College Autism Network

CAN invites you to join us and our campus partners in Mesa, AZ for an informative and encouraging event designed to help autistic and other neurodivergent high school students and their families explore the landscape of college and employment opportunities, and to strengthen the skills of professionals who support them on this journey. Building Bridges is for autistic HS students who are "college curious" and want to understand what it takes to prepare for a successful college experience, and college and university pros looking to enhance their own knowledge and skills. https://lnkd.in/eBJ4_YtX

We believe this workbook will be a game-changer for the many students and families looking ahead to a college experience.

College Autism Network awards announced! On Tuesday, October 15, the College Autism Network recognized two programs and two individuals as the recipients of its 2024 Excellence in Autism Practice and Research awards. The awards were announced at the College Autism Summit, a national conference with 300 professionals and students in attendance held in Columbus, OH, October 13-16. Outstanding Research on Autism in Higher Education: Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch, Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the College of Staten Island (CSI) and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is the Director of CSI’s Advanced Certificate Program in Autism, and leads and evaluates a mentorship program for autistic college students at CSI. Outstanding Neurodiversity Workplace Initiative: Dell Technologies’ Neurodiversity Hiring Program. Dell’s program and its leader, Danielle Biddick, were recognized for consistent and creative support of autistic individuals entering the workplace as interns and employees. Outstanding Autism Support Program: West Chester University’s Dub-C Autism Program DCAP, led by director Cherie Fishbaugh, was recognized as a model program among the more than 140 autism support programs that are members of the College Autism Network. DCAP began in 2016, and currently serves 105 West Chester University students. CAN Contributor of the Year: Karen Krainz Edison, Associate Director for College Support Programs at the Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center, is an active member of the College Autism Network, volunteering as a presenter, a facilitator and a mentor to other professionals. She has been a member of CAN’s Practitioners’ Advisory Board, and this year played an important planning and support role at the Summit, which was held in Columbus. --

The College Autism Network is celebrating our partner and benefactor, Dr. Keivan Stassun, Founding Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, who was named a MacArthur Fellow today. We are grateful every day that at a moment when CAN's future was a little (okay, a lot) iffy, Keivan said, "come join us." Which we did, gladly. The Frist Center leads the way on supporting autistic college students, especially those who want to enter STEM fields, and Keivan leads the Frist Center. Thanks, MacArthur Foundation, for recognizing this exceptional scholar, leader, mentor, father and all-around good person.

The 8th College Autism Summit will take place in Columbus, OH, Oct 13-16. Think of it as a garden where brilliant ideas are planted, watered, occasionally pruned, and then harvested to feed the work of supporting outcomes for autistic college students. Join us in the garden! https://lnkd.in/eRqvaM-z

Are you a professional whose work focuses on supporting autistic college students? A researcher who dives deep into the scholarship of autism and higher ed? An employer figuring out the big questions of neurodiversity in the workplace? An autistic student advocate seeking to make a difference for students like you? You should join us at the College Autism Summit in Columbus, OH, October 13-16, for the premier professional development event for autism support professionals, researchers and students. https://lnkd.in/eRqvaM-z