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I recently corresponded with James Williams, a college student and Elementary/Special Education major. James is the president of the Council for Exceptional Children at his university, a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, and a member of his university’s Dean’s List. He also has Asperger’s Syndrome. James shared with me some strategies, resources, and tips to help students with Autism prepare for college and independent living. Read More
James Williams
James, I hope you realize that your accommodations will end shortly. When you graduate and start looking for a job, you will need to be able to perform that job the same as anyone else. No more note takers to do your reports or write your lesson plans. No extra time to get the job done. The expectations will change. I hope you will be ready. You know your rights now, but your responsibilities with the coming job will weigh heavily with no more accommodations. I have always felt that we do the children with disabilities such a disservice teaching them that their disability does not matter, it does. Accommodations may salve your needs now, but won't be there in life to help. Then the competition will be keen and tough. I wish you the best.
comment on "Anonymous" submission
James, you probably know that the comments submitted by Anonymous on July 4, 2008 at 9:49pm are inaccurate (not to mention, insensitive and uninformed). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has provisions for individuals with all kinds of disabilities in the workplace, and if you have a disability and choose to disclose it to the employer, your employer is obligated by law, to provide "reasonable" accommodations. It's true that individuals with particular disabilities might not apply for certain jobs, say if the person works slowly then they wouldn't apply for a job that requires speed and agility. However, this is true for all of us, we all seek out employment that matches not only our interests, but also our abilities.
It's unfortunate that there are people who don't understand the opportunities that are available for individuals with disabilities and feel that accommodations are like "cheating." In fact, I have several teenage clients who have been made to believe by the adults around them that they are cheating by asking for accommodations and that if only they would put more effort into it, they could do the same type of work any other student is able to do. Hence, these students are ashamed to ask for accommodations, and struggle to keep up with their non-disabled peers.
Accommodations are intended to "level the playing field," not to give special treatment to the person with a disability over the one without. People with autism spectrum disorders and other types of "invisible" disabilities (vs. the more obvious disabilities such as a missing leg/arm, a paraplegic, blindness, etc.) are often subject to the attitude that they are just "lazy" or that they want special treatment, when their disability is just as dis-abling as any other type of visible disability.
I say congratulations to you! Keep reaching for the stars and using your self-advocacy skills to help you get there. You're a great example for other students who either don't know about accommodations, are ashamed to ask for them, or have been made to feel inadequate for needing/asking for assistance.
Dr. Freedman, thank you for
Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/positively-autism
http://www.PositivelyAutism.com/
Reply to Anonymous
Thanks for your comments. I think that colllege is a time to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can discover which types of careers might be best for you. If an individual needs assistance with note taking or test-taking settings, it does not mean that they cannot have a successful career. Perhaps these individuals can look for something where these skills are not as important. However, college classes (particularly core classes) are just that: classes. They are not the real world of a job, so things like note-taking are routine to most of them. Therefore, I think that these types of accommodations are important.
At the same time, it is also important for students, with or without an "official" disability, to recognize both their gifts and challenges, and how they can work with both to achieve their goals.
Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/positively-autism
http://www.PositivelyAutism.com/
From a parent
My daughter was not diagnosed with Asperger's until the summer between high school and college. One of the biggest skills she had to learn was how to self-advocate. Most colleges will not allow parents to assist since the students are adults.
She had a hard time until we found her a coach, and she started learning to self-advocate (she graduated a couple of months ago with honors, and now is pursuing her dreams!).
Your post on Asperger's
What type of coach was most useful for your child? We have a 19 year old son who we feel exhibits many traits of Aspergers Syndrome. We too have come up against the wall with colleges and their freedom of information release roadblock.
matching careers to personalities
It's a sad true thing that (apparently) the vast majority of American adults see "work" as a very narrow set of options. In essence, most folks seem to feel, you can work in...
an office
a restaurant
a retail store
of course, you could be a teacher or a doctor, but only girls are teachers and being a doctor is too hard.
hm. seems to me that NONE of these settings is really appropriate for a person on the spectrum - which may be why they tend to do poorly in them!
Having worked in and around science museums, universities, research laboratories and institutions, and met an awful lot of artists, musicians, and people who simply invented their own careers, I think this is a huge shame.
You'd be amazed at how many people with autism work successfully in these and many other fields - where passion for a particular (often tiny) topic, independence, practace/routine, and unique perspective makes all the difference.
And what about careers like... forest ranger? farmer? electrician? engine repair? no one ever seems to consider these for people on the spectrum, and I have no idea why!
Of course, like everyone else, people with autism may try and fail, or need some extra help or support. I'm still trying to figure out why that's a problem!
Lisa (about.com guide to autism)
Vocation limitations
Lisa,
You asked why autistics do not engage in certain fields. This thread exploded a bit from Aspergers to all of Autism. I can answer your question in respect to Aspergers which I have had some experience with. Aspies often have limited fine motor skills, hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch and odors. They see things often in black and white logic. Some of these factors may limit someone from wanting to engage in engine repair when one has to work with small mechanical parts, smell oil and gasoline, heard loud motor noises. A farmer may have to smell animal manure, or touch of plants or bugs could be agonizing. A forest ranger may have to deal with bugs and plants too as well as motorized craft. Electrician may not be too bad except one may then need to interact with people often (which could be difficult, e.g. where is the problem, explain the problem so I can understand it). "Is the device broken or not; what do you mean it works sometimes?"
Not to convince anyone against these important jobs, just adding a few reasons an Aspie may choose that 'office job'.
M
by the way... oops
just so readers know, I was being a bit sarcastic in my last post, saying "only girls are teachers and being a doctor is too hard!" my point was not that I believe these things to be true (they aren't!) but that it seems an awful lot of people DO believe these things are true!!
Sorry about that.
Lisa (autism.about.com)
Dissertation
I'm working on a doctoral dissertation re: Autism and Higher Education. My first step is research, research, research. I'm wondering which schools are working to tailor their teaching methods to the individual. Any insight on which colleges/universities to look at first?
How come you aren't using
How come you aren't using chelation to cure these autistic students so they won't be disabled? Don't you think it's sadistic to keep them disabled when a cure is available?
Chelation is not a cure for
Chelation is not a cure for autism. It may be a cure for a comorbid disorder for which some individuals are affected. When there is no known cause, there can not be a cure. Approach all research with caution and skepticism. Yet, keep an open mind.
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