Aspergers, Autism and College – A New Source of Help

I found a great article in the Arizona Republic on a new programstarting up at The University of Arizona – Chapel Hill that is aimed to help Autistic People with the overwhelming situation of leaving home and going to college.

Chapel Haven West, a two-year residential program for young adults with autism-spectrum disorders, launched June 30 in partnership with the University of Arizona.

The 16 students in the program will be integrated on the campus in a number of ways, but the biggest connection is with the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Betty McDonald, a speech pathologist and an associate professor at UA, will supervise UA graduate students as they work with Chapel Haven students on social-communication skills.

This program seems interesting to me, because it seems to have the goal of readying Autistic People for post-secondary education (which is needed in order to be self-sufficient in our culture.)  The college atmosphere would be most likely overwhelming for someone without Autism – so if you add  the Autism college is a big change, and an overwhelming atmosphere.

What is the rest of the Autistic Communities thoughts on this program?

Tagged as: Aspergers, Autism, chappel hill, college, overwhelming, university of arizona