Living WITH Autism:

Resident Assistants
Experience working with
students with Autism
BY MEREDITH OAKLEY
GRADUATE STUDENT AND GRADUATE COMMUNITY COORDINATOR
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
 Learning Outcomes

Beexposed to what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is,

the growing trends around it, and discuss creative
solutions to difficult situations.
Have the opportunity to reflect on how Resident Assistants
and housing professionals currently serve the population
of students with ASD and how we can better meet their
needs and create an inclusive environment.
Exchange ideas and experiences for working with students
with ASD.
"When you meet one
person with Autism....
you meet one person
with Autism"
Why is this important?

Graduating
College in:
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
 Why is this important?

Amount of people being diagnosed with ASD is increasing in the US

They could be coming to live with us
Lack of published information on daily life skills for college
Help them self advocate
Social needs are not always supported through disability services
Support them as residents and employees
What is Autism and ASD

There is no "look" to Autism but characteristics

Life-long condition and there is "no cure"
Affects all races, classes and intellectual abilities
Affects each person differently
Social communication
Social interaction
Sensory issues
Require different levels of support
Not a learning disability
Struggle with sensory processing heightened or lessoned sensory
stimuli
6 areas to examine

Executive Functioning
Academic Skills
Self Care
Social Competence
Self-Advocacy
Career Preparation
From: Emerging Practices for Supporting Students on the
Autism Spectrum in Higher Education: A Guide for Higher
Education Professionals
Characteristics

Sometimes seen as just "odd" or "Quirky"

Normal or above average IQ and havea specialty academic area
Difficulty in social interactions
Lack of social cues
Not knowing what to say or how to say it
Social "rules"
Little to no eye contact
Lack of time management
Lives closely to a routine and schedule
My Research

Focused on how RAs perceive students with ASD

109 Resident Assistants at WCU 42 responded
11- Sophomores
19- Juniors
10- Seniors
1- 5th year Senior
Questions for Assessment:

1. Name
2. Building
3. Class Ranking (sophomore, junior, senior, super senior)
4. Please describe your understanding ofwhat Autism is
5. Are you aware of any students with autism you have worked with as an RA?
6. If you have worked with a student with Autism, what was your experience? If no,
please put N/A
7. What is your estimate of the number of students with autism on WCU's campus?
8. How much do you know about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
9. How comfortable are you working with students with autism?
10. How inclusive is WCU's campus to autism? (your opinion)
My Research

RAs described their understanding ofwhat Autism is

Autism is a condition that has to do with how an individual thinks and interacts with
others.
A disability that makes it difficult to communicate and interact.
A mental disease. It's hard to understand things and express feelings. There are levels
of autism.
Autism is a condition that has a wide spectrum of symptoms. Some of these symptoms
include struggling to pick up on "normal" social cues and laser-focus on certain topics.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects learning and speech. It will vary from
person to person based on what level of the spectrum they are on and individual
characteristics.
 Working with ASD at WCU

From my research at WCU

66% of RAs said they were comfortable working with
students with ASD
59% Said they felt there was a lack of inclusivity for
student with ASD
Number of students who registered with WCUs Office of
Accessibility Resources increased 100% from the 2014-
2015 school year to 2015-2016 school year
Basic Struggles and Solutions in
Residence Life:

Struggles Solutions
Understanding student safety
Introduction to staff members
Fire Drills

Roommates- Conflict resolution, disclosing they have ASD
Sharing space and belongings
Personal hygiene and laundry
Sleep/wake cycles
Understanding of procedures (keys,
access to buildings, policies, etc.)
Point people they can ask questions to

When/ who to ask questions to Explanation of what programming is

Appropriateness of questions
Expectation of behavior


Less Structure and less support assistance
Tour the residence hall
Safe spaces for the student
Campus Resources
Struggles they may bring back to
you:

Finding classrooms and creating a new daily schedule

The dining hall and food on campus (sensory)
Campus activities and involvement
Layout of campus and classrooms
Social aspect of college
Time management and class schedule
Other areas to consider

Is a private room best?

Shared hall bathrooms vs. Suite or private bathrooms
Conflict resolution/ relationships between roommates
and hall mates
Conduct meetings for broken policies
Daily schedules and routines
Making friends
Environment (lights, smells, temperatures)
What can we do?

Assess your population

Recognize their struggles
Raise awareness
Advocate for training
Find out if you have a expertise on campus you can partner
with
Enhance current resources or develop services
Learn more ourselves about ASD
Create programs that are ASD friendly and they want to
Program ideas for
students with ASD
DO YOU HAVE ANY TO SHARE?....
 Tips for working with students with
ASD
Be direct and clear when communicating with them
Don't be discouraged if they do not look at you while they talk or focus on
something else while speaking
Build a relationship by learning what they are interested in
Set expectations for the student when working with a student with ASD
Embrace their uniqueness and focus areas
Understand their needs for plans but support them when things change
Cross-Campus collaboration is possible
What experiences
would you like to
share?...
Campus Partners and Resources to
Utilize

Disability Services
Counseling
People who may have children with ASD (Carefully
use this one)
Community Resources
Books
Conferences
Suggestions for future practices

Buddy Systems
Specialty Autism Programs
Incorporate training into Professional Staff and RA
trainings
Be patient and willing to learn with our students
PS.
Im job
searching!
MEREDITHNOAKLEY@GMAIL.COM