What do you do when they're out of high school?

[Kajsa]

My son is in the autism spectrum.
He's high functioning, but has a lot of difficulties
with processing some information.
Abstracts such as algebra are very difficult for him.
He's unable to advance in English at the community college
he attends. They have no classes bridging the gap between
the last class he passed and the next level ( a huge jump)
that was too hard for him. He tried but had to drop the class
last week. He was heartbroken and felt like a failure.
This is his fourth year at that JC. he can't take anymore classes
through the DSC's Learning Center since he's taken them for
more than four semesters.He has had their tutoring services
which are very helpful, but this next class is way to advanced.
He was assigned 76 pages of homework the first week!

The counselor at the disabled student center hasn't been much help.
He informed me that the instructors do not need to modify
any assignments for disabled students. According to him. "that's for high school".
Oh, suddenly our kids don't need modifications once they reached the age
of 18? WTH? I thought that was outlined in the ADA.
He's big on shrugging his shoulders and suggesting that the students
take weight lifting classes! I kid you not.
No one there seems to care whether he advances academically or not.
He really wants to learn how to write, since this is the hardest area for him
There is nowhere for him to go with their classes.

I just don't know where to start.
I'm be damned if he's going to fall between the cracks, anymore!!

[MichiganVote]

1. Maybe college is not for him. That's an ok plan too.

Usually colleges that offer services that do permit students with IEP's to test in a quiet area. Does that help? What kind of work does he like to do? What kind has he done before? maybe he owuld benefit from a break from college and get a job for awhile??

Don't know the answer for your son, just thinkin'

[Kajsa]

4. He's working part time at IKEA.

He's been in food services for 2 1/2 years now.
The people there are very nice to him and they
work with him.

He just wants to advance.
He's interested in computers, traveling and has
a real knack for remembering numbers, figures and dates.

He get along fairly well with people.

He hasn't had any good skills assessment in quite a while.

I know, this is a tough one.
I appreciate you and everyone who's helped me.

:hi:

[MichiganVote]

5. I'd go for the skills assessment as it relates to his memory of numbers

Stay away from the bookie thing tho' :)

Seriously, even kids who do the college route want to advance and it all takes time. For your son to have people who appreciate his differences...well that can be worth it's weight in gold. Not everyone can do what he does and he may not do what everyone else can. That's ok, its a big planet, room for many people doing many things. Sounds corny but maybe he could check out the postal service.

[Kajsa]

6. That's a good idea.

It pays well and he could acquire new skills.

Thanks for the tips- Yep, it's a big planet
and somewhere, he'll find his niche.

:-)

[mzteris]

2. some colleges

are more inclined to help than others.

I'd look around for a different school - if that's what he really wants to do. Or look into apprenticeships if *school* really isn't for him.

[Kajsa]

3. You know, I'm going to look into this.

He wants to learn basic skills like writing.
Maybe there's another avenue we can take.


Thanks!

:hi:

[coffeenap]

7. What about a technical school? At many, you can take the courses

you want, and pursue a specific area. They are marketing computer and design lately. Maybe he could find a niche there?

Also, at our commuity college there is a technical writing course that fulfills the general writing requirement. Maybe a different approach to writing would help.

Best wishes.

[AndyTiedye]

8. How Is He With Computers?

[Kajsa]

10. He is very good on computers.

Fortunately, he has little/no fear of plunging into
the cyber unknown.

Sorry it took so long for me to respond to this.

:hi:

[Demeter]

9. I Recommend Finding a Tutor

And believe me, I know how difficult it will be.

My daughter is doing well with her tutor, which we didn't find until we changed from NH to Michigan, and her sister needed some help with math.

Mrs. C. is a genius, with 30+ years experience working with autistic spectrum kids. Unfortunately, she wants to retire. I'm pushing for as much face time as the kid can handle, before this happens.

You may want to move. Proximity is everything for kids.

[Kajsa]

11. He has tutoring help at the JC, once a week

during the semester.

How would I find a good, affordable tutor to help him
privately?

Sorry it took so long to answer this.

:hi:

[elleng]

12. I'd follow with skills assessment,

looking toward the right technical niche; I bet he'll find MANY MANY MANY things to do.

[Kajsa]

13. Thanks Ellen,

That's a great idea.

He really has a lot of good skills.

Thanks,again.

:hug:

[KamaAina]

14. Look what I found!

Now there's a shocker -- little old me with Internets research skills. Who'd'a thunk it? :-)

http://www.professorsadvice.com

For many high functioning individuals on the autistic spectrum, college can be about as close as you can get to Heaven on Earth (and, let's face it, for the time being, the latter is where most of us are stuck!) But it is also a place that many raise some challenges that we should plan for. In this article, I have attempted to offer some ideas based on both my experiences as a student and as a college professor. I must emphasize, however, that as with any other autism related issue, college choices must be based on the unique circumstances and characteristics of the individual, and no simple formulas can be offered....

We should recognize that in many cases, the experiences that high functioning individuals with autism (HFIWAs) will face in college are not entirely different from those of our more "neurotypical" peers. Many students must adjust to living away from home for the first time, to the responsibility for time management that comes along with a less structured schedule, to the changed social roles and expectations, and to the greater academic challenges that college will "dish" out. Nevertheless, we must be careful not to dismiss too easily many of these potential problems merely because they affect others, too. The HFIWA will frequently need—or can at the very least benefit from—some more "tailor made" coping strategies.

It even links to a handy-dandy list of colleges with experience in this area:

http://www.larsperner.com/autism/colleges.htm

No JCs, but USC and Cal Poly-SLO are on the list.

[Kajsa]

15. Thanks, KamaAina!

This is a good resource for any college student
but is especially helpful to HFIWAs- (good grief! another new acronym to learn ;) )

You've got some great researching skills there, my dear friend!

Thanks so much.

:D :hug: