Higher Education Panel 1: “What I wish I Had Known”: College Readiness and Preparation Perspectives From Current and Former Students and Support Staff

Click Here to Watch the Webinar Recording - Higher Education Panel 1: What I Wish I Had Known

“What I wish I had known”: College Readiness and Preparation Perspectives From Current and Former Students and Support Staff

Moderator: Kyle McKinley, MPH

Objectives:

• Participants will develop a meaningful understanding of the importance of college readiness for students as they prepare to leave home after high school
• Participants will have a framework of the role of the student’s readiness for college, how it impacts their college experience and the expectations students can have of the support offered on a college campus
• By summarizing from their own experiences and those of students they have encountered, panelists will provide criteria for anticipating whether neurodiverse students considering college have adequately prepared for those experiences, as well as providing some criteria for assessing whether a given college or university is a good ‘fit’ for the needs and passions of the student.
• Participants who are professionally engaged with higher education for neurodiverse student bodies will gain a greater appreciation of the needs and experiences of incoming neurodivergent students, and will encounter opportunities to reflect on how to improve program offerings to better accommodate ND student populations. 

Chris Lindholm, Autism Family Consultant/Advocate, Self-Employed - Lindholm Consulting

Chris Lindholm is an autism advocate who works with autistic young adults to help them achieve the highest levels of independence for which they are capable. She consults with families to how to access the kinds of resources that can create positive momentum in their young adults’ lives, with a strong focus on helping them define and pursue education and career goals. She has co-created and presented neurodiversity trainings at UC Davis and other educational settings. She has been a moderator for autism parent support groups and frequently writes and speaks about strategies families can use to support their neurodivergent adults. She is also the parent of an autistic young adult who has navigated a path through college and into a career job and continues to serve as her inspiration.

Marci Schwartz, LCSW, PhD, Independent Educational Consultant, Thrive College Counseling

Dr. Schwartz founded Thrive College Counseling with the goal of supporting neurodivergent teens to make the sometimes difficult but important transition into adulthood. Thrive College Counseling works with students to discover their best college fit in order to ensure a successful transition to the college or program of their choice after high school. Dr. Schwartz received her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA Extension in 2016. She currently co-teaches an on-line class at UC Irvine to individuals who are working on their college counseling certificate. The class is entitled "Working with Students with Learning Differences". Dr. Schwartz is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Schwartz began her career as a therapist and has provided counseling services to parents of neurodiverse children since 1989.

Matt Gunter, Host, Inclusive Academia

Matt Gunter is the father of a neurodivergent college student. He hosts the Inclusive Academia YouTube channel and authored the College Readiness for Neurodivergent Students workbook.