Located in Pensacola, FL. State institution founded in Has 3 colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Professional Studies

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1 THE MAKING OF AUTISM INCLUSION PROGRAM UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA DR. VANNEE CAO-NGUYEN STUDENT DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER U NIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA V CAO@UWF.EDU

2 LEARNING OUTCOMES Participants will be able to: Learn the steps to developing a successful program Identify existing resources on campus to incorporate Identify supportive ways to partner with students to develop the program Learn ways to incorporate students perspective to best serve them 2

3 ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA Located in Pensacola, FL State institution founded in 1967 Has 3 colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Professional Studies Student population = 12,000

4 STUDENT DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER Staff includes: Director Coordinator Graduate assistants Student Disability Resource Center Serve approximately 450 students

5 AUTISM GOES TO COLLEGE Center for Disease Control 1 out of 125 Children were diagnosed with ASD in 2004 Children were born 1996 Children are entering college now 1 out of 68 children were diagnosed with ASD in 2010 This means more children are entering college in upcoming years UWF s experience in the last five years ( ) In 2007, there were six students who self identified with SDRC By the end of 2008, all six dropped out of college Currently 27 self identified with SDRC Estimated 29/2000 entering freshman Fall 2014

6 HFA AND AS Asperger Syndrome Dx at social milieu age Social skills poor/but interested Verbal IQ >Performance Data collectors Clumsy motor skills Psychiatric Comorbidites (ADHD, OCD, Depression, etc) High Functioning Autism Dx between months Poor social skills/not interested Performance IQ > Verbal IQ Object collectors Motor skills average or better Medical comorbidities (gastro-intestinal problems, seizures) Ortiz, J

7 WHAT LEAD TO AIP? Low success rate and dropouts Social support Academic support Career planning Transition issues Independent living skills

8 BEGINNING OF AIP Fall 2010 Five students Name of program (ASPAS, AIP, AAP) Mission of program Goal: To support and enhance the college experience of UWF students with AS/HFA by providing a social forum and networking opportunities as well as a platform for students to participate in extracurricular activities while enhancing their social abilities. Program focuses on four primary areas of challenge Academic Performance Social and Community Involvement Transition and Life Skills Career Preparation and Planning

9 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Philosophical Background Difference not Disorder Everyone s Responsibility Program Theory - Bennet Theoretical Approach - Engagement Pedagogy

10 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Difference not a Disorder Unique characteristics of HFA and AS are social differences this helps us move from deficit to a strength-based approach. Difference of social style is not a disorder but a difference Being different doesn t call for fixing Perceive social challenges as social faux pas that should be recognized and addressed as improper, inappropriate, or undesirable to certain people or in certain contexts can lead to more positive/proactive expectations (John Ortiz, 2011) Analogy to Cross-cultural Communication

11 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Everyone s responsibility College/University = Community Collaboration essential Ready resources - don t reinvent the wheel Identify campus partners get others involved 11

12 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Theoretical Influence for program : Bennett s Theory of Action Program uses available resources in order to offer a set of activities or services While program participants engage in activities, they respond to experience As result of response to activities, participants change their knowledge, actions, skills Transformation occurs in behaviors and practices as they are participating

13 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Engaged Pedagogy Engage students Bell Hooks/Paulo Freire Challenge the banking system of education students just consume and store information Education as the practice of freedom create strategies for conscientization in academic setting Developing critical awareness and engagement Students are active participants, not passive consumers Learn to link awareness with practice 13

14 PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND Engaged Pedagogy Program informed by students Social opportunity Not therapy Safe space Connection to resources Address daily tasks and challenges Communicate with professors and classmates Staying organized and motivated with academics Challenges with finding employment 14

15 AU T I S M I N C L U S I O N P RO G R A M Focus of AIP programming addresses four areas Academic Performance Social & Community Involvement Transition and Life Skills Career Preparation and Planning 15

16 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Challenges AIP What barriers exist in the academic setting? Communicating with professors & classmates Working in groups Co-occurring conditions Taking exams Time management & organization Academic accommodations and adjustments (collaborate with SDRC) Individual academic coaching Academic strategy workshops Referral to support resources

17 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Individual academic coaching Assess learning style at onset 1:1 weekly meeting with coach Organization, time management, etc. Classroom accommodations Testing, Note taking Small group work vs large groups Campus partners: Learning Center: tutoring services, conducts workshops such as study strategies and test taking skills CWS Writing Lab Referral to labs with background information about student s strengths/weakness APA style and writing workshops Faculty collaboration Faculty education Participate in faculty & student meetings/conferences Review exam format with professors

18 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY Challenges Limited social support network External and internal barriers to social and community involvement Anxiety, depression Social skills AIP Regular meetings, activities, and workshops Social skills workshops Coordinate campus and community programs Partners Student Activities Student Government Association Autism Pensacola, Inc Student Organizations and Clubs Recreation & Sports Services

19 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY Community Social API Walk & Fundraiser (collaborated with Delta Phi Lambda ) Mardi Gras Fun Run for Special Olympics Volunteered at Autism events Panel presentation Autism Camp Mentor middle school autism support group Community social events Campus events Dinners/outings as group

20 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Partnered with Delta Phi Lambda Sorority ~ fundraiser for API Mardi Gras Fun Run partnered with Special Olympics Fundraiser 20

21 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Panel Presentation at Pensacola Autism Camp Mentoring youth Partnered with community support group 21

22 CAMPUS LIFE Workshops by SGA Student Activities Recreation Services 22

23 CAMPUS LIFE

24 SOCIAL OUTINGS Social outings as group 24

25 TRANSITION AND LIFE SKILLS Counseling & Wellness Other Coping with sensory overload Coping with depression Dating and sexual health Counseling & Med Mgt Working with others in groups Dating from a girl s/guy s perspective Social skills training Body language and communication Self-advocacy skills 25

26 CAREER PREPARATION AND PLANNING Partnered with Career Services Career Preparation Workshops Resume Writing Preparing and Applying for Graduate School Experiential Learning Etiquette Dinner Business networking Career Planning 1:1 Career Planning Mock Interviewing Other Career Exploration Opp IT Careers and Data Center National Flight Academy Professional with ASD lecture 26

27 CAREER PREPARATION AND PLANNING Careers in IT and Data Center Experience

28 C A R E E R P R E PA R AT I O N AND PLANNING National Flight Academy ~Flight Simulation Experience 28

29 PRESENTATION SKILLS Association of Higher Education and Disability, 2012 Presentation Flying High with Autism Conference,

30 QUESTIONS? 30