---
title: IU Students Help Autistic Young Adults Gain Independence
description: IU psychology students can apply to be mentors through a clinical psychology class. They get assigned one or two CIP students to work with for six to eight hours throughout the week. This semester, seven mentors take students out into the community to shop or go out to eat, as well as attend skills courses with them.
image: https://info.cipworldwide.org/hubfs/BLOG/Imported_Blog_Media/041918%20IDS%20Article.jpg
---

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<https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/iu-students-help-autistic-young-adults-gain-independence#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aclose%26settings%3DeyJkb19ub3Rfc2hvd19hZ2FpbiI6IiJ9>

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- Featured, Articles, Press, Autism

# IU Students Help Autistic Young Adults Gain Independence

![041918 IDS Article](https://info.cipworldwide.org/hs-fs/hubfs/BLOG/Imported_Blog_Media/041918%20IDS%20Article.jpg?width=640&height=427&name=041918%20IDS%20Article.jpg)

Student Adviser Raphael Comford speaks with student Andrew M. in his office. College Internship Program provides students with extra academic support, basic life skills coaching and an IU student mentor to help students become independent. *Photo by Ty Vinson*

![Indiana_Daily_Student_logo](https://info.cipworldwide.org/hs-fs/hubfs/BLOG/Blog%20Images/External%20Logos/Indiana_Daily_Student_logo.jpg?width=135&height=84&name=Indiana_Daily_Student_logo.jpg)Originally Published in the [Indiana Daily Student](http://www.idsnews.com/article/2018/04/iu-students-help-autistic-young-adults-gain-independence)  
April 19, 2018

By Zoe Spilker

Lauren Buchanan, 19, aspires to be an applied behavior analysis therapist. Her learning differences make it more difficult for her to acquire the social and life skills her peers without autism often take for granted. After she graduated high school, she became a student at the College Internship Program in Bloomington. 

CIP provides her with extra academic support, basic life skills coaching and an IU student mentor to prepare her for her ultimate goal: independence.

[![Read the Article](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/514277/8b80eb49-4603-46cb-89b3-b9605afaba75.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/514277/8b80eb49-4603-46cb-89b3-b9605afaba75)

### About College Internship Program

The College Internship Program is a comprehensive transition program for young adults on the Autism Spectrum and with Learning Differences. Our Mission is to inspire independence and expand the foundation on which young adults with Autism, ADHD, and other Learning Differences can build happy and productive lives.

## Related Articles

- [On-Demand Webinar: Summer@CIP - A Transformative Summer Experience with Real-World Results](https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/on-demand-webinar-summercip-a-transformative-summer-experience-with-real-world-results)
- [On-Demand Webinar: A Conversation with CIP Alumni & Parent](https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/on-demand-webinar-a-conversation-with-cip-alumni-parent)
- [Watch Two CIP Webinars On-Demand:  Discover How CIP's Full-Year Program Transforms Student Outcomes](https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/cip-virtual-events-november-2025)
- [Stories from Students, Parents & Staff](https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/stories-from-students-parents-staff-video)
- [Celebrating Differences and Moving Beyond the Medical Model: A Strengths-Based View of Autism](https://info.cipworldwide.org/blog/cip-statement-celebrating-differences-moving-beyond-the-medical-model-of-autism)

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#### About CIP

We’ve been helping young adults on the autism spectrum and with learning differences find success in college, employment, and independent living since 1984.

Learn more about one of the world’s most comprehensive programs for young adults with learning differences

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