RESOURCES For TERTIARY students & YOUNG ADULTS, PARENTS & CARERS
Providing programs and materials to support neurodivergent students in developing life skills and becoming work-ready.
Providing materials for parents and carers to support their students.
1. TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY
This information pertains to supporting autistic students in academic settings and comes from a variety of sources including local and international information, peer reviewed research and research conducted at OTARC, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia (funded by DHS, Victoria).
Please note, while this information is designed to support autistic students, a lot of the information and resources also apply to students with other neurodiverse variations. There are separate sections for students and parents/carers. In the “Resources for Universities” there is material for university staff. The sections have been tailored to best meet the needs of each group.
We use ‘university’ as a generic term referring to tertiary providers including universities, colleges and vocational training providers (and, for Australia: TAFEs).
Click the group you best identify with to access the relevant materials.
=> or download the pamphlet version
2. TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY - RESOURCES FROM ‘STAIRWAY TO STEM’
Stairway to STEM is an organization, based in the United States, that provides resources to autistic students, their families, and tertiary instructors. The goal of Stairway to STEM is to improve awareness of academic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs and careers. Stairway to STEM supports students as they transition to university and then to the world of work. Below we have curated a number of resources for Students and Parents/Carers.
3. College Autism Spectrum
College Autism Spectrum is a U.S.-based organisation run by higher education professionals who all have experience working with neurodivergent students and students with other learning and developmental differences. This is a great resource for students as they transition to university and then on to work. CAS offers different support services to students and their parents, including guidance throughout the college search and admission processes, career counselling and support for the transitions to university and to the world of work.
In addition, to assist with the college search process, CAS has compiled a list of universities with descriptions of their neurodiversity programs.
4. College Autism Network
College Autism Network is a U.S.-based non-profit organization committed to improving the likelihood of autistic students attending and graduating from a post-secondary institution and to better the student experience and post-graduation outcomes.
Are you starting the college search process? The link below is a list of post-secondary institutions that have neurodiversity programs. It lists universities/ colleges (in the U.S.) by region and mentions the different neurodiversity programs that schools have. While it does not mention every institution, it is still a good resource as you begin your college search.
5. STUDENT CHECKLISTS
The “On Your Marq” Program at Marquette University has developed the following checklists for use by its students during their initial period at university. These may be of assistance to students at other colleges or universities.
6. “BE YOUR BEST” LIFE SKILLS AND WORK-READY SKILLS TRAINING
"Be Your Best" is an educational curriculum of materials to support life skills learning within neurodiverse populations in their transition to study and transition to work. The materials are evidence-based, researched topics with therapeutic aims for engaged learning. Some of the topics covered include organizational skills, cooking and health and presentation skills.
These materials can be undertaken individually or in a group. Groups could include interest groups at universities or in the work place. For groups, there is also a facilitator's guide available to support the learning objectives.
COVID-19. We understand this is a trying time for everyone, so we have compiled some great resources, activities and thought-provoking text to help you navigate this crisis with greater ease. The “Lockdown survival pack” will suit both adults (18+) and parents with children aged 12-17. We have plenty of relevant activities and interesting texts in this mini course.
Follow the link to the learning platform where you can access these great course materials.
7. MONEYBASICS COURSE
Learn the basics to managing your money.
WHY DO THIS COURSE?
Learn about budgeting and managing everyday expenses
Grow more confident in your money matters
Gain knowledge through additional resources
8. GUIDE TO EMPLOYER EXPOS
Employer Expos or Career Fairs can be daunting events for many students and job seekers. This guide aims to provide you with the information and tools necessary for success before, during and after the event.
Contents include:
What to expect at the event, and how to best prepare for it
Tips to ensure your personal well-being during the event and a tool to use when interacting with an employer
Best strategies for following-up with employer representatives / companies
This guide is provided in LANDSCAPE format for viewing on desktops or laptops and in PORTRAIT format for viewing on smartphones, tablets or for printing.
