Examining Equity of Access at Postsecondary Institutions Hosting Autism-Specific College Support Programs

• In Event: Student With Disabilities and Their New Pathways Into Postsecondary Education

Abstract

74 US postsecondary institutions have recently established autism-specific college support programs (ASP’s). These institutions have taken up the socially-just mantle of supporting inclusion in postsecondary education. However little research is conducted to intentionally and critically understand just how educationally responsible these programs are for diverse students on the spectrum. In this paper, we take the first step of analyzing race- and income-related indicators of equitable access, environments, and outcomes within these 74 institutions. We discovered that in an attempt to promote inclusion, these programs may be inadvertently exacerbating racial and financial inequities related to autism and higher education. These results show that while ASP’s may benefit some, they may perpetuate the exclusion of others.

Authors

• Courtney B. Francis, Florida State University

• Cassandra R. Kepple, Florida State University

• Bradley E. Cox, Florida State University