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Parent Perspective: Autism and the College Transition

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1 min read
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Maureen Perkins

Maureen PerkinsContributor

Contributor Maureen Perkins is a 48-year-old mother of five. In 1995 her son Daniel was born and at the age of eighteen months, he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. With this shift in every day life, Maureen and her husband decided in 1995 that she should quit her job at the state auditor’s office to be Daniel’s full-time aid and advocate. Through a great deal of research, travel, and legal battles, she was able to give Daniel the tools to graduate with honors and begin a career in his chosen field.

Originally published on Stairway to STEM by Maureen Perkins

At a Glance

  • If transitioning to college becomes part of your everyday conversation, it becomes much easier for students to adapt.

Autism and the college transition. In this interview series, Maureen Perkins talks to STS about supporting her son’s transition to college. Perkins and her son used their understanding of his autism to create and follow a matriculation plan that worked for him and allowed him to thrive. Questions for Maureen? You can learn more about what to expect from college environments and whether community college is a good fit for your family, too. Check out the rest of the videos in this series on our YouTube channel.

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