Kellie Woodle, Director, First-Year Advising Stories from the Spectrum: Campus Collaboration to Help Students with Autism THRIVE Kellie Woodle, Director, First-Year Advising Michele Clements, Senior Academic Advisor, First-Year Advising University of North Florida

Prologue: It was a dark and Stormy night…. What is THRIVE? Transition to Health, Resources, Independence, Viable careers, and Education First-Year Advising and Disability Resource Center (THRIVE) Collaboration Common Issues for New Students Creative Strategies for supporting students with ASD

Chapter 1: Our Story begins: THRIVE Defined THRIVE: Transition to Healthy Resources, Independent living, Viable careers, and Education THRIVE is a support program, not affiliated with the DRC, that offers supplemental supports for degree-seeking students with ASD at UNF. THRIVE believes that these services should be provided to students at no additional cost. Thanks to the generous donations and support from family, friends, and community supporters, involvement in THRIVE is free for eligible participants.

Chapter 1: Our Story begins: THRIVE Defined Focuses on independent living, social skills, and career skills Meet with a mentor weekly, attend social focus groups with the counseling center, participate in campus activities Offers housing, career development, and internships

Chapter 1: THRIVE Defined cont. THRIVE Eligibility Requirements: Admitted to UNF based on student academic merit Registered with UNF DRC (with ASD) Completed THRIVE application and interview with THRIVE Director

Chapter 2: THRIVE (ING) THRIVE Participation Requirements: Attend weekly social focus group Meet with assigned mentor a minimum of 1x per week For new students or students on academic probation: Attend weekly THRIVE class Attend assigned study hours (with UNF tutoring)

Chapter 2: THRIVE (ING) *Summer 2012 pilot program with 6 students Year THRIVE Graduates 2012-13 19 1 2013-14 28 2 2014-15 38 5 2015-16 64 7 2016-17 142 11 2017-18 156 15 *Summer 2012 pilot program with 6 students **Current enrollment for Fall 2018 is 166

Chapter 2: THRIVE (ING) - Community-Based Instruction Fall Career Fair gives THRIVE students the “ospreytunity” to learn and practice interview skills

Chapter 3: A Plot Twist: Disability Resource Center The primary mission of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is to ensure that all students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities at the University of North Florida. Students MUST be registered with DRC to participate in THRIVE To receive DRC accommodations students must provide documentation from a licensed professional with a specific outline of necessary accommodations Submission of only an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is not sufficient documentation

Chapter 4: An Alliance is Formed! First-Year Advising and THRIVE THRIVE/DRC Advisor Training Meetings with interested families prior to application New Student Orientation Advising Tutoring in Housing and Library Mandated advising every semester Advisor intervention through Early Academic Alert, Mid-term grade reporting, faculty referrals THRIVE First Fall meeting THRIVE Community Career Event

Chapter 5: Conflict and Strife: Issues for THRIVE Students Parents!!! Getting THRIVE students to come to advising EARLY (or at all!) Assisting THRIVE students to self-advocate Guiding THRIVE students in seeking Academic Support Resources Helping them with course/professor selection

Chapter 5: Conflict and Strife: Issues for THRIVE Students How has your advisor helped you? How has THRIVE helped you in the Advising process? What is the biggest challenge in meeting with your academic advisor?

Chapter 6: We are on this journey together Effective advising strategies/approaches Giving extra time to the advising meeting Offering additional advising meetings Following up the advising visit with specific written instructions and recap Collaborating with Disability Resource Center Connecting them to “accommodation friendly” professors Helping with realistic course scheduling

THRIVE in action –with Temple Grandin, doing the UNF nature trail’s zip line and most challenging- laundry!!

Acknowledgements Dr. Tara Rowe, Assistant Director Disability Resource Center/THRIVE Program Director Dr. Rusty Dubberly, Director, Disability Resource Center Tyler Charles, former THRIVE program participant, UNF Graduate, current Graduate Student Henry Dubose, THRIVE Program Participant, Senior