Autism Scholarships & Disability Scholarships in the USA
1.) A listing of Autism Scholarships in the United States.
2.) A listing of Disability Scholarships available to students for education purposes in the United States.
We could try having a place where people could share about their college experiences. College was such a happy time for me, a time of growing and healing. I love to talk about it. And if it helps anyone to be encouraged to go to college and hear how those of us did coped, I know I'd participate. Less voluminously, I hope.
I'm surprised and a little jealous that so many autistic people have been to college. I can't even fathom going. Besides the sensory issues, and the social challenges, I have such terrible anxiety and perfectionism. How does a person deal with these last two?
Having a therapist you trust who can see you regularly throughout, a great and friendly faculty advisor, a small campus, small class sizes, sympathetic faculty, access to a tutoring and/or mentorship program, socialization opportunities for students with ASD, flexible work accommodations, assistive technology, increased time for test-taking. There are a number of colleges who offer such accommodations. A friend's son was assigned a note-taker (volunteer), so that he could concentrate in class without the pressure of having to write anything.
I went to Wesleyan in Connecticut. There I met many Aspies, and they had special needs accommodations, tutoring, counseling, you name it, and that was 30 years ago.
Like you, Jacoby, I wrestle with anxiety and perfectionism. My parents predicted I would not be able to handle college, given how "high strung" I was. But it worked out. I did really well. My main difficulty was with socializing, but once I found a core group of friends, mostly Aspies (which I didn't know at the time), I felt much more relaxed and supported.
I think the key thing is to get through that first year. That's the toughest. If you can do that, you stand a good chance of making it.
For me, the toughest transition was to Columbia in NYC. It's a huge campus. And class sizes even in the master's program were/are quite large, except for in the seminars. The professors often don't have much interest in the students. The work load was unbelievable. And New York is a very noisy city! And just moving about in NYC and taking the subways at rush hour, well, I certainly learned I could toughen up quite a lot.
There is simply no way I could have survived Columbia as an undergrad. I'm so glad I waited and went "small" for college.
I loved New York actually. After two years, I missed California and returned very happily. But I often thought back on the beautiful autumn colors of Connecticut amd the delirious and terribly exciting energy of NYC.
I'm surprised and a little jealous that so many autistic people have been to college. I can't even fathom going. Besides the sensory issues, and the social challenges, I have such terrible anxiety and perfectionism. How does a person deal with these last two?
I went to college out of high school. All of those issues is why I failed miserably. I luckily stopped before my GPA dropped below the 'point of no return' (lol.. p.o.t.o. reference from me). I'm going back later this year because I now have a therapist that I trust that's going to help me through. I'm going to get disability services through the school. And my husband is really REALLY supportive. The anxiety is going to be rough.. The sensory issues are going to be rough.. I'm hoping I've somewhat gotten over my perfectionism because it can be killer. And I'm definitely going to need to keep some 'as needed' pills with me at all times in class.
For some people it's easier.. Others it's harder.. I'm just hoping I'll come out of my next time around in one piece.
That's cool, Melody. Sounds like you know what you're getting into, and have good supports in place. I bet it'll be better for you this time.
Melody, I wish you the best! It's great that you're going back!
Runawayspacedog: I go to college on the internet.
Hey, Stephanie, do you have to take tests?
Not at my college. It differs from college to college.
I did my basic degree physically at university and it was nothing short of traumatic... There were constant misunderstandings (that got me kicked out at least once). There were massive sensory issues that I didn't even understand I was having (good luck getting me to sit through a lecture or whole tutorial). Basically the medical school I went to made it even harder than it needed to be (I didn't know I had AS until post graduation). Their idea was if I couldn't do things the same way as everyone else then I shouldn't graduate. A friend of mine ho was half blind after a car accident in 3rd year medicine ended up failing out because of this attitude of theirs because they refused to accomodate for her disability despite it being against the law.
I am half way through my second post-grad degree online through another Australian University in a different state. It COULD NOT be more different to my basic medical school experience. The staff are accomodating and understanding. They have offered extra help and accomodatins before I even ask! Even when I have been too scared to ask for an extension they've granted it after the due date. They have been truely wonderful. ALso, online learning has been the BEST thing for me. I can work through at my own pace. When I get all absorbed in something I can keep reading about it if I want because it's on my time and I won't be falling behind the rest of the class. Classmates seem to value my contribution more as they can't see my "different" social skills or way of approaching things. It's honestly heaven on earth as far as studying goes.
My best friend's little brother has Asperger's and after his mum spoke to me about online studies she's trying to get him to try online uni becayse all campus courses have simply been too much for him (with all the other people) - and he is one super bright kid.
I am doing a masters degree at the moment. It's what is called a course work masters with lectures, but it has a large research component too. I had to go to the uni's disability liaison section and register. It meant then that they could officially make things easier for me. If I sit an exam (which I'm not good at doing) they will put me in a room by myself and allow me breaks & a bit of extra time. I try not to ask for extensions for written work submissions because that just puts me more behind and stresses me. I did have to ask for one last week. That particular academic does not give extensions normally. She is aware I'm on the AS but I got 5 days extra and I only needed 4.
But the lecture room is something else. It has no windows and the room was full in the first lecture of the semester which started 1 March. I couldn't cope well. I sat there with my hands over my ears in the break because the noise level was too high. With all the people and the noise the room was terribly claustraphobic. I couldn't wait to get out. One of the other subjects I did last week was in 'block mode'. We had 3 days of 9-5 lectures, also in a room with no windows. I coped better because there were only 20 of us students and we were all sitting with space around us.
Until I actually asked for help officially this degree was very hard. Once I started getting marks for subjects the uni could see I was trying and they became helpful. I don't interact well socially. The liaison section acts as a buffer for me. If I'm taking a subject with a lecturer I've not had before, they will contact that lecturer on my behalf explaining the Asperger's. It had made my life a lot easier. I don't smile (amongst other things) and the liaison people have said that to lecturers & tutors so they know my expressionless face, incredibly intense staring or not looking at all, and sometimes my restlessness (& I have to walk out of the room) is not me being rude or disruptive.
Patchmonk83, I find online learning a bit of a double edged sword for me. Yes I can work at my own pace BUT I also need access to a lecturer sometimes too so I've opted to do on an on campus degree. I am mentally very tired at the moment. Am looking forward to the semester break!
I've had too many run-ins with lecturers and tutors who simply didn't understand me and mademy differences out to be absolutely terrible and incompatible with my chosen profession. I feel much safer studying online from a distance. I find verbal explanations from lecturers hard to understand unless there is a picture or diagram for me to base my understanding on.
Saying that I have had some amazing tutors in my face to face uni studies. I have NO IDEA why one simply didn't fail me... I would just get up at random times during the tutorial (usually feeling overloaded but I wasn't identifying it as that) and then I would simply walk out. I'd take a stroll to the university cafe and come back (usually 30-40 mins later) with an ice coffee in hand and act like I'd never left. Maybe this tutor let me do that because times when I stayed I was probably so distracted and figety it might have been better for everyone else without me there. I know at least one fellow student asked why on earth I simply walked in and out when I could be marked down on attendance. I had no explanation for him. Let's just say it worked well though - that semester I got my highest marks ever (a bit like yrs 11 and 12 when my teachers allowed me the same freedom).
I do have stuff to put, but I'm having a hard time finding the time to type out my long post. And with my hub and mom both home sick today, I don't see doing it today either.
Proud Asperger's woman, married, with two Autistic boys
AS Parenting