Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

by Sarita Freedman, Dr Anthony Attwood (Foreword by)

Overview

Going to college can be a daunting prospect for any young person, but for teenagers on the autism spectrum this is especially true. This book describes the unique needs that ASD students entering further or higher education are likely to have. The author identifies the key skill-sets they will need to develop in order to be successful in college and in life, and shows how they can be helped to develop these.

She outlines the skills required for success in further and higher education in relation to the strengths and weaknesses of individuals with ASDs, and explains how those weaknesses can be ameliorated to enable success at college. Describing the unique accommodations and support that students with ASD will need, and the skills for which they will need particular help, she provides effective intervention strategies that can be implemented throughout the period leading up to college entrance.

This book is essential reading for psychologists, special educators, educational therapists, high school teachers/career counselors, and other professionals supporting high school and college students on the autism spectrum. Parents of such students will also benefit from the ideas presented in this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843109174
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	05/15/2010
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Dr. Sarita Freedman is a licensed psychologist and maintains a private practice in Calabasas, California, USA.  Dr. Freedman has over 30 years' experience working with children, adults, and families, in both educational and clinical settings. She has published articles in autism-related magazines and presented on many aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders at conferences. Formerly, Dr. Freedman co-founded the Child Development Institute where she was Director of Special Needs Programs. She was responsible for designing training programs for undergraduate and graduate students interested in working with children on the spectrum, and overseeing their progress in individual and group supervision.  Dr. Freedman is the founder of College on the Spectrum®, devoted to helping students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome succeed in college and in life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Foreword 9

Preface 11

Part 1 The Many Facets Of Autism

1 Becoming Familiar with Autism 17

Part 2 Skill Sets

Introduction: Skill Sets for Success 43

2 Self-Awareness Skill Sets 47

3 Environmental Skill Sets 66

4 Self-Advocacy Skill Sets 73

5 Organizational Skill Sets 86

6 Asking for Help Skill Sets 110

7 Self-Care Skill Sets 120

8 Social Skill Sets 133

Part 3 Going To College

9 The Big Decision: To Go or Not To Go? 163

10 Colleges and Professors Helping Students with ASD 187

11 Are We Ready? 195

References 206

Appendix A overview of skill sets 211

Appendix B helpful resources and websites 215

Subject Index 219

Author Index 224

Editorial Reviews

Developing College Skills in students' by Sarita Freedman is written for parents who wish to prepare their child for college. She concentrates as much on the early years in a child's development as she does on the pre and post-college days. Freedman sees the preparation as a continuum that begins almost from the nursery... Freedman undoubtedly knows her stuff and the information she gives can be trusted implicitly.

BFKbooks

With the skill sets and preparation advised by Sarita Freedman and outlined in this book, students with ASD can thrive in postsecondary education (PSE) settings... The book is a very practical, concise outline and guide aimed towards professionals into the many intricacies and challenges that students with ASD will bring to the higher education setting and how to best prepare these students for a successful postsecondary experience prior to entering the campus culture... this book should be required reading for any high school or higher education professional or parent who will be working with and learning from students on the autistic spectrum. She makes a powerful case for the strengths of people with autism, which was a strong point in the book, and she encouraged the reader to view students with ASD as the positive contributors to society that they can become.

Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders

Although written primarily with the US market in mind, this book contains valuable observations and interventions to prepare ASD pupils to succeed in later life, making it also relevant to the UK... In conclusion, this is an accessible book with observations, lists and suggestions that would be of value to professionals working with ASD students in a school, college or university setting or to parents of children with ASD in helping them to prepare for change and to achieve successful outcomes.

SNIP

The book is essential reading for key workers in the Education system, and is considered to be a guide for parents with adolescents on the spectrum.

The Autism Centre

A timely how-to book written to address the needs of students on the autism spectrum who plan to attend college. It contains invaluable advice for parents, mental health professionals, educators, and personnel engaging with these students, as well as for the students themselves. An excellent resource; useful even before the college process begins... I highly recommend this book to prepare for college.

Enid Gort Ph.D. - AHA Newsletter

It is not often that I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading a text book but I found Sarita Freedman's style of writing and depth content to be excellent. As a parent of a boy with autism, and as a consultant who supports careers programmes for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. It will be very useful to anyone involved in CEIAG for more able young people on the autistic spectrum including careers advisers, teachers, mentors, learning support staff and those in colleges and universities who support students with difficulties. It would be an excellent tool for joint planning meetings before a young person makes the transition to college... In summary, this book is great value and a really useful resource with just the right balance of 'hard' information and workable ideas.

Association for Careers Education and Guidance

"Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" by Sarita Freedman is an ambitious attempt to describe high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome in teens, discuss appropriate therapies and social skills coaching, recommend a program for college preparation starting in the elementary school years, and provide a general introduction to college selection and accommodations for autistic students.

Lisa Jo Rudy

Dr Sarita Freedman's new book, Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, provides guidance for education professionals and parents wanting to support autistic young people through school and give them the best chance of succeeding at college or university.

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