This transition can be difficult for a variety of reasons:
- School anxiety
- Sensory sensitivities
- Self and emotional regulation challenges
- Anticipation anxiety and fear of something new
- Executive functioning challenges
- Complex social interactions, including bullying or other kinds of abusive/unethical behavior of students and staff
- Compliance and lack of autonomy
- Having to sit for long hours learning in ways that are not usually effective for many neurodivergent people
Here are a few links and ideas that may help:
- Practice coping ahead skills
- Visit the school and communicate with the teacher ahead of time to help the student know what to expect. This also
helps the student recognize a familiar face on their first day. - Listen to, empathize, and validate the student (or yourself!)
- Re-establish the school year routine ahead of time (i.e. bedtime and wake-up time)
- Work on self-regulation skills to better prepare for the stress of the new school year or even school in general!
- Self-regulation skills for adults
- Connect with familiar classmates that the student feels safe with
- Make sure the morning routine is set out and planned the night before
If the student is in special education or receiving accommodations in college, connect with either the school’s disability support center or the child’s case manager. It helps if the school knows what to expect so that they can respond to the student’s unique needs effectively.
Special resources for neurodivergent college students
- The Transition to College: Lived Experiences of Academically Talented Students with Autism – National Institutes of Health
- Preparing for a More Independent College Experience – The Neurodiversity Podcast
- Transitioning and Making Progress in College: Students with Autism – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Sarah Juliana
Sarah Juliana is a certified special educator in the state of Maryland, tutor, coach, Board Certified Special Education Advocate, Associate Educational Therapist member, and owner of Autonomous Hippopotamus LLC. Before leaving the education system to start her business, Sarah worked for nearly 12 years in a variety of positions within special education. Her experience with a wide variety of Neurodivergent students, including autistic students, in diverse settings helped Sarah understand and develop her own Neurodivergent identity. This helped her see the oppression, injustice, neglect, and general mistreatment of Neurodivergent people in schools and the workplace.
Sarah hopes that Autonomous Hippopotamus LLC can be a safe and effective place for Neurodivergent people, children and adults, to learn the way their brains were meant to. Her company takes a holistic approach to education that acknowledges the connection between learning and social-emotional well-being. Autonomous Hippopotamus LLC strives not to “fix” Neurodivergent people, but to give them the support and educational opportunities they need to thrive.