Liesa Wayson, Director of Admissions and Outreach, CLE Monterey
Find College Programs with Special Needs Support all over the USA
As they prepare to exit high school, many students (both neurotypical and those with exceptionalities, such as autism, learning
differences, etc.) face the same questions: "What's next for me? What will my pathway be, and will I walk it alone or with
support? How will I handle all of this change?"
Transition is always stressful, whether students and parents choose a regular college for their exceptional young adult
or opt for a wrap-around transition program that supports their son's or daughter's college or vocational goals. Deciding
which of those paths would be best can be just as stressful.
Our overarching goal at College Living Experience (CLE) is to help the students to become as successful, independent, and
confident in their abilities as they can be. Many of our students come to us with emotional scars, experiences of failure
or setbacks that can be extremely de-motivating and frustrating. We strive to help them move forward from those feelings and
grow from their experiences. Reviewing our current student body, many of our students had previously tried to go the "typical"
college-path right after high-school. Some had to stop before graduating because it wasn't working for them.
Many young adults with exceptionalities pursue higher education and are earning degrees. However, students with
exceptionalities usually rely on routines to navigate social situations, and a sudden schedule or lifestyle change (such as
beginning college) can be very disruptive and discomforting.
The help of a transition program can reduce the stress during this phase leading to more confidence and comfort during these
challenging changes in responsibility. Transition programs like CLE offer social, academic, career and life skill supports
necessary for post-secondary success. There is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding whether to choose a "regular" college or
to opt for a college with the support of a transition program.
In this 3-part-series I would like to shed some light onto
considerations to take and things we at CLE talk about with our interested parents and students to guide them in their
decision. In the first part of our series we are going to be taking inventory of the student's skills and are looking into
Academic Considerations. Part 2 will illuminate the student's Career Goals and Social Life. Part 3 will investigate students'
interests, testimonials of students and parents and sum up what we’ve learned.
Part 1: Skills Inventory and Academic Considerations
In order to take inventory of your students' skills you can either follow a sample Independent Living Skill checklist* or
make a list yourself of skills they have and things they are able to do independently. This is helpful because it allows us
to see the level of independence the young adult has and enables us to predict challenges he/she might face and what level of
support is needed.
For the Academic Considerations the student should ask himself the following questions: Do I need enrollment and
accommodations support for college or am I comfortable in navigating this process? Do I know how to proactively prepare for
the upcoming semester, and can I stick to regular study schedules? Might I need personalized tutoring and academic executive
functioning support to stay on top of all my assignments? Am I comfortable communicating with professors?
Am I comfortable scheduling my own course loads and communicating with academic advisors independently?
It is important to remember that the transition from high school to college is a big jump. College campuses are often
several times the size and student body from high schools. Students transition in between classes to different rooms and
locations on campus, and are expected to communicate with their professors that they are eligible for accommodations.
Most importantly, there are no more modifications to the course work. Both the class volume and pace is the same for every
student taking the class, without exceptions.
Transition programs typically onboard students 1-2 weeks before college classes start in order to teach the students
how to confidently navigate the campus, set their accommodations in place (i.e. double testing time, notetaker, assistive
technology, etc.) and make sure they are properly signed up for their classes.
Additionally, help is provided with how to access public transport to get to and from school, ordering of books and school
materials and building a study schedule into their weekly routine.
In the next part of this series we will investigate how their career goals and their social life play into whether you should
choose a traditional college or college with a transition program.
*There are many different Independent Living Skills Checklists online, here is one
college checklist for kids with LD.
Liesa Wayson is the Director of Admissions and Outreach CLE Monterey. Find CLE at
www.ExperienceCLE.com or reach them at:
Info@ExperienceCLE.com