NCBCE does not endorse all of the content in these resources. We hope you find helpful suggestions within them for your postsecondary context. Feel free to email us at ncbceadmin@nc.gov if you have a resource that you would recommend adding.
You can email Emma Friesen (emma.friesen@nc.gov) to join the Autism & Higher Education Group. It is geared toward college & university staff and meets virtually every 1-2 months.
Faculty Resources
Autism Goes to College — Website which provides resources, including video clips. They have a resources page geared toward professors. They also have resources throughout the website for autistic students themselves. Those could be helpful for faculty and staff to gain a greater understanding of what college can be like for autistic students.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network: Accommodations for Autistic Individuals — Notes potential access needs of autistic individuals at meetings & functions.
Duke Neurodiversity Connections — Offers resources for faculty, which could also be applicable to employees at other institutions of higher education. One can especially look at the Faculty Classroom Inclusion Guide and the Faculty Tip Sheet for Assisting Students who are Neurodiverse.
Supporting Autistic people who may want to disclose
Universal Design — Dr. Sam Brandsen gave a presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education Collaborative about supporting autistic students in the college classroom. Here is the slide deck, and here is the video of his presentation.
Administrator and Staff Resources
"Autism Spectrum Disorders on the Rise" — Article from the National Association of Colleges and Employers about autistic students, which is geared toward career counselors, university recruiting professionals, and employers. The article encourages people on the autism spectrum to disclose their diagnosis after the interview. However, for some job seekers, disclosure before or during the interview may be a better option.
"Building an Inclusive Community for Neurodivergent Students" — Dr. Tara Chandrasekhar gave a presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education Collaborative about her work with Neurodiversity Connections at Duke University. Here is her slide deck, and here is the video of the presentation.
"Colleges should understand the special issues related to autism and Title IX"
"Developing an inclusive campus for autistic students." by Sam Brandsen et al. (This article is behind a paywall. You may be able to access it at no cost, if you are affiliated with a college or university.)
"Disability Focused Programming at UNC's Charlotte Career Center" — Lee Anne Tourigny from the UNC Charlotte Career Center gave presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education Collaborative on programming for students with disabilities. You can access the video of her presentation here and the slide deck here.
Drinking, Drug Use, and Addiction in the Autism Community by Elizabeth Kunreuther and Ann Palmer
"How Vocational Rehabilitation Can Support College Students on the Autism Spectrum" — Adrienne Kittle gave a presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education collaborative on how Vocational Rehabilitation can support college students with disabilities. (Vocational Rehabilitation has since changed their name to Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities.) You can access the video of her presentation here and the slide deck here.
"How We Talk about Autism and Why it Matters" — Jacklyn Boheler, MS, OTR/L, from UNC TEACCH® gave a presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education collaborative on terminology and autism. You can access the video of her presentation here and the slide deck here.
"Making a Home for Students With Autism: New programs meet a range of academic, social, and emotional needs for people on the spectrum" (You need to have a Chronicle account to read this article.)
OnePack Empowered — In January 2024, Kelly Laraway and Sidney Fletcher presented to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education Collaborative about the new OnePack Empowered program, which supports neurodivergent students at NC State.
Sensory Lounges — Tina Vires gave a presentation to the North Carolina Autism & Higher Education Collaborative on the process of creating a sensory lounge at UNC Greensboro. You can access the video of her presentation here and the slide deck here.
Contact us at NCBCEadmin@nc.gov if you are interested in a LiNC-IT flier for participants to share at your college or university.
Student Resources
Autism Goes to College — Provides resources for students, including articles, podcasts, and video clips.
Peer-to-Peer: Communicating with College Professors — Provides resources for students, including articles, podcasts, and video clips.
NCcareers.org — Has a webpage where you can look at the salaries for various jobs, how many openings there are per year, and projected growth for job openings. This can be a helpful tool as one decides what type of postsecondary education to pursue.
Programs for Students & Recent Graduates with Disabilities
Disability:IN NextGen Leaders — College students and recent graduates with disabilities. Students are matched one-on-one with mentors from Disability:IN Corporate Partners across all industries.
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) — The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private-sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. Colleges need to register for students from their school to be able to participate. School staff can register annually from April through June.
Neurodiversity Initiatives at North Carolina Colleges & Universities
Access to Achievement — A new pilot program to support individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or learning disabilities at fifteen North Carolina Community Colleges: Alamance, Asheville-Buncombe Technical, Brunswick, Catawba Valley, College of The Albemarle, Guilford Technical, James Sprunt, Johnston, McDowell Technical, Richmond, Robeson, Sandhills, South Piedmont, Stanly, and Wilkes community colleges. The Access to Achievement Coordinators at the colleges will be housed in Student Services.
Duke Neurodiversity Connections
OnePack Empowered at NC State University
SHIELD (Students Honoring Individual Experiences and Learning Differences) at UNC Charlotte
Email Emma Friesen (emma.friesen@nc.gov) if you have other neurodiversity initiatives to add to this page.