Independent Living Skills
At College Living Experience, students with Asperger’s Syndrome, autism, ADD, and learning disabilities master the skills required to live independently during their college transition program. Perhaps more important, they acquire the judgment to make sound decisions about daily life, including budgeting, keeping their apartment in order and shopping for themselves and their household.
Preparing for the Future
Many students with special needs have never lived on their own before. To facilitate a successful transition to college and independent adulthood, CLE students live with a roommate in an apartment near campus. With coaching from an independent living skills instructor, students learn to manage their money, pay bills and use an ATM. Students shop for groceries and prepare their own meals. They clean their apartments and do their laundry. They take public transportation. Many students with Asperger’s, autism and learning disabilities are performing these tasks for the first time in their lives, and doing so facilitates their transition to independent living.
Guided Discovery
Through CLE, special needs students experience independent living at their own pace. Students live on their own – but they are not alone. A resident advisor who lives in or near the apartments is joined by other staff members who are on hand to facilitate independent living and social activities while helping students navigate daily life, whether that means waking up on time for class or remembering to take medication. Each student has a mentor, typically a graduate student in psychology, who gives students the opportunity to put their independent living skills into practice so they develop confidence in their abilities. If issues arise, a dedicated team – including a director, a psychologist, tutors, a mentor and a resident advisor – comes together to provide emotional and social support to assist the student in a successful college experience.
Constant Communication
While achieving independence is the goal, many parents want
to be kept informed of their child’s progress. CLE staff provides progress
reports and communicates regularly with parents of students with special needs.