1. What are your teen’s interests and strengths?
Explore your teen's passions and strengths. What subjects or activities do they excel in? Understanding their interests can help guide decisions about college majors and career paths.
- Discover employment interests and strengths by using the O*Net Interest Profiler on My Next Move’s website.
- Using the O*Net results, search careers sorted by interest on My Next Move to learn more about different career paths.
- Research whether your teen’s career interests require a college education, trade school, or internship preparation.
2. How does your teen handle change and new environments?
Consider your teen's comfort level with change and new situations. College life often involves adjusting to new routines, living arrangements, and social dynamics. Assessing your teen's adaptability can help gauge their readiness for college.
- Start with small changes to gradually increase your teen’s independence. For example, start with a few college courses at a community college and gradually progress to a university and dorm living as your teen develops more independence.
- Visit the college campus with your teen to determine if your teen can navigate the campus and manage a college schedule.
3. What support systems are in place?
Evaluate the support systems available to your teen both at home and at college. This includes academic support services, counseling resources, and accommodations for their specific needs. A strong support network can greatly impact their college experience.
- College offers less support than high school. All colleges have an office to provide disability services where your teen can request reasonable accommodations.
- Consider whether your teen would benefit from a peer or adult mentor. Colleges may not offer this service and you will have to seek out these resources on your own.
- Does your teen have a counselor or therapist to help navigate the changing environment of college? College shifts accountability for one’s academic success to the student. Your teen may struggle with this shift and need a trusted advisor to process the change.
4. Is your teen able to self-advocate?
College requires a level of independence and self-advocacy. Assess whether your teen can communicate needs, seek assistance, and advocate for themselves in academic and social settings.
- Practice self-advocacy in your teen’s current environment. Discuss whether your teen can advocate for need with or without disclosing a disability. Sometimes, self-advocacy does not require disclosing personal details about one’s life and history.
- Seeking help from college resources requires knowing when to ask for help, who to ask, and how to ask. Requesting tutoring help requires some level of preparation and the ability to use the college tutoring resources. Practice seeking resources for help in your teen’s current environment to get ready for college.
5. How do they manage executive functioning skills?
Executive functioning skills, such as organization, time management, and problem-solving, are essential for success in college. Evaluate your teen's abilities in these areas and consider whether additional support or training may be beneficial.
- The brain develops and grows when learning new skills. So continuous and consistent practice of executive function skills is essential for development and independence.
- If time management, motivation, and organizational skills are a struggle, start small. Have your teen take one college course and practice these skills during the semester. Once your teen develops the habits for time management and organization, start adding more classes and classes that are more difficult academically.
6. What are your teen’s goals beyond college?
Consider your teen's long-term goals and aspirations. Are they interested in pursuing a career that requires a college degree? Alternatively, are there other paths, such as vocational training or employment opportunities, that better align with their goals?
- Rather than jumping into college, take the time to explore career possibilities. Involve your teen in researching different careers, performing informational interviews with people in different careers, and thinking about the work that will excite your teen. Discover new careers on the My New Move website.
- Vocational training focuses on specific skills needed for a particular job. Learn more about vocational training on this U.S. Career website to determine if it is an option for your teen.
7. Have you explored alternative post-secondary options?
- College is not the only path to success. Research alternative post-secondary options, such as trade schools, apprenticeships, or supported employment programs, that may better suit your teen's interests and abilities.
- Some careers are developed through apprenticeships. Find apprenticeship programs on the Apprenticeship website.
- Research whether trade schools will meet your teen’s career goals. Visit trade schools and compare them to traditional college campuses to determine which setting suits your teen’s needs and goals.
Conclusion:
Determining whether college is the right path for your autistic teen requires careful consideration of their individual strengths, needs, and goals. By asking these seven questions and exploring all available options, you can make an informed decision that sets your teen up for success in their post-secondary journey. Remember, the most important factor is finding a path that supports your teen's growth, happiness, fulfillment, and independence as an adult.
