Autism Goes To College
Autism Goes To College
EPISODE 36: Lindsey Heads Back to School at Appalachian State - Dean’s-list year, accommodations (single room), office hours, clubs—and finding fit
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Lindsey loved her freshman year. She's majoring in communication sciences and disorders, and made the dean's list both semesters. She accessed the accommodations she needed and says she benefitted from getting to know her professors during office hours. Dorm life was more challenging, and this year her accommodations include a single room. She tried out some clubs, and found the Neurodivergent Students and Allies club actually wasn't a great fit, and she explains why. Plus, more insights and strategies on how to navigate the ups and downs of freshman year and what Lindsey loves about sharing her college experiences as a student on the spectrum with her TikTok and YouTube followers.
Now that I'm genuinely enjoying my social life at Hamilton, I'm more incentivized to actually be social.
SPEAKER_02Having autism isn't something that should prevent people from having a successful college experience. It takes work.
SPEAKER_00Join clubs, find groups, find your people, find ways to fit in. See a peer mentor. See somebody who can help you get involved on campus.
SPEAKER_04There were a lot of black children on the spectrum who were also deaf. She's not the first one.
SPEAKER_05I researched all of the majors and I eliminated the ones that sounded not interesting to me. So then I changed it to chemical engineering, to work with chemistry. Then I took an environmental science class and I'm like, I think environmental issues are really important, and I'm really passionate about state sustainability and stuff. So then I changed it to finally environmental engineering.
SPEAKER_01Especially in a college town like Outdoor Dash. Like, just go out and get the food. It's good exercise.
SPEAKER_03Hey everyone! Thanks for joining us on this episode of Autism Goes to College, the podcast for students on the spectrum and for everyone who supports us. Navigating college is always a challenge, so here are the hacks, insights, and great ideas you've been looking for to make college work for you. We're a small group of self-advocates. We're all in college or recently graduated, and you can do this too.
SPEAKER_07At the end of this episode, I'll give you some details about where you can see the film today. And it's all at our website, autismgoes to college.org. Every month we drop a new episode. Here's what's also new: there's a resource center on our website with dozens of outtakes of important stuff that didn't quite make it into the film, all the podcast episodes, and blogs from experts and from student advisors from the film. Thanks for listening. We do hope to hear from you.
SPEAKER_08Hello, I am Lindsay Washington, and I'm just about to head back to school as a sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. I'm majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a minor in digital marketing. I had a lot of academic success in my freshman year. Even made the dean's list twice, but I also had some challenges. Getting to classes could be confusing. There were ups and downs on the social side and with dorm life. So I'm going back for my second year with some experiences and strategies. I'm here with Catherine O'Brien, the host of the Autism Goes to College podcast, and I will hand it over to her.
SPEAKER_07Hey everyone! We met our guest Lindsay on TikTok, where Autism Goes to College had some fun this summer. Check out our TikTok and join the conversation when you have a minute. I'm your host, Catherine O'Brien, and I'm a student at UC Riverside where I'm pursuing my PhD in education, focusing on student-teacher relationships between autistic students and their teachers, and also on the transition to adulthood for autistic young adults in college and understanding their experiences of relationships and identity. Our podcast is part of a whole bunch of resources that you can find at autismogostocollege.org, where you could also see clips from our documentary film, check out blogs, and find the whole podcast series. At the end of this episode, you can also hear details on how to see the film. But for now, I'm happy to bring you this conversation with Lindsay Washington for our back to school episode. Welcome to the new season. So, Lindsay, you are a social media sensation with TikTok and YouTube where you talk about college life from your perspective as a student on the spectrum. This summer you posted your recap. How did you decide to make and share social media content?
SPEAKER_08I just want to have a platform where I can communicate and put my voice out there. I'm also very creative and I just love to put my work out there.
SPEAKER_07So you are looking ahead to your sophomore year. How does it feel different this fall as compared to this time last year?
SPEAKER_08So last year I was new to the school and I didn't know where I was going, where everything was, but compared to this year, I would know where everything is, and I will be uh more adjusted to the campus.
SPEAKER_07So anxiety-wise, it sounds like it might be a little better.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, a lot better. Not that much anxiety. That makes complete sense.
SPEAKER_07Can you share some of the highs and lows of your first year of college?
SPEAKER_08Of course. So some of the highs that I had were um, first of all, having a successful freshman year. I made the dean's list and I also joined a couple of clubs. Some cons were living with a stranger for the first time. I had a lot of anxiety because I've been an only child and it was something that I had to get used to. And also living without my parents for the first time, even though I was close, it was still hard.
SPEAKER_07So, what happened with your situation and living away from home for the first time? You referenced that being kind of anxiety-provoking, but how did it turn out?
