Choosing a college and staying there

This course introduces common problems encountered by college students on the autism spectrum transitioning from high school and home into a college environment. Some topics covered as these young adults experience the paradigm shift from being advocated for in public school to having to advocate for ones self in college. Some of the topics covered will include obtaining academic accommodations and strategies, legal issues, residential and housing considerations, as well as developing self-advocacy skills while the student is still in the public schools.

There is a point where a person may actually move off the autism spectrum. The person still has the tendencies but may be considered an "autistic cousin." Coined by Autism Network International, the term "autistic cousin" refers to a person whose autistic tendencies are not strong nor numerous enough to be considered as being on the autism spectrum. At this point, it can be difficult to tease out whether certain attributes result from personality or from the autism spectrum disorder. Perhaps it doesn’t matter as long as the person with these issues receives the needed accommodations and understanding.