ACCOMMODATIONS AND RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to see how universities are accommodating their student population on campus that are diagnoses with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through interviews with directors of the university disability resource center (DRC). First, a systematic literature review was conducted with the current literature covering my topic. That literature review was able to provide a fairly comprehensive list of high and low frequency accommodations and some of the described difficulties surrounding college students with autism. These accommodations are implemented in class and housing. I also sought to discover what these participants thought to be some of the more significant barriers and difficulties that college students with ASD navigate on a college campus with the academic and social rigors. Using a qualitative study design, I collected data using 45 minute interviews with participants over an online video conferencing platform (i.e., Zoom) where I had semi-structured questions prepared. With a general qualitative analysis I was able to use the interview transcripts to use deductive and inductive coding to create all codes and identify key themes. Those themes are detailed in the results section of Chapter 4. Through the coding process, implications for the practice of participants were identified, with an emphasis on university guideline requirements, students obtaining a formal ASD diagnosis, public versus private universities, and employment preparedness.