Community Colleges are Your Opportunities Next Door
Neurodiverse Kids at Two-Year Colleges
Odds are you don’t know much about your local community college. Your guidance counselors probably don’t either, because high schools would prefer if students attend 4-year colleges. Community colleges don’t have the resources for glossy pamphlets and other PR. You might not know anyone that attended a community college. Yet, these schools offer many low-cost options for students like ours. They are available nation-wide. They offer a wide variety of classes, at an affordable price tag, for a diverse group of students.
Research shows that neurodiverse students often start at their local community colleges. One study found that approximately 80% of college-going youth with autism in the US attend a 2-year college at some point. Many neurodiverse students choose these schools over a four-year school, because they provide more accessibility and are smaller and often easier to navigate. Because they are already serving this population, community colleges are well positioned to development new autism-centric programs.
In my state, more and more opportunities are opening up for people with disabilities at local community colleges. Some new programs are for students with intellectual disabilities, others for students who can manage the classwork. Staff at my local community college converted shipping containers into hydroponic farms, which they will use to do job training for students with intellectual disabilities. Brookdale Community College in New Jersey launched Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism in the spring of 2024, which provides job skills, therapy, and other comprehensive supports for adults with autism.
Fun fact: Community Colleges are NOT test-optional.
The entrance test known as the Accuplacer Exam is one of the biggest challenges that students with IEPs face when they attend community colleges. Despite a report card of straight As and honor roll status, some special education students might not be adequately prepared for college. To become a fully matriculated college student at a community college, students must pass the exam or have SAT scores in the 1000 range. Students that struggle with those expectations are placed in non-credit remedial classes, which have a mixed track record.
My advice to parents is to check out the opportunities at your local community college. Go on a tour and talk to students on campus. Meet with counselors at the Office of Disabilities to find out if they have a special program that might be right for your son and daughter. And be aware of that there may be a misalignment between high school and college academic expectations.
Back After Break
Hi all! I took a little unannounced break. We went to Spain for nine days. It was our first trip without kids in 25 years. A huge family milestone. I wrote about that and more for my Apt. 11D newsletter. I’ll write a longer piece next week about the Importance of Respite.
This article about community colleges was originally published for my business newsletter. Feel free to subscribe to that, too. Subscribe here.
Community college has been great for my AuDHD younger son. He transferred to a state college this fall - and so far, so good. It's a good place for gifted students or 2E students, too. In most cases, they can take classes from age 16, which count as college AND high school credits. Many homeschoolers do this and finish their Bachelor's degree by age 20.