<p>CC'ers with disabilities, take heed: always call before you apply, and ask plenty of questions. You'll learn a great deal. </p>
<p>Yesterday, at the behest of my guidance counselor, I called eleven of the thirteen colleges I applied to last fall to talk about disability services, residence life, and campus "autism-fiendliness." I know that this was a dangerous move admissions-wise, but it was necessary, as my guidance couselor said that she was ethically-bound to make those calls if I refused to do so. </p>
<p>My admissions officer with The College of Wooster was thrilled with the chance to talk about the virtues of her employer, and she told me that she had her "fingers crossed" for my acceptance. Notable quotable: "The people with the disabilities office are some of the nicest people that I have ever known." </p>
<p>The man who spoke to me about Grinnell was just as friendly. He told me that GC has a partnership with a local hospital that provides student mental health services for free. Grinnell's only autism-unfriendly aspect is the coed bathrooms in some of the dorms. It's a pity that I probably won't get into Grinnell. </p>
<p>The best response of all came from Beloit College, an autism-friendly institution if there ever was one. I spoke to both my admissions officer and the head of the office of disability services. My admissions officer remembered me from my e-mail (which I sent way back in October!) and answered my questions with tact, sensitivity, and enthusiasm. The head of disability services told me about all the great accommodations that were available, but she warned me about the amount of group work that I should expect as a psychology major. </p>
<p>The people at Clark University were horrible. The first time I called, the admissions office routed my call to the dean's office, which routed my call back to the admissions office, which routed my call to the student counseling center, whose receptionist hung up on me. The second time I called, I demanded to speak to an admissions officer. The admissions officer basically told me that Clark University has none of the services I need. I can’t believe I paid the $40 application fee. </p>
<p>My call to Hendrix College took a mundane course. Hendrix offers some services but not others. </p>
<p>The woman who I spoke to at Ursinus College (J.D. Salinger’s alma mater) was a d.amned Yankee who spoke so quickly that I could barely understand her. I did gather that Ursinus College has all the academic services I need, but no single dorms. </p>
<p>The people at Earlham were very considerate, and they conversed with me like I mattered to them. They were knowledgeable about autism and Asperger's syndrome, and they gave me specific examples of Asperger's students who thrived at Earlham. Earlham has some of the accommodations that I asked about (including some awesome note-taking machines called “Smart Pens”), but not others. They were the only admissions people who told me that my college life would be complicated by my inability to drive. </p>
<p>When I called Smith, Lawrence U, Guilford, and Kalamazoo, no one was available to speak to me (not out of rudeness - staff members were in meetings or on their lunch breaks when I called.)</p>
<p>Obviously, I got some responses that delighted me and others that filled me with dismay. No matter how wonderful the Beloit/Wooster/Grinnell/Earlham/Ursinus people were, I am still furious at myself for letting certain schools fall through the cracks of my perception. Lesson learned: always voice your concerns before you apply, and never just assume that small LACs are great places for students with disabilities.</p>
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<p>Note: this is a partial repost from a thread I started on WrongPlanet.com</p>