Diversity 360 Lunch and Learn Series—“A Transition Program Developed for College Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Participatory Approach”

An increasing number of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are enrolling in colleges. Students who are on the spectrum may face challenges when transitioning from high school into college; such challenges include difficulties in self-advocating for accommodations and time management skills, in addition to developing and maintaining social relationships.

While college students with disabilities are qualified to receive accommodations, they are expected to advocate for themselves in order to request the needed services, something that was not expected of them in high school.

The next Diversity 360 Lunch and Learn Series event will address this concern. Titled “A Transition Program Developed for College Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Participatory Approach,” the session will be held Friday, June 7, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Tinkham Veale University Center’s Senior Classroom.

During this event, Rita Obeid, a lecturer in the Department of Psychological Sciences, will discuss how she was part of a collaboration to develop a transition program to help college students with autism transition into and succeed in college. The program was developed based on a participatory action model where college students with autism played active leadership roles in the development and implementation of this program. 

Register for this Diversity 360 Lunch and Learn Series session.