advice for parent of ASD/High functioning aspergers child

Coloradomama
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:27:19 +0000

We have a close friend who has Aspergers, attends local flagship near home, found supportive living arrangement, where he can live on campus all four years, and I think he is now much more social in year three. All boys but especially Aspergers students need TIME to get to know their surroundings. I think we expect too much too quickly and then that sets up students for failure. Also isn’t social life totally overblown, the importance of it? I think so,
but maybe i just was more studious than most, and like being alone.

Your son must play to his strengths, and if social life is not his strength, then he can become very successful in MANY careers like actuary, computer programming, or law, which require concentration and solo work. There are dozens of other careers that require almost no social interaction, but depend on skills and intelligence.

If its not too late, I would encourage him to apply to other schools with good supportive living arrangements.
Self care may come with time away from home. Don’t overthink this,although I understand your worry, he may be able to do fine. RIT is good for many majors, in arts, CS, optical engineering, photography, and the program there is supportive, for twice exceptional students.

I see about 1/3 of Colorado boys, from our region, often have undiagnosed learning differences pop back home after a semester out of state. This is not talked about much, but many boys do not adjust to college life away from home, maybe some of that is maturity, or other factors.