What colleges are you considering for your ASD teen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone share specific experience in Maryland? We have a junior ASD/ADHD. We have done some casual visits to Towson, UMBC, UMD and SMCM. He feels he would be more comfortable at a larger school. I think he feels that his social awkwardness would stand out more at a small school which was his experience in elementary. I have stressed the accessibility to professors could be helpful at a smaller school like SMCM but he won’t hear it. I hear on this board a lot of smaller school recommendations but hoping he can find support at a larger school too- hopefully a single dorm room. We are targeting MD instate COA and a few hours driving or train away max hence the focus on MD.

Our dev ped has good things to say about the autism support program at Towson. If he's open to considering a small school, our school college counselor (specializing in ND students) raves about McDaniel.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Looked up the Towson program online and very interested. I have also heard great things about McDaniel. Will keep it in mind if he changes his opinion on the smaller schools.

[Anonymous]

Anyone found a consultant helpful for navigating this process? Our teen seems (to me) too high functioning for the 2 year specialized programs (which often seem to be for kids w/ ID or more significant DDs) but not advanced enough academically for a traditional 4 year program.

Looking for a decent fit. Obviously interested in community college too, but hoping she can get at least two years living somewhere else to gain independence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone found a consultant helpful for navigating this process? Our teen seems (to me) too high functioning for the 2 year specialized programs (which often seem to be for kids w/ ID or more significant DDs) but not advanced enough academically for a traditional 4 year program.

Looking for a decent fit. Obviously interested in community college too, but hoping she can get at least two years living somewhere else to gain independence

What about a school like landmark or beacon?

[Anonymous]

NOVA then we will see

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is at RIT (ASD/ADHD/2e) and thriving. Good supports and a nerdy vibe to the campus which is great for him.

Great to hear, I have my sights on this school for my son who sounds similar! May I ask what his GPA/SAT stats were? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread to see if anyone has experience with navigating ADHD/ASD at a large midwest public- Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State, etc. are a few we are considering for major and merit purposes but concerned about support and distant from home. Level 1 ASD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to see if anyone has experience with navigating ADHD/ASD at a large midwest public- Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State, etc. are a few we are considering for major and merit purposes but concerned about support and distant from home. Level 1 ASD.

I know all kids are different but I would have trepidation about these. I have heard that Penn State for example is very hard for kids who fall through the cracks—lots of self advocacy and self-direction is needed, and ability to navigate bureaucracy. It’s instate for us and I have known boys with LDs and mild SN who have flamed out there.

My son with that profile is in college and the thing that has been most crucial is that the college isn’t too far from home. I would prioritize distance heavily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to see if anyone has experience with navigating ADHD/ASD at a large midwest public- Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State, etc. are a few we are considering for major and merit purposes but concerned about support and distant from home. Level 1 ASD.

I graduated from Ohio State and unfortunately I would not recommend it for your student unless they're extremely strong in and confident at self advocacy. I was not diagnosed with either autism or ADHD while I attended (diagnosis of both came in my early 20s after I severely flamed out at my first job) but I was registered with the disability services office due to a physical disability and while they tried to be helpful they were definitely overburdened and understaffed.

Students are completely responsible for going to the professor's office hours to let the prof know they're registered with disability services and discussing how their accommodations will apply to the specific class (the office provides a letter confirming it and stating the approved accommodations) and at least in my case the process was so intimidating I usually just didn't do it, didn't get accommodations, and suffered for it.

Students have to be organized and proactive in mapping out their schedules and asking good questions of their assigned academic advisor. Some advisors are better than others but in general I would say a student should expect to do most of the leg work themselves.

Socially, there were a ton of options but in my experience it is super easy to just kind of get lost in the shuffle.

I feel bad that this post was so negative, and definitely keep in mind that it is only one person's opinion, but I would be cautious in your student's case.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to both PPs. I will say that my kid has surprisingly strong executive functioning skills. He took 5 APs this year and does not use many supports from his 504. He is also pretty good at self advocating. My biggest hesitancy is on the emotional and social support level. DS struggles with rigidity and social situations. He does have a close friend group though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone posted about looking at the gen ed requirements which is something I never considered. But for my STEM loving, humanities avoiding kid, a school with limited humanities requirements will be a much better fit than one requiring credits across multiple humanities disciplines.

Related to this, at least in my undergrad there was a foreign language requirement for graduation. Do schools offer waivers or alternate options to achieve foreign language requirements for kids with LDs that make learning foreign languages difficult? Our DD is disinterested in struggling thought a foreign language but not sure if that eliminates lots of schools or if that is generally accommodated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone posted about looking at the gen ed requirements which is something I never considered. But for my STEM loving, humanities avoiding kid, a school with limited humanities requirements will be a much better fit than one requiring credits across multiple humanities disciplines.

Related to this, at least in my undergrad there was a foreign language requirement for graduation. Do schools offer waivers or alternate options to achieve foreign language requirements for kids with LDs that make learning foreign languages difficult? Our DD is disinterested in struggling thought a foreign language but not sure if that eliminates lots of schools or if that is generally accommodated.

Schools have no obligation under ADA to waive foreign language requirements but some do. You'll have to check with the specific schools your daughter is interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone found a consultant helpful for navigating this process? Our teen seems (to me) too high functioning for the 2 year specialized programs (which often seem to be for kids w/ ID or more significant DDs) but not advanced enough academically for a traditional 4 year program.

Looking for a decent fit. Obviously interested in community college too, but hoping she can get at least two years living somewhere else to gain independence

What about a school like landmark or beacon?

Look at schools like Marshall or Mercyhurst. Also, many of our ASD kids are not socially mature so a year at community college to get acclimated to college courses before going away may be helpful.

Landmark and Beacon are both very small. I would definitely visit to see if either would be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

available at extra cost at osu:

https://nisonger.osu.edu/adolescent/ace-autism-college-experience-at-osu/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone found a consultant helpful for navigating this process? Our teen seems (to me) too high functioning for the 2 year specialized programs (which often seem to be for kids w/ ID or more significant DDs) but not advanced enough academically for a traditional 4 year program.

Looking for a decent fit. Obviously interested in community college too, but hoping she can get at least two years living somewhere else to gain independence

What about a school like landmark or beacon?

Look at schools like Marshall or Mercyhurst. Also, many of our ASD kids are not socially mature so a year at community college to get acclimated to college courses before going away may be helpful.

Landmark and Beacon are both very small. I would definitely visit to see if either would be a good fit.

We're considering a year at Mansfield Hall for that very reason -- letting them move away from home after high school, which they are very ready to do, but get support acclimating to college level work before starting a 4 year program.