By Isa Riaño, Advertisement Manager
April is Autism Awareness Month, encouraging everyone to learn about the neurodevelopmental disorder and how to support those who have it.
At Saint Leo University, there are multiple resources for students with autism and for the Saint Leo community to learn about the topic. Follow along to learn more about how autism manifests and ways to support those who have it.
According to Michael Bailey, the director of career services and accessibility at Saint Leo, during the last 10 years, people have become more aware of what autism truly is instead of stigmatizing individuals who have it. However, there are still some misconceptions about neurodevelopmental disorders.
“Some people who believe every individual with autism also has an intellectual disability or hidden genius abilities,” said Bailey. “Others also believe that all people with autism engage in noticeable repetitive behaviors like rocking or hand flapping.”
In fact, people with autism–like everyone else–are human beings and have the same struggles as everyone else. For example, like others, they could experience stress at any point in college. However, there are some typical autism traits to keep in mind.
“Those with autism could have difficulty with figurative language, reading nonverbal cues, and maintaining long conversations about other people’s interests,” said Bailey.
There are multiple ways to support those who have autism. According to Bailey, those close to a person with autism could adapt their communication style and be patient when they struggle understanding the language they use.
“Warning them about changes when possible and being patient when unexpected changes occur can significantly help somebody who has difficulty in this area,” said Bailey.
At Saint Leo, the Autism Connect Program is a great source of support for those who have autism. It has three main components for its members.
“The first is a pre-arrival camp, where we help students ease the transition to college by providing them with 2 days of activities and campus resources before orientation starts,” said Bailey.
The second component involves pairing students with a peer mentor that assists them in their academics, time management, and navigating various aspects of campus life.
The third component is the monthly First Friday events, which are not only for those in the Autism Connect Program, but also to raise awareness of the neurodevelopmental disorder on campus.
“These events focus on building social connections and campus involvement,” said Bailey.
Apart from joining the Autism Connect Program, students with autism can access a variety of accommodations. To do so, they can contact the Office of Accessibility Services at ADAOffice@saintleo.edu or 352-588-8464.
