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Parent Perspective: Autism and Community Colleges

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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

  • Students can find the community-based ethos of a community college conducive to taking smaller steps and breaking processes into manageable parts.

Autism and community colleges. 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? Community colleges can be a good fit for students who have an autism diagnosis, and you can learn more about the kinds of support often available at such institutions, too.

If you are looking for more resources on schools that might be a fit for students who have autism, check out these lists: Autism in College and the 2o Best Value Colleges for Students with Autism 2019.

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