Jackie Burrell at the Contra Costa Times sheds light on the hazards faced by many students with Asperger's syndrome and other forms of autism as they go to college and try to have an independent life.
It's not a question of intelligence. It's regular life they have difficulty with — getting up in the morning, prioritizing tasks, and taking care of themselves. Autism affects executive functioning, the brain's ability to process the overwhelming surge of information that streams through our lives every moment. They have trouble interpreting events and social cues, and formulating an appropriate response.
UC Berkeley offers a two-year-old College Internship Program for young adults with Asperger's and similar disabilities. The program works to bridge the gap between the highly specialized youth programs and the traditional college experience that students with autism get launched into with little preparation -- and often little success.
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