<p>You heard from others already but as soon as I read your post I was jumping up to type …Marshall. I have never visited however they have worked with several students from my HS. I am an administrator who works closely with our seniors on admissions. Marshall has demonstrated an incredible willingness to work with intellectually diverse students. My students have thrived there. Many colleges grumble when we start talking IEPs or 504 Plans but not Marshall. They truly embrace diversity.</p>
<p>Thank you, Poppyseedz!</p>
<p>Today my DS came to me with information from Juniata college. He’d received a solicitation from them after his PSAT scores came out and he said they look good and he wants to check it out further. I’d never heard of them, though they are in the CTCL book. He would be a physics major, and he is on the high-functioning end of the spectrum. I am thrilled that he is taking ownership of the college search but have some questions.</p>
<p>I read a review that they do not accommodate disabilities graciously. DS would probably need extended time on tests and a single room. I’m also very concerned that they are in PA (in the boondocks) and we are on the west coast. </p>
<p>Does anyone have thoughts on Juniata for students on the spectrum? Thanks.</p>
<p>Poppyseedz,We went to Marshall and like them alot!!! We choose Alabama because my son needed the extra support as far as therapy they provide and it is closer to home.</p>
<p>Calla1…Have you look at the UA-Acts program at the U of Alabama? Their ODS works really well with the program in fact the director of ODS is on the board of the Acts program.My son has had no problems with getting what he needs. The student’s in the program come from all around and I belive that one of the new student this year is fron the west coast. If he keeps up the good work he will graduate this Summer!! We are now praying a job with the National Park service or a State Park service.</p>
<p>Calla: the CTCL book is a good start for locating colleges that are receptive to AS kids. If a school looks interesting, a campus visit is a must. Time it so that classes are available, and an Open House Day often allows kids to sit in on classes w/o too much notice. We did this for all schools flagged by DS. I always made sure to visit Student Disability Office myself to ask specific questions w/o DS, as well as talk privately with several professors encountered during the presentations: what’s your experience w/AS students? what’s your perception of biggest issues? what’s your perception of AS students’ success at your school? Etc. I found some very receptive LACs here in the Midwest.</p>
<p>There’s some good online resources regarding college choice for AS students, and after reviewing the material, we realized that a private smallish LAC would be “best fit” for our AS DS. Of particular help was an online one-page checklist for evaluating colleges and “fit”, which identified specific advantageous characteristics. That list recommended smallish schools as well. Some AS parents will promote larger universities as “best fit”, but I think that decision is really best made with the specific student in mind.</p>
<p>You should be able to find Juniata reviews here through SEARCH.</p>
<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>My dear AS son is hearing back from schools with gaming programs. He fully disclosed his issues and how gaming helped him to overcome many of the deficits.</p>
<p>We have 5 more to hear from but he has been accepted at Miami of Ohio, Rensselaer, and Rochester (RIT).</p>
<p>We are waiting to hear from UCSD, UCSC, Worcester Poly, Case Western, and USC.</p>
<p>Do any of you have opinions about these schools as fits for kids on the spectrum. </p>
<p>Son is bright with a 33 on the ACTs, decent grades and well spoken.</p>
<p>UCSC is the closest.</p>
<p>Beloit was right at the top of the list for us, and we had assumed that a small LAC with top notch science would be a great fit for him (and they also gave him a primo scholarship). BUT it did not feel like a match for OUR PARTICULAR CHILD when we went back for our admitted student visit. He knew himself better by that time. The emphasis on writing across the curriculum – even in calculus, even in chemistry – was too real and annoying to him, and while the Disability Coordinator was professionally on the ball she did not hit it off with him.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while RIT had been down on his list (too, too big and not pure math enough) he (and I) fell in love when he visited after being accepted (and offered a commensurate scholarship. He had only just had his dx changed to Asperger’s and we visited their Asperger support program and he said, “Mom, how come they know exactly what I need?” He loved every single Disability support person he came into contact with, every description of every piece of their program. And he felt like the college was exactly the place he wanted to be … he felt at home.</p>
<p>For the coming year I think they are going to a fee for service basis, but I would pay for it if I had to. Most useful was the general case management. And the pre-orientation, which we paid for anyway. They had 18 Freshman arrive before the onslaught of about 2,000 freshman for 3 days… to quietly settle in. Many had single rooms. They got their schedules set up, saw their classrooms, had group discussions about dorms, met their RA’s, got used to the dorms. When they toured the campus THEY WERE SHOWN QUIET, PRIVATE PLACES in the most used buildings where they could go to regroup, and where the more private bathrooms and study spots were.</p>
<p>Also part of the program was weekly meetings with a peer coach, a graduate psych student under the supervision of the program, to talk over and solve issues with the student. I am also convinced that he got a preference in housing for next year… he and the three friends he made got an apartment in the most desirable complex on campus – I think as part of the program, the case manager helps make sure that extra obstacles are not thrown in their way – they were very proud of him for working the arrangements out with the friends, getting the application in etc, and they assured him that if he didn’t get the apartment he would keep his single so he took the risk.</p>
<p>I am not saying “choose RIT” – but look around hard for schools that offer special features, or people, or feel right for your particular kid.</p>
<p>Our counselor, who specializes in kids with issues, recommended U. of Denver, to which he applied and got in – partly because of their specific disability services. We ruled it out after he got into other schools, so I don’t know what those services are, but you might want to check it out.</p>
<p>Silversas ~ If you don’t mind me asking, what did you like about Beloit for your son before you visited? My DD13 has ADD inattentive(although I think she falls on the spectrum somewhere), and she needs a place where she will be able to get academic support and possibly accommodations. She has been accepted to Beloit, we have visited and she likes the environment, but I haven’t spoken with the Director of Disabilities. We also considered U of Denver, but D was more excited about other places.</p>
<p>Midwestmom: call and talk to the Student Services Director - these offices are comfortable with speaking to parents directly, particularly for incoming freshmen, and expect parents to participate in the initial meetings. Be sure that your DD has the required paperwork establishing disability. HS IEP paperwork and GP’s note usually insufficient for LDs. Also, for Beloit, be sure to visit campus and its economically-depressed town environment too, to confirm “good fit”.</p>