Like their peers, many autistic students attend college. Of the 50,000 teens on the spectrum graduating from high school annually in the United States, at least a third of them pursue higher education (Shattuck, et al., 2012; Wei, et al., 2015). However, their...
When helping students apply to college, I am deeply impressed by their persistence in writing and rewriting what sometimes seems like an endless stream of essays. Every fall we eagerly await that exciting news flash: You’re in! And then the real work begins. Yes,...
Autistic young women are gaining greater visibility–and with rising rates of diagnosis, independent educational consultants (IECs) are likely to encounter more students on the spectrum in their caseloads. However, much of what people know–or think they...
with Sharon Saline, Psy.D. Nia had been so excited to go to college. She’d been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD in eighth grade and received accommodations such as extra time on tests, preferential classroom seating and getting copies of teachers’ notes. An executive...
Kate was a thriving high school junior before COVID hit, active in the French club and the tennis team. After the switch to remote instruction, she missed socializing and exercising with her friends. When the SAT was repeatedly canceled and in-person university tours...
Elena was looking forward to studying marine biology at a liberal arts college. Midway through her first semester she became overwhelmed by the social and academic demands, stopped attending class and moved back home in a state of depression. The only job she has held...
