Higher Education Experiences of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges, Benefits and Support Needs written by V. Hees is an interesting article that points out the positives and the negatives of students with autism in higher education. Many young adults are filled with excitement at the thought of the freedom that college brings, yet young adults with autism pose a different feeling. “These students will experience anxiety and pretransition distress due to leaving a structured school environment before. With additional understanding and acquisition of targeted skills, college counselors may become uniquely qualified to open the door to new possibilities for lifelong success for students with autism.”
Many students with autism have a greater chance of personal and academic failure throughout their college experience. With the demands of college and the stresses of learning to be independent, mobile and potentially living alone can pose significant challenges for them. Not to mention they also have lower chances of gaining employment, and even graduating. “Challenges frequently reported include non-academic issues such as difficulties with social skills, interpersonal deficits, organizational and time management
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Money skills, job readiness, self-protection, domestic skills, and personal self-care are among the living skills that are taught. These programs are designed to increase academic, social/communicative, and occupational competence. With repeated learning students various life skills increases, their independent functioning, social competence, and quality of life. “The essence of life skills acquisition cannot be weighed in terms of degrees, diplomas, or other documents; rather, it is demonstrated in their level of independent living, community adjustment, and enhanced quality of life” (Cronin, 1996, p.