Before you know it, acceptance and rejection letters will arrive, decisions will be made, and then thoughts will turn to the fact that now you are really GOING TO COLLEGE! But are you ready?
College success depends greatly on Executive Functioning Skills, Social/Communication Skills, and Stress Management Skills, all of which are challenging, especially for students with Asperger’s Syndrome or ADHD. The National Institute for Mental Health recently stated that researchers emphasize the need to improve transition planning for youths with ASD or other special education needs as they prepare to leave high school.
3 Tips to Prepare for College Success
1. Strengthen executive functioning skills by finding methods that help you with organization, time management, budgeting money, doing laundry and taking on more responsibilities around the house, and following through on scheduled appointments with teachers, doctors, etc.
2. Practice social/communication skills to become more comfortable making appointments with teachers, doctors, calling friends to get together, working on group projects, and speaking up when you need help.
3. Focus on stress management skills and become aware of your signs of stress, anxiety and depression and practice different ways to reduce these symptoms, in addition to knowing when to ask for help.
