Steps to Take After Being Accepted into College

     For many on the autistic spectrum, just making the jump to pursuing a secondary education can be quite a big step. By making the jump, you’re already beating some very long odds. More than half of all people in your age group on the autism spectrum do not even enroll in college (Autism Speaks). But if you’re reading this, you’re probably asking yourself, “What exactly should I be doing in my first days or before I go to college?” This is a very important question, as the steps you and your family can take before entering college, or in your first days, can very determine how successful your college career is.

·         Talk to your professors in advance

Talking to your professors about being on the autism spectrum disorder can go a long way towards establishing a good relationship, which will help you in spades in the future. Professors typically respect those who point this out in advance, primarily due to the initiative you’re showing, and this will help when the time comes to get help from them too (Rudy). If you take anything away from this post, it’s that talking to your professors is important.

·         Know where the disability support service is on campus

There will be times where you will require additional help. At the University of Wyoming, I’ve arranged to be in a private room and get double time on tests, exams, and quizzes, and that was all through University Disability Support Services, the disability program at my school. Sometimes it’s things like this that can really make or break you when it comes to tests and grades, and just getting that extra help will go a long way to ensuring some form of success down the line.

·         If possible, request a single room if you intend to live in a dorm; or at least inform the administration about your condition

Though some might appreciate having a roommate, as I had one for one year, it’s not for everyone, and if you want that extra space and time to yourself, getting a single room should be an absolute priority. Even if you can’t get a single room to yourself, just the act of telling the administration about your condition will do wonders for your mental health. In the event a single room isn’t available, other accommodations can be made. Just because a room isn’t available immediately doesn’t mean one won’t come up eventually.

·         Know your limitations

For those coming out of high school who did well academically, it can be a shock to the system when you see how hard the classes are. High school doesn’t prepare you all that well for college, so be prepared for the shock. I sure wasn’t. Set realistic goals for yourself as you enter college. It might be hard to grasp, again, it was for me, but sometimes just passing a hard class can be a goal, rather than acing it. Knowing your limitations will go a long way towards establish the correct mindset in the future.

·         Most importantly, do your best!

It might seem incredibly trivial, and not to mention cliché, but doing your best is what counts. Professors, from my experience, have little sympathy for those who aren’t even trying. However, they are extremely sympathetic to those who are showing that they’re attempting their best, but are still struggling anyways. Remember how I said that it’s important that you establish a relationship with your professor early? This is where doing your best comes in, as professors will just be that more sympathetic. Plus, college requires that you put your best foot forward, so go ahead and do it!

            College is a stressful experience for the first few days, but the things that you choose to do now, and in the days that will follow will greatly change the trajectory of the path you take through college. Taking the steps above won’t necessarily prevent you from struggling, but it’ll make getting through the struggles that much easier, and at the end of the two or four years of study, you’ll have a degree to look upon thanks to your efforts.

Sources

Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Autism Speaks. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/

Rudy, L. J. (2019, May 22). 13 tips for autistic students entering mainstream college. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/going-through-college-with-asperger-syndrome-260485

Adjusting to Online Learning as an Autist

      The COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives. For those of us still in secondary education, or are still pursuing it, the changes have been far more noticeable. Due to social distancing, instead of heading to class in person, we are now using the Internet to participate in our classes. While, for some of us on the spectrum, this can be a benefit, it may be a complete struggle for others. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the many who have been struggling to handle with the change. Just know that, you are not alone, and that there are steps you can take to make the change that much easier to cope with.

·         Establish a routine as soon as possible

Establishing a routine is almost a requirement for normal life for those of us on the autistic spectrum. While most of us had routines set up when we were in school to begin with, that has completely changed on account of COVID-19. This is why it is more imperative than ever to establish a routine that will provide you with some sense of stability. While this may be hard to adjust to, this will be required for success (Autism Speaks). I’ve already taken action to give myself some form of a routine, and it has done wonders for my sense of well-being. Following this should give you a similar result.

·         Show some discipline

Autistic students, like myself, can struggle when it comes to online learning because of how open it is. Unlike the classes taken in person, and unless there are regular meetings, online classes leave a lot of breathing room, which can give people a lot of time on their hands. Because of the available time, you need to have more self-discipline than usual in how you go about your classes (Rudy). Furthermore, this also means that, without self-discipline, you may find yourself worse off than your peers who do have self-discipline. If you need to take just one thing from this post, it’s that self-discipline is necessary to succeed in this trying time.

·         Keep your support in mind

Just because you’re back at home does not mean you do not have access to advisors and support staff you had back at college. For example, though I had to move out from the University of Wyoming this semester, I still have access to the disability support services I had at the university. While I personally have adjusted to the online learning situation and haven’t had to use it yet, check to see if you still have access to your own support service! If it’s still there, use it.

The transition to online learning is admittedly going to be a stressful one. Many of us did not think we’d be ending our semesters at home on account of a global pandemic, but we still have measure of control left in our lives. Taking the steps above can allow you gain back some of that control, and this will contribute to getting the degree you’ve been shooting for all this time.

Sources

Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Autism Speaks. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/

Rudy, L. J. (2019, May 22). 13 tips for autistic students entering mainstream college. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/going-through-college-with-asperger-syndrome-260485

An Infographic on the Struggles of Autistic Students

       The plight of the autistic student is a plight largely ignored in society. The lack of help that autistic students are receiving is hurting their chances to get a secondary education. So, if you're wondering why it's so important for autistic students to get help, consider the facts below.

        Now that you know the facts, check out the rest of my blog or stay tuned to it to find out how you can deal with this crisis.