I have high functioning autism, and will be graduating high school in a couple of years. Since I’ve just started the college search process, I have several questions.
-Will it affect my chances if my letter of recommendation is written by a contact teacher?
-How can I mention my previous accommodations that I might need through college during the application process?
-One of the colleges that I want to go to happens to have an autism center, but it’s not specifically intended for students. However, I’ll have a lot of adjustment to do, and it would help to have someone who actually knows something about ASD to help me along the way. Would it be helpful to utilize their services?
Hi there
I have a son who is a senior this year who is in the application process right now. I am not sure what you mean by a contact teacher. Is this an RSP, SpEd teacher, or case carrier?
As for accommodations, you don’t need to mention them during you application process.Typically once you are accepted to a school you would speak to their disabilities office. Schools may vary in how well they accommodate, but all schools are required to offer accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The amount of help they offer can vary from the very basic - extra time on tests, noise free testing area etc. to full scale programs with mentoring and one on one help (often fee based). Colleges also vary on how much documentation they need before they will offer services. Some will work with you after receiving your IEP from high school. Others require recent testing (within the last 3 years) and significant documentation.
As for the autism center, a lot of universities have autism research centers specifically designed to research the area of autism but they may not have resources for students. This is something you would need to check. Just because a school has a center does not mean they are equipped to help individual students with college. There are schools that do have very robust autism support centers, however. This is a list of most of them. http://www.ldcollegeoptions.com/colleges-with-support-programs-for-autism-spectrum-disorders.html
There are also two schools that specialize in helping students with LDs, ADHD, and ASDs - Landmark and Beacon. They are non traditional colleges designed for students who need more than what is available at typical colleges.
Fellow ASD (High Functioning Autism) student here. I’m a college sophomore.
I did not disclose the ASD in my applications (I did disclose my ADHD). Once you choose what school you’re going to attend, you will forward your diagnosis report and other paperwork to their disability services office and they will evaluate you for accommodations. As part of this, you’ll tell them what accommodations you had in the past and what you would like currently. I get 50% extended time on tests, which is very helpful for me. I also often get to take my tests in a different room by myself without distractions even though that’s not specified in my accommodations because most of my professors find it easier to administer my exam that way.
I’m not sure I know what you mean by a contact teacher? Is that someone who works with you one on one on how to interact socially?