Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome
also by Ann Palmer
A Friend’s and Relative’s Guide to Supporting the Family with Autism
How Can I Help?
Ann Palmer
Foreword by Stephen M. Shore
ISBN 978 1 84905 877 3
eISBN 978 0 85700 567 0
Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum
Unexpected Lessons We’ve Learned
Maureen Morrell and Ann Palmer
ISBN 978 1 84310 807 8
eISBN 978 1 84642 506 6
of related interest
Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
Sarita Freedman
Foreword by Tony Attwood
ISBN 978 1 84310 917 4
eISBN 978 0 85700 292 1
Succeeding as a Student in the STEM Fields with an Invisible Disability
A College Handbook for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Students with Autism, ADD, Affective Disorders, or Learning Difficulties and their Families
Christy Oslund
ISBN 978 1 84905 947 3
eISBN 978 0 85700 817 6
Supporting College and University Students with Invisible Disabilities
A Guide for Faculty and Staff Working with Students with Autism, AD/HD, Language Processing Disorders, Anxiety, and Mental Illness
Christy Oslund
ISBN 978 1 84905 955 8
eISBN 978 085700 785 8
Helping young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder set out on a hopeful road towards their adult lives
John Clements, Julia Hardy and Stephanie Lord
ISBN 978 1 84310 964 8
eISBN 978 0 85700 386 7
The Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People with Asperger’s Syndrome
Find the Right Career and Get Hired
Barbara Bissonnette
ISBN 978 1 84905 921 3
eISBN 978 0 85700 692 9
The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome
Tony Attwood
ISBN 978 1 84310 495 7 (hardback)
ISBN 978 1 84310 669 2 (paperback)
eISBN 978 1 84642 559 2
Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome
A Parent’s Guide to Student Success
Ann Palmer
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
First published in 2006
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Copyright © Ann Palmer 2006
The right of Ann Palmer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Palmer, Ann, 1955
Realizing the college dream with autism or Asperger syndrome : a parent’s guide to student success / Ann Palmer. -- 1st American pbk. ed.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-84310-801-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-84310-801-1 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Asperger’s syndrome. 2. Autism. 3. Parents of autistic children.
I. Title.
RC553.A88.P356 2006
616.85’882--dc22
2005023410
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84310 801 6
eISBN 978 1 84642 250 8
I dedicate this book to my family. To my wonderful husband Bobby, thank you for your love, patience, and support. I couldn’t have done this without you. To my daughter Sarah and my son Philip, thank you for making me so proud to be your mom. Last but not least to Eric, thank you for everything you have taught me and for all the wonderful people and experiences you have brought to my life. You inspire me every day. Thank you for giving me permission to share your story to inspire others. I love you all.
Acknowledgments
There are many people in Eric’s life who have helped him over the years. Without their dedication and hard work and their belief in him, Eric would not be where he is today. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Joanna Dalldorf and Lee Marcus for gently giving us the diagnosis and supporting us over the years; to Pat Fennell and Kay Flinn for listening, teaching, and touching our lives in so many ways; to Kim Banks, Artie Cline, Frances Patterson and Anne Murphy, advocates extraordinaire for Eric in school; to Dail Ballard and Linda King-Thomas, therapists who with patience and respect encouraged Eric to try new things; and to Laurie Quartermain and Sabina Vermeulen for helping Eric discover his own voice to advocate for himself.
I also want to thank the friends and colleagues who supported me through the process of writing this book. Thank you to Nancy Huber for helping me get my foot in the door; to Maureen Morrell for encouraging me to do this; to my fellow parents and friends Linda