9. lived experience videos from autistic students
A. Beth Radulski, La Trobe University PhD Candidate & Project Officer: Neurodiversity, speaks about her experiences as an autistic learner and offers tips to make teaching inclusive for all neuro-types. (Note: The YouTube videos may not play in Safari.)
B. “Why I dropped out of Law School - The diary of an autistic law student” - Orion Kelly, That Autistic Guy
Orion reveals his own personal insights, thoughts and experiences from studying law at university. He highlights the issues and barriers that, as an autistic person, impaired his ability to reach his potential and complete the degree. See Orion’s other YouTube videos here.
10. ANXIETY
A. NEURODIVERSE SELF-CARE: MANAGING ANXIETY THROUGH CONNECTION
This piece has been written by neurodiverse individuals for neurodiverse individuals. It will discuss several strategies to enact self-care through 'connection'. We explore grounding, meditation, creative therapies, and more.
B. NEURODIVERSITY WELLNESS: LINKS TO SOME GREAT COVID-19 RESOURCES
Below is a link to the Stanford University Neurodiversity Project - Neurodiversity Wellness page - with some great resources to navigate through the uncertainty of COVID-19.
This includes a webinar from Dr Janie Hong: “Life Interrupted - Managing Stress and Anxiety during a Global Pandemic”.
11. “GROUNDING EXERCISE” BOOKLET
This booklet provides a simple exercise that may help calm you when you’re feeling overwhelmed or if you are going to panic.
The PDF can be printed and folded into an 8-page booklet. Firstly, it needs to be printed out in “landscape" and “full size” / “actual size”. The instructions on how to fold it can be found in this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/21qi9ZcQVto or view folding instructions below.
12. “DISCLOSURE”
A. AT UNIVERSITY: THE ART OF SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DISABILITY
This thought piece is for neurodiverse students who are considering going to university, or those who are already attending. It has been written in collaboration with autists. This piece will discuss the aspects of disclosing your diagnosis at university.
B. AT WORK: REVEAL OR CONCEAL? THE PROS & CONS OF DISCLOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE
This thought piece is for neurodiverse young adults in the workplace. It has been written and edited by autists. Deciding whether to disclose is a sensitive part of identity management with many questions to consider. Fears may include perception by others post-disclosure, access to supports, and concerns around wellbeing.
It is also provided as a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes (converted by Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services).
C. AT WORK: REPORT BY AUTISTICA
“People might understand me better”: Diagnostic disclosure experiences of autistic individuals in the workplace. Autistic individuals face challenges in the workplace, particularly related to social communication. Diagnostic disclosure may mitigate these challenges, but it also exposes individuals to potential discrimination.
13. MATERIALS FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Job Readiness Workbook. Designed as a guide to prepare autistic jobseekers to understand their strengths, set goals, write a resume, ask for accommodations, manage anxiety, understand the interview process, disclosure options, prepare for the first day on the job and much more.
B. The Roadmap Lab Book
The RoadMap Lab™ is a tool that helps individuals and their collaborative teams build more strategic, more sustainable, human-centered transition plans. While anyone can use The RoadMap Lab™, it was intentionally designed to support neurodivergent teens and young adults as they transition from secondary schooling to post-secondary schooling, the community, and/or the world of work. The RoadMap Lab™ is simply designed to help the user build a bridge of support to the next stop in life’s journey. Link to e-book.
C. LinkedIn help for neurodivergent job seekers. A comprehensive guide for navigating LinkedIn and setting up a profile - provided by Steffany Dignum, Employment Services Manager at The Pomeroy Center and the “LEAPinto.work” project.
D. Dress for success - interview guidelines. Provided by Integrate Advisors
E. HireVue. Tip sheets for using the HireVue video interview platform - developed jointly with Integrate Advisors
F. Guide to Zoom. Step-by-step guide provided by Integrate Advisors
14. LIVED EXPERIENCE ESSAYS
Some great essays on lived experience from neurodiverse individuals.
