Post secondary transition planning actually starts with the question:
"What is the final goal?"
I think for most parents the answer would be:
Getting a job they enjoy and that pays a livable wage.
But autistic teens and young adults don't necessarily adhere to the same schedule as their NT peers.
It isn't as simple as choosing a college, enrolling and then working through the requirements for a degree.
So where do we start?
We start where they are right now.
If you have a middle-school student start thinking about the life skills they will need and work on those. That could be anything from brushing their own teeth daily to learning how to get up in the morning on their own. Any skill they learn now is one less change they will have to deal with when it is time to graduate.
If you have a high-school student it is time to determine what accommodations may be needed, what skills they can master and what interests they have. Skills like driving a car become more important when you consider how it may impact their ability to go to college or get a job. They may need accommodations for taking the ACT or SAT test to get a good score. Whatever grade they are in, it is time to take a look at the skills they have and what they need to learn.
Why go to College?
Many studies have shown that over a lifetime an adult with a college degree will make more money than one without.
But here are other considerations for attending college too. Many schools have access to internships and on the job training options. This kind of experience will make any student more employable and help them learn some of the other skills that go into keeping a job.
Colleges often have a wide variety of social groups with specific interests. Joining one of these groups can help students meet others with similar interests and begin networking for post-college opportunities.
Choosing a College
Some students may already know what they want to do as an adult and so may already have some direction on whether a 2 year or 4 year degree is better for them. If they don't really have any ideas this is where it is important to look at their interests and strengths.
A student who enjoys numbers and analytics may want to consider a 4 year degree in a field that utilizes that interest. A student who is good at troubleshooting mechanical issues may want to look at a technical degree and someone who wants to be a writer may want to get an online degree.
Of course most teens really don't know what they want to do as adults and it may be a good idea to start at a community college for general education requirements and then make a decision from there.
(If you are interested in getting a list of the top 10 colleges for autistic students be sure to request this free list from www.asd-dr.com)
"What is the final goal?"
I think for most parents the answer would be:
Getting a job they enjoy and that pays a livable wage.
But autistic teens and young adults don't necessarily adhere to the same schedule as their NT peers.
It isn't as simple as choosing a college, enrolling and then working through the requirements for a degree.
So where do we start?
We start where they are right now.
If you have a middle-school student start thinking about the life skills they will need and work on those. That could be anything from brushing their own teeth daily to learning how to get up in the morning on their own. Any skill they learn now is one less change they will have to deal with when it is time to graduate.
If you have a high-school student it is time to determine what accommodations may be needed, what skills they can master and what interests they have. Skills like driving a car become more important when you consider how it may impact their ability to go to college or get a job. They may need accommodations for taking the ACT or SAT test to get a good score. Whatever grade they are in, it is time to take a look at the skills they have and what they need to learn.
Why go to College?
Many studies have shown that over a lifetime an adult with a college degree will make more money than one without.
But here are other considerations for attending college too. Many schools have access to internships and on the job training options. This kind of experience will make any student more employable and help them learn some of the other skills that go into keeping a job.
Colleges often have a wide variety of social groups with specific interests. Joining one of these groups can help students meet others with similar interests and begin networking for post-college opportunities.
Choosing a College
Some students may already know what they want to do as an adult and so may already have some direction on whether a 2 year or 4 year degree is better for them. If they don't really have any ideas this is where it is important to look at their interests and strengths.
A student who enjoys numbers and analytics may want to consider a 4 year degree in a field that utilizes that interest. A student who is good at troubleshooting mechanical issues may want to look at a technical degree and someone who wants to be a writer may want to get an online degree.
Of course most teens really don't know what they want to do as adults and it may be a good idea to start at a community college for general education requirements and then make a decision from there.
(If you are interested in getting a list of the top 10 colleges for autistic students be sure to request this free list from www.asd-dr.com)
