A community college in Brevard County, Fla., is part of a special program to help kids with autism and Asperger’s syndrome deal with the strain of making the transition to college life.
The College Internship Program was the brainchild of Michael McManmon, a psychologist who was diagnosed himself with Asperger’s syndrome as an adult, according to an article by Linda Shrieves in the Orlando Sentinel.
McManmon had an established career managing “group homes for students with learning disabilities or who were emotionally disturbed,” But after he was diagnosed, he decided to shift the focus of his work life.
“I thought, ‘What would someone with Asperger’s who’s going to college need to be able to function in life?’” McManmon told Shrieves. “That’s why we came up with our comprehensive curriculum.”
Students with autistic-spectrum issues who join the program live in apartments that they share with one other student in the program. They all attend regular Brevard Community College classes. Presently, the program is also operating on campuses in Indiana, California and Massachusetts.
School days for the students begin with a morning meeting before class to review the day’s schedule. Each student also meets with an academic advisor twice each week to review their academic progress and time-management skills as the semester unfolds. The internship staff focuses on building students’ social skills, which many people with autism-spectrum disorders find challenging. They work on such skills as eye contact and the kinds of social cues that aid in interaction.
“Most of our students will never be social butterflies,” psychologist Debra Sloane, a group counselor, told Shreive. “But they’ll be able to say good morning when they see their colleagues.”
Photo courtesy of Mark Warner, via Flickr