1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. Chapter 2: THRIVE (ING) *Summer 2012 pilot program with 6 students
Year
THRIVE
Graduates 19 1 28 2 38 5 64 7
142 11
156 15
*Summer 2012 pilot program with 6 students
**Current enrollment for Fall 2018 is 166

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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

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

15. 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