TAKING A BROAD LOOK AT THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

In continuing this series of blog posts about the transition from high school to college for students with learning differences or disabilities such as autism, I will now try and take a broader view of the issue.  I have posted previously about the importance of being aware of how the rights and responsibilities of the students and the school differ between high school and college.  I also posted about the importance of developing the independent living skills necessary to thrive in a college setting.  To bring it all together means to focus on the concept of self-advocacy as a cornerstone to success in college.  Students must be able to understand their challenges and advocate for their needs in a meaningful way with others.  This is a skill that requires practice and nurturing by parents and the community.  This article speaks to some points previously made in this blog, as well as new ideas.  It also highlights a Self Advocacy and Self Assessment Guide.  This type of information can be very helpful to parents and students as they explore the skills to build for  a successful transition to college.  The more informed students are about what is expected from them in a college setting, the more smooth the transition.  ​