Colleges are Expanding Their Views on Services to Students

Colleges all across the country are changing their approach to working with students with a variety of learning differences, including those who are on the autism spectrum.  I am just back from a tour through IECA of colleges in New York that provide a variety of level of services for students.  It is amazing to learn about the different types of programs and services offered.  Spending time at different colleges really reinforces the idea that each student is unique and what each college or university provides is unique.  Finding a match between the student and the college is a journey, but well worth it to see a student thrive in a supportive academic and social environment.  

​My visit to Marymount Manhattan College was wonderful.  The director of the Academic Access and Disability Services clearly has great knowledge and compassion for students, and that is so important for a successful program https://www.mmm.edu/offices/disability-services/  However, it is not a program that is a fit for all students, which can be said of any college for any student.  Another program that I saw where the compassion and energy of the director was amazing was Hofstra University https://www.hofstra.edu/studentAffairs/stddis/index.html Knowing that a college has services for students is just one step in discovering if a college is a match for a student.   Here is an article that talks about Mercyhurst University, and the wonderful impact their programming has had on students. http://www.today.com/health/more-colleges-helping-students-autism-t20661   Expanding the options for students to receive appropriate supports in college is a great start.  The next step is making sure that what the college provides is a fit for the student.