SPEAKER_08So initially, when I first met my roommate during move-in day, I thought that she was really nice. But as the year goes on, we weren't getting along, which created a lot of conflict.
SPEAKER_07That's a shame. What ended up happening? Did you find support for the conflict with your roommate?
SPEAKER_08I did. So my roommate and I filled out a roommate agreement. I communicated to my RA, it didn't work out. Because it didn't work out, she ended up moving out of the room and did online classes while I ended up with a single room for the rest of the year.
SPEAKER_07Oh, I see. So your roommate left the dorm.
SPEAKER_08She did. She did.
SPEAKER_07Oh, well, was college how you were expecting, or were there surprises along the way?
SPEAKER_08I think it was pretty much mostly what I expected. Maybe with little changes, with making my own decisions. For instance, what I have to eat every day, and just making my own schedule between my whole day, like what I'm gonna do in between classes, and so on.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, there's a lot of autonomy. Have you found strategies that help give your day more structure?
SPEAKER_08Oh, I have. So I have a big calendar up in my room to where I write important due dates for my homework assignments and important tests when it comes to exams and tests. I also keep my planner up to date by making sure I write down all the assignments for each of my classes and color coding. And I also would develop a relationship with my professors early on before school started. And I would advise this for anyone who goes to college to make sure that your professors get to know you. So that way my professors know who I am and what my accommodations are and work around it.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, that personal connection really can make a difference when you need help in the moment. So, how did you choose Appalachian State? What other schools were on your list of colleges?
SPEAKER_08Okay, so initially I went to high school in Pennsylvania. So initially I was looking at two schools in Pennsylvania. And as and as I was researching, my parents were considering a move to North Carolina. Then ultimately, we did move to North Carolina, which led me to two schools there, which one was a small and private university, while the other one was mid-sized, which was Appalachian State. And from there, I decided based on accommodations, and AppState won because they offered the resources for those on the spectrum.
SPEAKER_07Excellent. So AppState's mid-size and it has resources. Can you tell me just a little bit more about the resources you found? I think people will be curious to hear what's offered.
SPEAKER_08Of course. So my school offers a program called HAND, and it stands for Hub for Autism and Neurodiversity, and it's a support network for students and the community. And my school was also listed as one of the top 30 colleges for those on the spectrum according to the applied behavior analysis program guide.
SPEAKER_07Oh, fantastic. And how did you go about disclosing and asking for accommodations? Was that something you did during the application process?
SPEAKER_08It was definitely something that I did during the application process. And I also um was able to mention it to my professors when I requested my accommodations.
SPEAKER_07Did you have any second thoughts about being open or was that natural for you?
SPEAKER_08It was natural for me. Very natural. And what accommodations are are you using?
SPEAKER_07Are they helping?
SPEAKER_08Yes, they are very helpful and they help me to be successful. So some of the accommodations that I use are note-taking assistance. So I use a specific app called Otter where it transcribes exactly what my professors say. And since the college lectures are very fast-paced, I tend to miss stuff. So whenever I go back and redo my notes, I would listen to the lecture again and then write down whatever I miss. I also have a time extension for tests and exams.
SPEAKER_07So are there parts of the hand program that go beyond your accommodations? Tell me a little more about that.
SPEAKER_08For right now, I am working with the Office of Disability resources for my accommodations, but I am looking into working with hands to help with job opportunities.
SPEAKER_07Oh, that makes sense. So it's more of a thing as you progress in your college career to continue uh to offer support for the future. Well, it's great to be looking ahead. So you share on social media that you study communication sciences and disorders, which is an area that you've received support in the past. Can you talk about the journey from being maybe a client of somebody who's who does communication sciences to being an expert?
SPEAKER_08Of course. So, um as a person with autism who undergone speech therapy at a very young age, I've always been passionate about speech therapy. And my speech therapy experience in the past has really helped me. And it was really good to develop comprehension, analytic, and social skills that I need to utilize in my daily life. And I want to be, and I want to be helpful to others because I'm a very helpful person regardless of the disability.
SPEAKER_07Absolutely. How have you found the classes in your major? Are they meeting your expectations?
SPEAKER_08Oh, absolutely. A lot of the information said so far from each of the classes that I took were really interesting and fascinated me that I was even researching a lot of the information outside of class.
SPEAKER_07And what about the professors, particularly the professors in your major? How have your interactions been with them?
SPEAKER_08Most of my classes are general ed requirements. But so far I had a really good experience with my professors. They're friendly and they're very helpful and they're very understanding of my accommodations. And they're also welcome to have additional office hours with me to make sure I understand the material.
SPEAKER_07Fantastic. And you said it's important that you met your professors early on so they got to know you. Do you have any other tips and tricks for students who want to have good interactions with professors?
SPEAKER_08I would say utilize all the resources that they have, like for participation, etc., to help me be successful.
