her son’s early years following the diagnosis at age two and his school history in self-contained and full inclusion programs. She will talk about the importance of the Transition Plan in high school. She will then discuss how they made the decision about college and the different options of higher education programs and levels of participation that are possible. She will also talk about how to help the student make their own decision about college. Ms. Palmer will describe how she helped prepare her son for college and the creative ways she taught him the functional skills he would need to have, especially in the area of self-help and independence skills. Ms. Palmer will also describe a resource notebook she made for her son to use in college and what information is included. The importance of the orientation experience for the student and for the parents will also be discussed. Ms. Palmer describes the supports available to students in college and what accommodations are possible through Disabilities Services and how to access these services. The importance of self-advocacy at college is emphasized and she gives suggestions of ways to prepare students for this important skill. There are legal differences in the parent’s role as an advocate at the college level and this too will be covered. The issue of self-disclosure is also covered and Ms. Palmer will share her son’s way of disclosing about his autism diagnosis. The presentation will also cover some of the problems that can happen in college for students with ASD and Ms. Palmer will discuss what has been difficult for her son and some of the strategies that have helped with organizational, academic, and social issues. Finally she will describe the positive outcomes of the college experience for her son and for her as a parent. This presentation includes good information to help parents and professionals prepare and support a student on the autism spectrum in college. In addition it includes humorous and touching stories about one family’s experience that will inspire families of individuals on the spectrum. It is appropriate for any parent or student thinking that college could be an option, and for any professional working with students or families considering college. Ms. Palmer has presented on this topic internationally. She presents to audiences of parents as well as professionals and has presented at the National Association of Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD) Conference, the Autism Society of North Carolina Annual Conference, the MAAP Conference, and the Autism Society of America Annual Conference. Her book, Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome: A Parent’s Guide to Student Success is a best seller in the field of autism and was recently translated into Japanese. Her second book, Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum; Unexpected Lesson’s We Have Learned was co-authored with Maureen Morrell and won the 2007 Autism Society of America’s Literary Work of the Year.

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