For any college student, the stress, workload, and schedule of college can be demanding, but the adjustment is often more difficult for those with autism.
The lively environment at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus presents a number of difficulties for students with autism. Managing the freedom, social dynamics, and increased academic obligations that come with college life can be a day-to-day challenge.
Blair Braden, an associate professor at ASU, helps explain the difficulties faced by students with autism.
“It’s getting better, but there is a long way to go,” said Braden. “There are a lot more students with autism at ASU who are not registered because of the lack of being widely advertised.”
Braden is referring to the need for greater awareness of resources available to students on the spectrum.
While services like Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS) are invaluable, many students with autism are hesitant to register or are unaware that support exists.
Students enrolled at ASU but have not yet registered with Student Accessibility can begin the process by completing a registration form. This form is part of an intake process designed to gather information about the student’s specific needs.
SAILS, the Disability Resource Center for all ASU campuses, plays a crucial role in helping students succeed academically.
“One thing that comes to mind is the flexible deadlines due to SAILS,” Braden said.
For students who might experience sensory overload, require more time to take in information, or have trouble with executive functioning skills necessary for time management and organization, this flexibility is essential.
The accommodations include extended time on exams, access to lecture notes, or specialized equipment designed to support a student’s specific needs.
In higher education, accommodations are designed to help students fully engage in their learning environment while maintaining the academic integrity of the course.
While SAILS provides academic accommodations, the social aspects of university life remain overwhelming.
According to Maria Dixon, a clinical professor at ASU, “being socially engaged was reported to be the most challenging.”
University social interactions can be intimidating, particularly in settings that can feel overpowering or alienating. This can result in anxiety, depression or loneliness.
These problems are becoming more prevalent among students who are neurodivergent.
Dixon, who works closely with students on the autism spectrum, explains that while academic difficulties do exist, they are often secondary to organizational struggles.
“The difficult adjustment is not academically, but organizing oneself,” Dixon said. “Students with autism are less likely to stay in college through graduation.”
This is reflected in the statistics: neurodivergent students have a graduation rate of just 39%, compared to 59% for their neurotypical peers.
The gap is distinct, and it highlights the need for systemic changes to ensure that these students are not left behind.
The rise in autism diagnoses also indicates that support services are becoming more and more in demand.
“Autism is being diagnosed in one in 36 people, and it is only increasing as more knowledge is discovered,” Dixon says.
At universities like ASU, the need for more specialized support is growing along with the prevalence of autism. Dixon adds that the 450 students who are registered under SAILS are probably undercounted because many students do not register for services because they feel stigmatized or unaware of it.
It is impossible to ignore the emotional and mental health difficulties that autistic students endure.
“Students who are neurodivergent have higher rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depression,” says Dixon.
These students frequently experience mental and emotional exhaustion due to the demands of social expectations, the academic workload, and the need for independence.
ASU provides a range of student clubs and tools with the goal of improving support for students with autism.
A group called Neurodiverse Devils focuses on raising awareness and educating others on neurodiversity, as well as creating a friendly environment where people of different neurotypes can interact and support one another.
The Accessibility Coalition creates a community where students can form friendships with people who share their struggles by giving them a safe place to interact and share their stories.
ASU Counseling Services provides mental health support to students who are having issues that impact their capacity to graduate or continue their education.
Since every person’s journey is unique, the service takes the utmost care when considering mental health needs, life experiences and academic goals. For students who need assistance at any time or location, they offer resources, support groups and same-day clinical care.
While resources like these provide valuable support, the road ahead for students with autism is still long. For many, it is not just about surviving college but thriving within it.
“It’s getting better,” Braden said. “But there is a long way to go.”
With continued effort, awareness, and advocacy, the journey toward making ASU truly inclusive for students with autism can continue to move forward.
Students with autism and other challenges also benefit from the efforts of groups like Ability360.
Ability360 collaborates with ASU’s School of Social Work, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, and Therapeutic Recreation Program as an intern placement location.
By welcoming an audience of people with different disabilities to give their opinions, Ability360 also offers disability awareness training in ASU classrooms.
“Ability360 offers disability awareness training in ASU classrooms by providing a panel of different perspectives of people with various disabilities,” Black explained.
Ability360 also participates in Project Oasis, which is led by former education director Kathy Hoffman and other community partners.
The project’s main goals are to support the education department and increase services. “With strategic team teaching, educators collaborate and have dedicated planning time to be creative and personalize learning” Hoffman said.
The advocacy services offered by Ability360 are essential for assisting people with impairments in making life decisions and helping ensure that students with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed in their educational pursuits.
“Ability360, like all other Centers for Independent Living, supports and offers three types of advocacy: Individual Advocacy, Self-Advocacy, and Community and Systems Change Advocacy to empower individuals with disabilities to make their own decisions,” Black said.
In settings where others might not be aware of one’s rights as a person with a disability, individual advocacy involves offering one-on-one assistance. People who practice self-advocacy get the confidence to speak up for themselves and their needs.
To boost confidence in this area, Ability360 offers a range of workshops, classes, and initiatives.
“Monthly classes for individuals with disabilities to learn and practice independent living skills are scheduled from 10 am. to noon on the third Tuesday of each month.” said John Beaubien, director of Ability360’s marketing team.
The free classes are scheduled online via Zoom, offering an accessible and flexible format for participants. These classes, which are facilitated by Ability360, provide valuable resources for individuals with disabilities who are seeking to navigate and excel within academic environments and their growing lifestyle.
360Youth is another important program that helps young people make the transition to post-secondary school by giving them the resources to look into educational options and learn how to speak for themselves when they need accommodations.
All of Ability360’s organizations serve anyone with any type of disability. The Ability360 programs that work the most with neurodiverse people would be 360Youth, This is MY Life program, Independent Living Skills, and the Sports and Fitness Center.
With partners like Ability360 working alongside ASU, students with autism and other disabilities have access to resources and support to help them thrive in their academic and social lives.
Edited by Shi Bradley