SPEAKER_07So you mentioned your dorm situation. Let's talk a little bit more about the overall social experiences in college. How would you describe the social side of your first year?
SPEAKER_08It's definitely very a little bit difficult because especially with living with someone that's different from me, it was hard to get adjusted. And also in general, it was just hard for me to make friends. I would be the one usually to introduce myself and be friendly, but however, people don't reciprocate, which leaves me to a lot of loneliness and isolation. And because I dealt with a lot of that in high school, I was afraid that I was going to experience it in college as well.
SPEAKER_07Yeah. So do you have any places where you found you could try to meet people, or is it is it just still just kind of tough?
SPEAKER_08I'm um trying to meet people through the clubs and also at the dining hall whenever I eat lunch and dinner throughout the day. I also try to meet people in my classes.
SPEAKER_07So you mentioned clubs and you mentioned connecting socially in them. How are the clubs going?
SPEAKER_08The clubs so far are going really well. I like the Inn of R City Creation Club that I'm doing right now, and I'm looking into continuing to do it this year, but I'm also looking into doing the Black Student Association at my school along with one creative club.
SPEAKER_07What is one creative club? I've I've never heard of something like that.
SPEAKER_08They do media and they do social media. Great.
SPEAKER_07Were there any clubs that you joined that you found didn't suit you?
SPEAKER_08The Neurodivergent Student and Allies Club definitely wasn't a fit. And the reason being was because it was male-dominated and they weren't doing a lot of activities. They were doing a lot of um informational stuff. So talking about autism and ADHD, for example, information about each of those areas and resources that you can utilize to learn more.
SPEAKER_07Okay, so they were kind of doing advocacy, basic knowledge sharing. And you also mentioned that there were just a lot of guys in the club. Have you have you found it more challenging to be a woman on the spectrum in college? Or have you noticed that being a different experience?
SPEAKER_08You know what? It definitely has been a hard experience to just find other women that are related to me and like and talk about the same issues that we are dealing with. Well, otherwise it's been easy.
SPEAKER_07Okay, that makes sense. Yeah. Aside from um your academic accommodations, did you um access any social supports or counseling on campus?
SPEAKER_08You know what? I am aware of the counseling services that they have around campus, but I'm gonna try to look more into it this year.
SPEAKER_07So it sounds like not yet. Were there things that you did instead of that that helped you feel supported and coping with the loneliness?
SPEAKER_08Yes. So I would utilize my YouTube channel to um because it's a great outlet for me to communicate and to be creative whenever I feel lonely. I would also lean on my support system, I would pray. I also like to listen to music because it's very therapeutic and relaxing, along with taking photos and online shopping.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I think the internet can be such a healing way to connect with other neurodivergent people who maybe aren't close to us or on our campus, but really understand what we're going through. Absolutely. You mentioned your support system. Who is part of your support system? Can you say a little bit about that? Of course.
SPEAKER_08So my mom, my dad, um, my grandma, and with that, also a couple friends that I made in high school. Oh. Have you stayed in touch with your high school friends?
SPEAKER_07I have. I have. Any tips for students that are going to college that want to continue those friendships from high school?
SPEAKER_08The biggest thing that I have is to be yourself. It is so easy whenever you are in an unfamiliar environment with a lot of strangers around you to um lose your identity. So make sure that you um be your authentic self.
SPEAKER_07So looking ahead to this fall, do you know where you'll be living and what courses you're taking? Can you give us like a preview of what you're most looking forward to?
SPEAKER_08Absolutely. So I'm looking forward to continuing to get involved in clubs, meeting new people, and taking classes within my major. I'm also going to be in a single room this year. And some of the classes that I'm going to be taking is world civilization, another major class for um is like anatomy and physiology of communication disorders. I'm also taking another writing class as part of my gen ed requirement. And also a survey of social psychology class and an oral of interpretation, which is basically theater.
SPEAKER_07Oh, it sounds like there's just so much to look forward to. Thank you so much for sharing, Lindsay. This has been a great, um, great little chat. I think particularly other female college students like us will relate to it.
SPEAKER_08Thank you. And there's one more thing that I would like to say. I my YouTube channel is Lindsay underscorewashington, so be sure to stay tuned.
SPEAKER_07And now, as promised, here are ways to see the documentary. The documentary film Autism Goes to College is currently available through many channels, but the easiest way to see it today is to rent it on Vimeo On Demand, which you can access from your Apple TV or most smart TVs by going on the Vimeo On Demand app. You can also find a direct link on our website at www.autismgoes to college.org. The film is also available for educational use and live and hybrid screening events. All the relevant info and links can be found on our website. Thank you so much for listening, following us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and especially for adding your reviews on Apple Podcasts. Our show is specifically for students on the spectrum navigating college, and we really appreciate your support for Autism Goes to College. Thanks for listening.