The most effective coping mechanism I had was to sit somewhat off-center to avoid the loudest section of the lecture hall.
Universal Design Strategies: Autism & Student Difference
Simple steps for incorporating UDL principles into your pedagogy. Lecture, resource, syllabus, and assessment strategies.
Discussions
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The Autism Accommodations Process: Faculty Primer
The goal is not to provide a golden ticket to whatever a student wants. The goal is to provide them with an equitable classroom experience that gives them an equal opportunity to succeed.
Autistic Sensory Sensitivity on Campus, Part Six: Food in Dorms & Residence Halls
In this series, autistic STEM grad student Patrick Dwyer takes a deep dive into sensory sensitivity on campus. These blogs …
Autistic Sensory Sensitivity on Campus, Part Five: Food and Cooking
I think it’s interesting, and a bit startling, to realize just how much inter-individual variability there probably is in the human sense of taste.
Autistic and Transitioning to College? What Students and Families Need to Know
Video with subtitles. A brief but wide-ranging exploration of what a successful transition takes and how to achieve it.
Bullying and Autism: How to Recognize Harmful Behavior and Create a Safer School Environment
When you see bullying, act. One of the most important things people can do is not to become a “passive bystander” when others are being bullied.
Socializing in STEM Classes and Careers, Part Two: Practical Tips for Autistic Students
Don’t be discouraged if a first or second attempt at reaching out fails—just look for the next opportunity.
Socializing in STEM Classes and Careers, Part One: Insight for Autistic Students
Many STEM careers and college courses are thought to focus on “computer work” without much emphasis on the human interaction necessary for success. Oftentimes, however, collaboration with peers can be daunting but necessary to advance one’s studies and career.
STEM, Autism, and Building Professional Relationships: Interview with a Mentor, Part Three
To me, “honors” is about the quality of your work, the quality of your thinking. It’s not about whether you can do this full time.
What Autistic Students Can Learn Through Self-Guided Campus Tours
Video. The transition to university is major, major change, right? And, autistic people, we often thrive on predictability. It’s really valuable to spend some time exploring the physical environment of a university campus before you start.
Tips for Autistic Students: Navigating College Breaks
One thing to keep in mind no matter where you end up—be it a friend’s house, your family home, or a relative’s place—is that if you begin to feel overwhelmed by the new environment or sudden transition, you should look for a quiet place to gather your thoughts. Don’t worry about exiting a stressful situation and seeking a solitary spot to calm yourself.
STEM, Autism, and Building Professional Relationships: Interview with a Mentor, Part Two
Audio interview. “It happens to people teaching in any kind of academic discipline, where students think [their instructors] can give them advice on things that they’re really not qualified to talk about. We’re discipline experts.”
What Autistic Students Can Expect from College Science Classes
What you do during class is, in the long term, far more important than any exam or any homework you ever have. Most courses have a lecture component, but even in earlier courses professors will encourage discussion about key concepts.
Student Reflection: Transitioning from High School to College as an Autistic STEM Student
Video Interview. Founding the Coalition for Autism Support at Tufts (CAST) created a sense of community that…I thought I would never have.
STEM, Autism, and Building Professional Relationships: Interview with a Mentor, Part One
Audio interview. Dr. Schalomon: “If you don’t quite know what the student needs, go to the student and ask.”
Parent Perspective: Autism and Auditing Community College Classes
Video interview. Brief discussion of one student’s success auditing classes on a community college campus in preparation for the transition to higher ed.
Four Things Autistic Students Can Expect from Intro STEM Classes
In most cases, it’s not the facts that count; it’s what you do with them. Even in an introductory foundation course, raw knowledge only gets you so far.
Notes from a 2019 Talk on Autism and Employment
Be aware of unconscious bias in interviews, plan for it, and be prepared to disarm it if necessary. For example: if you find eye contact challenging, acknowledge it and then communicate that you are glad to be there and are engaged in the discussion.