1. Autism Services Case Study
Ali Aust, Breé Shepard, William Teer

2. Call for Action
According to Autism Speaks, 1 in every 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the amount of those with ASD attending college is also increasing
A 2012 study in the journal Pediatrics found that about 50,000 teenagers with ASD turn 18 each year and 34.7 percent attend college
Even more so, some experts speculate that for every college student with ASD who identifies as someone with a diagnosis, there may be two more who are undisclosed
Without intentional support, few of these students will actually graduate
Current services provided on campus do not meet the needs of the ever growing population of students with ASD

3. What are other institutions doing?
Common Themes
Personal attention is key
Peer mentor programs are commonplace
Interventions, progress reports, and follow-ups are all standard
Some put more of a focus on academic preparation
Others devote more time to professional job and skill training
All offer programs for social and personal development
Notable Areas of Growth
Most are fee based; less-expensive options need to exist to provide access to more students
There are few systems in place that offer formal connections or programs to keep in touch with alumni

4. Western Kentucky University
Kelly Autism Program
Esteemed Recognition
Recognized program poised to become a national model
Received critical acclaim in November 19, 2016 New York Times article
Only program in its region that offers services for elementary, middle, high school, and college students
Key Features
Provides an educational, social, and supportive environment so students can achieve their potential as independent, productive and active community citizens.
Offers educational and comprehensive support through individual education plan assistance, classroom adaptations and tutoring, community involvement through active participation in community activities, social and leisure activities, job coaching, and parent support

5. Western Kentucky University
Kelly Autism Program
By the numbers
Humble beginnings: founded in 2006, serving three students
Present success: dozens of students served, with 15 affiliated faculty and staff
Future goals: 2019 predictions are preparing for an enrollment of over 70 students
Notable Distinctions
Program maintains close ties with campus partners, such as residence hall directors and professors
Students receive individualized attention by staff, peer mentors, tutors, counselors, and psychologists
Supercenter Challenge: students are dropped off at local Wal-Mart every Friday to navigate store, ask for help, and complete purchases without any Kelly staff assistance
Excellent balance of academic, professional and personal development with small groups, required study tables, personal residence rooms, and monthly socials

6. California State- Long Beach
The LIFE Project (Learning Independence for Empowerment)
Key Features:
Non-fee based
Hosts weekly skills-based workshops
Run through Disabled Student Services office
Mentor program

7. Autism Spectrum Navigators
Bellevue College
Autism Spectrum Navigators
Key Features
No-fee utilization for services (except for Career Course)
Meetings with peer mentors, who are undergraduate juniors and seniors with an interest in disability services, psychology, nursing, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, special education, or a related field.
Liaison/Assistance with instructors
Focus on career and independence

8. What we would like to do
Our charge is to create a non-fee dependant program through Disability Services that provides weekly workshops highlighting practical skills and adjustment to college life. This program will serve students on our campus on the Autism Spectrum, Asperger's, and other social-cognitive disorders. Thanks to the generous endowment from the Johnson family, the Johnson Center will provide all services without fees.

9. Short-Term Goals- 1st year
Host weekly workshops with monthly series focusing on Personal, Social, and Academic success
Fund one work study student who will split time between coordinating reception area and grant writing
Renovate a small existing space to serve as a meeting area, office, and lounge for participants
Recruit three Peer Mentors for the program who will help lead weekly workshops
Canvas campus for interest to more accurately gauge numbers needed for staff and peer mentor program

10. Personal
Personal Workshop series will include sessions on the following topics:
How to socialize with peers and communicate with professors
Having meaningful conversations and listen to others
Understanding the importance of how others think
Learn how your behavior affects others
Dating
Grooming and Hygiene
Job Skills
Cooking lessons

11. Social
Through the Social Workshop series, we plan to work on relationship skills through the following topics:
How to navigate new friendships and maintain old ones
What it means to be at college
How to co-habitate a space with roommates
Work fundraisers for the program on campus to engage students and maintain the non-fee based structure.

12. Academic
Academic Workshops held through the Johnson Center will include:
Individual tutoring and group tutoring with peer mentors
Early registration
Academic Advising
How to be successful in college
Time Management
Peer mentor to walk class route with students before classes begin each semester

13. Long-Term Goals
Within five years, we hope that the Johnson Center will grow large enough to establish an entire office with staff members, full-time tutors and academic advisors in addition to the one staff member and our work-study student. We also hope to develop an alumni network in order to maintain communication with former students. In this time, our staff will focus on grant applications to make this possible, finding what the needs of students on our campus are and working on programs to serve our students.

14. Budget The Johnson Center received a gift of $30,000.
The first year’s expenses estimate to $8,170. Subsequent years expenses estimate to $5,500.
We can sustain for 5 years on the gift, using the following recommendations:

15. Budget - continued Expenses First Year Subsequent Years
Associate Director
Included
Work Study Student*
$4500
Practica Students $0
Marketing
$1000
Paper goods
Desk, Chair, Computer + Peripheries**
$1770
Chairs**
$600
*=based on 15 hours a week, $10 per hour **=estimates based on market value on Staples.com and Dell.com

16. References