Accommodations
Students who have declared their autism to the university often qualify for certain accommodations to help even the playing field in their classes, and reduce the possible disadvantage their autism may bring. To give you an idea of such accommodations, taken from a list provided by my own university, that are applicable to many people with autism and students may approach you with, I've compiled a list here. Note that autism is comorbid, or commonly seen along with, many other disorders, including ADHD, sensory problems, and dysgraphia, to name a few, so some of these accommodations may be directed at reducing the difficulties of those comorbid disorders but are still likely to be requested by a student with autism.
Class Accommodations
1. Note-taking
2. Use of a Laptop for Taking Notes
3. Preferential Seating
Exam Accommodations
1. Extended Time
2. Reduced Distraction Environment
3. Use of a Computer for Exams
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of accommodations, which may be individualized to the particular student's needs, or vary what my university supplies.
Comorbid Disorders
This (incomplete) list, taken from Autism-Help.org, should give you a brief idea for a just few of the many disorders associated with autism. Many of these may require their own accommodations.
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Sensory problems
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Intellectual disability
• Fragile X syndrome
• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Tourette syndrome
• General anxiety disorder
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Clinical depression
• Visual problems
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
In addition, people on the autism spectrum often have trouble with prosopagnosia, or "face blindness" which essentially means that they have trouble with (or are incapable of) recognizing faces.
Class Accommodations
1. Note-taking
2. Use of a Laptop for Taking Notes
3. Preferential Seating
Exam Accommodations
1. Extended Time
2. Reduced Distraction Environment
3. Use of a Computer for Exams
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of accommodations, which may be individualized to the particular student's needs, or vary what my university supplies.
Comorbid Disorders
This (incomplete) list, taken from Autism-Help.org, should give you a brief idea for a just few of the many disorders associated with autism. Many of these may require their own accommodations.
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Sensory problems
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Intellectual disability
• Fragile X syndrome
• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Tourette syndrome
• General anxiety disorder
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Clinical depression
• Visual problems
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
In addition, people on the autism spectrum often have trouble with prosopagnosia, or "face blindness" which essentially means that they have trouble with (or are incapable of) recognizing faces.
