a project of

Removing Access Barriers

for Autistic College Students
Sara Gardner, Program Manager, Autism Spectrum Navigators
Susan Gjolmesli, Director, Disability Resource Center
Bellevue College, Washington State, U.S.A.
Research Shows
Youths with autism spectrum disorders
(ages 19-23) are less likely than those with
other disabilities to be employed or
enrolled in college
Students with disabilities lack adequate self-
advocacy skills needed for success in the
postsecondary education setting
Employment rate rises with family income
rates
Our Experiences
Without additional access services, college
students with ASDs complete fewer classes, and
drop out of college at a higher rate
College students with ASDs typically do not seek
out campus services or additional support from
instructors
Even with an extraordinarily low cost program,
some families cannot access it for financial
reasons

What Parents Want
Campus awareness about Autism
Support for:
Communicating with peers
Mentoring
Orientation & Transitioning
Trained Specialists
Parental Involvement
What Students Want
Connection with other students with ASDs
Advocacy with instructors
Instructors who are educated about ASDs
Clearly organized assignments and syllabi
Clear communication
Organizational support

Before the pilot what we observed
Share your experiences & questions:
This may be different based on where
you live! Socio-economic background,
ethnicity,
Academic ability
Physical ability
Interests, aspirations
Classroom access needs and more
Share your experiences & questions:
Different for
each
Environment
specific
Attitudinal
barriers?


Similarities?
Physical barriers?
Other barriers?



2010-2011(26 students)
Services Group (13 students)
100% retention
Maintained a 3.0 GPA for three quarters
Passed 85% of attempted classes with a C- or better

Control Group (13 students)
61% retention
GPA dropped each quarter: 2.52; 2.44; 2.10
Passed 67% of attempted classes with a C- or better

2011-2012 (18 students)
94% retention
3.04 GPA
Passed 87% of attempted classes with a C- or
better
2012 -2013 (46 students)
96% retention
3.26 GPA
Passed 86% of attempted classes with a C- or
better

2013 -2014
Fall 2013 (76 students)
96% retention
3.24 GPA
Passed 88% of attempted classes with a C- or
better
Winter 2014
(64 students 1 grad, 8 retained- not in ASN, 3 dropped out)
97% retention
3.12 GPA
Passed 79% of attempted classes with a C-
or better
Our mission is to provide access services for
autistic students that lead to successful
academic outcomes while providing
educational opportunities that increase self-
knowledge in the areas of executive
functioning, self-regulation, social interaction,
self-advocacy and career preparation; and to
actively promote a campus wide environment
of inclusion and understanding of students,
faculty and staff with neurological differences.

Program Areas of Focus:
1. Self-Advocacy
2. Executive Functioning
3. Self Regulation
4. Social Interaction
Four components:
1. Peer Mentoring
2. Instruction
3. Parent Training & Support
4. Faculty & Campus Training &
Support


Structured around student-identified
needs
Student initiated check-ins with faculty
Standardized format ensures:
skills acquisition
academic progress monitoring
program compliance
ease of record keeping
Marco-Polo Check-In
weekly agreed-upon objective

ASN students take a series of credit classes as a cohort, in
addition to classes for their chosen degree path. They are
simply students at the college who receive supports.
First Year
Skills for Navigating College & Career
Executive Functioning in the Workplace
Stress Management
Second Year Third Year
Career Exploration Interpersonal Communications
Self-Advocacy Tech Writing & Soft Skills for Bus.
Occupational Wellness Internship
Video: Using Canvas to connect
Parents need:
Reassurance that their student is in good hands
Training for how to best support their student
Networking with other parents
Focus on Interdependence, Collaborative Problem
Solving, Learned Optimism and Self-Efficacy
Regular Faculty training
Individual communication with N.A.s
Faculty section on program website
Consultation with program manager

Postsecondary Educational Aspirations of High-
Functioning Adolescents With Autism Spectrum
Disorders and Their Parents:
http://moodle.capilanou.ca/pluginfile.php/197425/
mod_resource/content/1/Post-
Secondary%20Aspirations%20of%20High-
Functioning%20.pdf

Collaborative Efforts to Improve Access to
Postsecondary Education for Students with
Disabilities:
Report to the Legislature Pursuant to Substitute
Senate Bill 5180 (Washington Student Achievement
Council)

Postsecondary Education and Employment Among
Youth With an Autism Spectrum Disorder:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3
362908/

Evaluating Cognitive Web Accessibility
http://webaim.org/articles/evaluatingcognitive/

Autism Spectrum Navigators at Bellevue College
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/autismspectrum
navigators/




Susan Gjolmesli, Director,
Disability Resource Center:
susan.gjolmesli@bellevuecollege.edu
425.564.2392

Sara Gardner, Program Manager,
Autism Spectrum Navigators:
sara.gardner@bellevuecollege.edu
425.564.2172



Website:
www.autismnow.org

Information & Referral Call Center:
1-855-828-8476

Next Webinar:
Saturday, June 21, 2014, 1:00-2:00 PM, Eastern Time
Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview in Spanish

PowerPoint/Recording:
Email Phuong (pnguyen@autismnow.org ) to request
materials!