BERKELEY — Lauren McCaffrey, Elliot McAuley, Emma Van Hoy and Jacob Kogan share lives similar to thousands of teen and twenty-something Berkeley residents — any given day they could be nose-deep in a textbook, up late playing video games with roommates, on a date with a romantic partner, or sharing jokes and gossip.
But what sets them apart is that all four are autistic and are enrolled in a program to teach them how to function on their own. They participate in the program while pursuing a college education.
About 35 percent of autistic people attend college within six years of graduating from high school, according to a 2012 Washington University study. Though they face extra challenges associated with their condition — misunderstanding social cues and difficulties with organization, scheduling, and focus — many autistic students are capable of being successful in college, said Michael Noel, director for the College Internship Program in Berkeley, where McCaffrey, McAuley, Van Hoy and Kogan are enrolled.
“They should have the right just like everyone else to attend, or at least be in environments of major colleges and universities,” Noel said. “The ultimate goal is to give them the same opportunities that everyone else has in securing meaningful employment.”
The College Internship Program is for-profit and paid for by the students. The price varies depending on what courses and services the students get, but starts at around $60,000 a year, according to its website. Scholarships and other financial aid are available. Students can apply to participate in it.
The College Internship Program is the only program of its kind in the Bay Area. Cal State East Bay has a campus-based program to help autistic students transition from high school to college. UC Berkeley’s Disabled Students’ Program provides accommodations for autistic students.
McAuley said the internship program seems like “one big family,” since the students are so tight-knit. Some are best friends, and others are dating. The students live in a dorm-type setting in an apartment building in downtown Berkeley.
They do everything together, McCaffrey said: Many of them love playing video games; they go out to the movies and bowling, and go on trips.
While enrolled in the program, McCaffrey, 23, is studying at Berkeley City College, McAuley, 18, has been studying at Laney College, and Van Hoy, 20, is preparing to go to San Francisco State University in the fall.
Kogan, 23, already attended Taft College near Bakersfield and works at least 16 hours a week at the Safeway on Shattuck Place in Berkeley.
“I really enjoy (working at Safeway). The employees are very friendly, and there’s a lot of options to do,” Kogan said.
Van Hoy said she is learning to manage her time wisely and set deadlines through the program. Noel said those are common challenges for autistic college students.
“I call it adulting,” Van-Hoy said.
The social aspect of college also can be a challenge to autistic students, Noel said, and is a major focus in the program.
“The biggest piece for our students is that socialization, the social skills of being able to start and manage conversations or engagements, or interactions in general,” Noel said. “They tend to shy away from those things, and some students would avoid them all together, which turns to isolation.”
Autistic students, through the program, learn how to set up schedules and maintain healthy routines, Noel said.
“They can become very dis-regulated, and what I mean by that is if they didn’t get up on time and eat and make sure that they’re properly ready for the day, sometimes they could get up and forget to shower, or forget to do lots of different things,” Noel said. “A lot of college students might be in the same boat, but this is actually part of their disability, being able to manage day-to-day-type things to be ready and prepared.”
The program also helps autistic students navigate through matters such as gender identity, intimacy and relationships, and diet. Noel said the program’s administrators aim to guide students while they deal with these things on their own.
“People with autism don’t need to be told what to do, they just might need to be given some options or given the direction to make the decision,” Noel said. “I think that’s how you reach a much higher level of independence.”
At times, autistic students feel overlooked, McCaffrey said. Since April is Autism Awareness Month, she thinks people should know that autistic students are a part of college communities.
“Not many people know autism as much as I would think,” McCaffrey said. “Autism Awareness Month is our time to shine, and show people that we’re just like everybody else, we’re just special — very special. I like being here and sharing that with my friends.”