A. Damon Woolf: “I thought I was too resilient, too determined and too strong to be broken. Yet there I was, staring at my breaking point. Overwhelmed and exhausted, battered and bruised, I raised a white flag. My decade-long battle with anxiety and ADHD – and with myself – was no longer a secret.”
B. This piece was created to raise awareness about self-worth challenges that neurodiverse women face in their world. Negative self-talk is common, as is self-harm. Let us work together to reduce painful perspectives of self and reach out to better support this population.
C. “…the parallels between the life of someone who is neurodiverse to that of a foreigner…”
D. “I believe all people with a disability deserve the opportunity to secure meaningful employment, and that through greater understanding and inclusion from employers like the Australian Public Service, many of us with neurodiverse conditions, will have this opportunity.”
E. Beth Radulski: “What Working, Learning, and Teaching from home can teach us about Neurodiversity.”
F. An article about Daniel’s experience with job application interviews - by Jessica Gagliarde (Queensland, Australia)
15. DYSLEXIA
A. DEAR DYSLEXIC is a foundation that helps people with learning differences achieve their full potential. This is done by bringing awareness and educating the population about Dyslexia, sharing personal stories and engaging in research. Click on the link below for a curation of some great resources.
B. DYSTECH helps identify dyslexia in under 10-minutes by analysing audio recordings using artificial intelligence. Backed by multiple scientific publications, their screening is available directly online and support adult & children aged 8 years and older.
C. From the Be Your Best Academy: “Newly-diagnosed Dyslexia” - a course written by a 100% neurodivergent team.
16. ADHD
A. ADDITUDE - This is an excellent website that provides strategies and support for Attention Deficit and related conditions.
B. How to ADHD YouTube channel - hosted by Jessica McCabe, who is ADHD
C. Dani Donovan’s ADHD comics
D. Hacking Your ADHD - where you can learn techniques for helping your ADHD brain
E. From the Be Your Best Academy: “New-diagnosed ADHD” - a course written by a 100% neurodivergent team.
F. Also the following tip sheets developed specifically for ADHDers - in collaboration with Dr Rebecca Flower (lecturer in psychology and early career autism researcher, who has ADHD)
G. ADHD Australia is an organization that is working to improve the quality of life for people with ADHD. The link below provides information on ADHD that would be useful to any parent or carer who is looking to learn about this neurodiverse variation.
17. mapology guides - ILLUSTRATED SELF-HELP MAPS FOR LIFE'S JOURNEY
These unique illustrated and colourful self-help maps from Mapology Guides are inspiring! The founder is passionate about mental health and well-being and the maps really speak to this mission. All the fold-out maps offer beautiful imagery, thoughtful prose and reflective learning. They can help you navigate the tricky parts of your life, including how to "Grow your No", explore anger and uncertainty, solve problems, find answers and help you manage overthinking. Great for visual learners and those of you who like to engage your mind through creativity. Mapology Guides is worth a visit! https://www.mapologyguides.com/
18. INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS AND GUIDES
Diversity and Ability (DnA) is an award-winning UK based disabled-led social enterprise, that has put together a page of accessibility resources including:
Reviews of useful inclusive technologies to support learning and working
Study skills handouts for students
Various guides such as 'Getting Support in the Workplace'.
The resources have been collated by DnA's diverse team of end-users with their own lived experiences of disability and neurodiversity. DnA supports disabled and neurodiverse people in higher education and the workplace to overcome any barriers they may be facing. DnA also supports organisations to be more inclusive and harness the value of diversity. With a commitment to social justice issues, DnA is also tackling issues surrounding recurring homelessness linked to neurodiversity and the disability employment gap. DnA is convinced that the celebration of diversity coupled with authentic strategies enables people not just to survive, but truly thrive.