Post-Secondary Education
Does being neurodiverse affect my chances of getting into college? Do I have enough resources to find a good job?
Neurodiverse teenagers experience questions like this frequently. College and having a job may appear unattainable for some, but neurodiverse students often lack the tools to navigate what accommodations and opportunities in higher education and work they have. The resources found in this section of My Neuro-Corner aim to relieve the neurodiverse community from having few answers on how to apply to university and find careers.
Workfield Resources
LINKS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE EXPERIENCE:
https://schoolbuff.com/worksheets/
Deciding what to do as your career holds great weight, and it’s important to make sure your career plays into your individual strengths and passions. Find the resources to the left to help guide you in the process of finding a field of study that interests you, to put you on the path to success.
LINKS FOR THE PROGRAM:
https://www.youscience.com/discovery/
If you have access to a college counselor at your school or a guidance counselor, ask them for additional resources to help you find your areas of interest. Some schools work with the program to the left that connects students with careers and multitudes of employment information after filing out an online assessment.
With the first listed link, you can access a list of college programs, organizations, and job programs, all with the aim of serving neurodiverse students.
The second link has college programs, the contact information of professionals that help with college transitions, and additional resources for neurodiverse students.
What Workfield Are You Interested In?
While deciding on a profession or a major when transitioning into college is trivial, having a general interest in some jobs can serve anyone major benefits when going to university. Here are links to articles that detail the professions neurodiverse people may find catering to their strengths!
Neurodiversity-Friendly Careers: https://www.differentbrains.org/5-neurodiversity-friendly-career-paths/
Specific Career Catered to People with Autism: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/jobs-for-people-with-autism
Creative Jobs: skillshare.com/blog/25-creative-jobs-and-careers-to-consider/
Highly-Focused Jobs: https://www.notsalmon.com/2018/11/09/career-ideas-highly-focused-people/
Detail-Oriented Jobs: https://www.fingerprintforsuccess.com/blog/detail-oriented
Why Neurodiverse People Have a Competitive Advantage: https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage
College Resources
A LIST OF US COLLEGES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR NEURODIVERSITY PROGRAMS:
Generally, most universities and community colleges have an office dedicated to providing resources for neurodiverse students, as well as students with other physical, mental, and neurological disabilities. It may be called the Office of Accessible Education, Office of Disability, Disabled Students’ Program, etc. It might be beneficial to look for information on their website or seek out the office on campus, or ask your professors for more information.
Colleges that Cater Towards the Neurodiversity Community:
"Neurodiversity-Friendly" Colleges: https://www.topcollegeconsultants.com/autism-in-college/
Great Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities: https://www.petersons.com/blog/20-great-colleges-for-students-with-learning-disabilities/
Lists and Descriptions of the Best Colleges for Autistic Students: https://www.elemy.com/studio/autism-and-education/colleges-for-autistic-students/
More Lists of Colleges Autistic Students May Like: https://collegeautismnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/
Hub for Colleges to Better Serve Their Neurodivergent Students: https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/resources-for-universities
Tools for How to Tackle Being in University:
More Guides to College Educational Programs for Intellectually Disabled Individuals: https://thinkcollege.net/college-search?search_api_views_fulltext=
Hub for College Resources for Neurodiverse Students: https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/resources-for-students
How to Navigate College as a Neurodiverse Student: https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/how-to-navigate-college-as-a-neurodivergent-student
FAQs to help Neurodiverse Students Apply to College
(Answers for the questions are summaries of the detailed insight from Dr. Marci Shwartz of Thrive College Counseling)
Q: Does disclosing a neurodiverse diagnosis negatively impact changes of college acceptance?
A: The impact of disclosing a diagnosis to colleges depends on the way you address said diagnosis in your application. Colleges are interested in hearing how your experiences with your diagnosis will translate into your ability to participate and engage in campus life. Including an arc of growth about your experience with your diagnosis can provide colleges insight into your ability to overcome challenges while embracing your own strengths. Overall, if you are able to talk about your diagnosis with a growth/strength-based language it will not negatively impact your college admissions process.
Q: Why do colleges focus on access to accommodations rather than success (actively providing accommodations to struggling students)?
A: Colleges focus more on access to accommodations in order for students to learn to be self-advocates. While a difficult transition, it is essential that neurodiverse students are able to self-advocate for their needs so that they can be successful both in college and the future. There are also a variety of programs that can help neurodiverse students transition from a success-based model to an access-based model.
Q: Does being neurodiverse increase your chances of college acceptance?
A: While statuses such as legacy, location, socioeconomic, and more can impact you chances of college acceptance, neurodiversity does not appear to have a significant impact.
Q: Are specialized colleges such as Landmark or Beacon beneficial to neurodiverse students?
A: These specialized colleges are ideal for neurodiverse students who desire to be in a setting in which every student has a learning difference, but is able to take on college-level course work. The teaching at these colleges is targeted toward student success, but also teaches students important self-advocacy skills. Some students choose to spend 1-2 years at a specialized college and then transfer to a mainstream college after developing the necessary tools to self-advocate. Marshall college also has a well-known autism support program that helps students develop both academic and independent living skills.
My Neuro-Corner Accommodation Quiz (Coming Soon!)
Answer questions on your own auditory, visual, cognitive, social, and emotional preferences. Then, receive feedback on the accommodations you deserve in the classroom, in a lecture hall, or in a workplace.
