9 things your neurodivergent students want you to know.

"Perhaps one of the most commonly recognized characteristics of autism is difficulty with communication — at least the way neurotypical people communicate," writes Ellen Stumbo, in an article for The Mighty. 

Research predicts that college enrollment for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) will increase by at least 114% in the next few years. How ready is your institution of higher education?

Beyond the traditionally required or accepted accommodations, the first step to promoting neurodiversity at your campus is to better understand how autistic individuals communicate and how you can be more intentional in your communication (written, verbal, or otherwise) to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. I think Ms. Stumbo says it best: 

"It shouldn’t be on autistic people to close the communication gap. To truly honor neurodiversity, neurotypical people must take steps to understand how their autistic friends, peers and children communicate best and learn to think outside of the narrow limits of a neurotypical view of communication. A conversation after all is a joint effort." 

Ms. Stumbo polled members of the autism community in a recent discussion on their website, asking a simple question: What do people need to understand about the communication challenges of individuals on the autism spectrum?

The following are their responses.

1. New situations make communication a challenge.

"As a person with Aspergers syndrome, I find it a challenge talking to new people one-on-one and can hesitate, be wary and stammer." — Sarah B.

2. Don’t assume abstract or hidden meanings.

"I very rarely have a hidden meaning behind what I’m saying, if ever. It’s better to not read too much into what I’m saying." — Emmie W.

3. Be specific about what you’re saying.

"I have difficulty understanding vague directions. Please be precise, specific, and direct when talking to me. And please be patient with me. Often times, I don’t understand something the first time around, and will need a little time to ‘translate’ the information so that it makes sense to me." — lemonpoppyseed99

4. Talking about feelings isn’t easy.

"Just because I’m verbal does not mean I can explain my feelings. I do not understand why I am different but I know I am. Inclusion is my right but not necessarily something I am able to easily do." — Toryann

5. Respect nonverbal communication, too.

"People need to understand that just because someone with autism isn’t speaking words doesn’t mean they aren’t communicating. Communication isn’t only verbal, it’s also nonverbal. It doesn’t mean they don’t understand you." — Samantha B.

6. Eye contact isn't everything.

"Just because I’m not making eye contact doesn’t mean I’m not listening." — The Bid

7. Be patient when communicating.

"What I need is for people to take long enough to give me a chance to process their comments and react. It is very hard for me to participate in group conversations with people talking over each other, so I don’t think I come across well in those situations. As a grade school teacher observed, I am great with one-on-one interactions but less good at getting my point across in a group." — Lindsey H.

8. Talking can be hard work.

Please understand that sometimes I shut down… just draw a blank. If I don’t answer a question or continue to contribute to the conversation it’s because I, temporarily, cannot. — Phyllis P.

9. Meet autistic people where they are.

"Autism is like speaking a different language. We don’t understand things all the time because ‘people’ isn’t our first language. Even when we understand, most of the time it’s exhausting to constantly be speaking in a different language. When our emotions are high, we revert back to our own language. It helps when people try and learn ‘autistic’ so we can sometimes speak our native language with someone." — Eden