Parents of students on the spectrum are often very involved because that is the only way to make sure school works for your child. Jackie Lorrainne began navigating her son James' school experiences as soon as he was diagnosed in elementary school, and all the way through his college graduation coming up in May of 2022 from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. 

Along the way she found James a therapeutic middle school and high school, she compromised with him about college choices, and, coached him over the phone about his dorm situation once he got there and eventually decided to transfer to a different university. Jackie just successfully defended her Ed.D. dissertation, based on her experiences seeking resources and supports as the mother guiding a young Black man with autism seeking success in school. For all of these reasons, this episode is a must-listen. 

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James T. had his heart set on attending an historically black college (HBCU). But the dorm set-up and social scene proved challenging. So for the second semester of his freshman year, he transferred to the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He thrived there, socially and academically. He says he "found a home":  had an easier time in the dorms with a single room, and participated in a selective internship program. James is now a senior,  on track to graduate in the spring. But early on, he bypassed asking for some of the accommodations he was entitled to. James explains how being on the spectrum can make that complicated, and talks about how colleges are figuring it out.

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Caroline talks with one of her professors at Cal State Fullerton, JudelMay Enriquez, about the ways they worked together. Caroline was struggling in a methods and research class. Even with accommodations, she found she got more support by visiting her professor during office hours to let her get to know her, and her learning style better. She also picked up strategies for keeping up in the course. They also discuss how professors can reach out to students on the spectrum who may benefit from academic support.

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Tony Y. is three weeks into his freshman year at the University of Oregon, and so far he loves the vibe in Eugene, the great food in town, and his first-quarter classes: The Politics of Business, algebra, trumpet studio, and he's in the marching band.

Hear more about how Tony is settling in, his unique living arrangement, and his advice on how to talk to professors. Another hack: Get a Safeway card, don't DoorDash every meal.

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Many colleges and universities are opening up more offerings for students on the spectrum who are seeking a college experience without pursuing a degree. These certificate programs are often a good fit for students who are curious about a range of subjects, seek social settings, and want to gain independent living skills but may have intellectual disabilities or other challenges. In this episode, we hear from Charlie who is a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Jessica Keefhaver who runs the Path to Independence project there.

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Choosing the right school can require lots of research, especially when you're on the Spectrum. It's not just finding a college with majors you are interested in, but also figuring out which schools have support services and programs that match your needs. 

Eric Endlich has created a huge database on his website that lays it all out. He also advises students privately in his college counseling business that he founded because he saw too many students on the spectrum going off to college and having a hard time. He thought he could help, and now he's switched his focus from psychotherapy to college admissions. Hear what he has to say about the range of options out there, and how to choose a college.

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Guillermo Guzman says he was never one of the most popular kids in high school, but he was one of the smartest. When he gets to UCRiverside, he feels like he's pretty average. He struggles socially and academically. Finding it hard to connect with classmates, he broke down and joined the anime club. And then there was an incident that changed everything.

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Caroline spent a little over 8 years at community college. She wanted to pass her classes without feeling overwhelmed, and, she did it.  Then she transferred to Cal State Fullerton and earned her B.S. in Health Science after four more years. Finding the right major and career path was a process that might seem too slow to some students (and their parents) but Caroline was determined to make her own choices along the way, and she has no regrets. As a self-advocate, she joined the Cal State Fullerton Student Disability Advisory Committee to make sure all neurodiverse students are supported, and feel empowered to make college life choices.

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Aniella Fields had the grades, but she was very hesitant about going to college. Her parents told her she had to give it a try. She was accepted to UC Riverside and moved into a dorm her first semester. Then she struggled a bit as a sophomore and decided to disclose her diagnosis. She also changed majors, got involved with TEDx and other extracurricular activities, and ultimately did well enough to graduate in three years. Plus, hear all about her time in Japan. She loved it.

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Jasmine Board is a junior at UC Riverside. She was on campus for a quarter when COVID hit, but she says it turns out online school is great for her. She doesn’t need a note taker now because she can listen to the posted lectures at any speed she wants, as many times as she wants.  Jasmine also talks about wishing she hadn’t hesitated to transfer to a four year university, finding her passion in the environmental sciences, making friends, and more: being selected for a NASA internship, her job, her boyfriend, and mountain biking. 

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