Three roommates on the couch
Three roommates on the couch

Why “college living experience” is the right first step for me

Why “college living experience” is the right first step for me

By Eva Fetherman

I know that if I want to become a real actress I will need to have independence from my parents.

I AM A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL who is on the autism spectrum. I first thought about college last year and did not know where I was going to go or what I was going to do. I wanted to study acting because I love taking acting classes, performing on stage and pretending to be different characters. This is my passion.

College Living Experience (CLE) is the industry’s leading provider of post-secondary supports, including academics, social skills, independent living and career development, for neurodivergent young adults.

Aniella getting ready for work

When I go to CLE I will be living in an apartment with a roommate, and I can walk to classes at Orange Coast Community College.

But, I know that if I want to become a real actress I will need to have independence from my parents. Right now I live in Los Angeles with my family and I know that being away from home will be hard at first. I want to see what it is like with a real roommate in our own apartment. There is a program called the College Living Experience and they have several locations around the country, but the one near me is in Orange County California. When I go to CLE I will be living in an apartment with a roommate, and I can walk to classes at Orange Coast Community College.

Each day at CLE is different, just like everyday life. Every CLE student receives supports tailored around their areas of strengths and areas of development, which we all wish (deep-down) was provided in everyday live. A weekly CLE schedule is designed to adapt according to their needs and commitments.

Aniella doing the laundry

skills for independence

I have a friend from school, who is already at CLE. She has her own apartment and seems to love it. The supports includes academic support and social skills. We will go grocery shopping, take the public bus, go out to dinner, and so much more. I hope to end up like her, and be confident enough to go out to dinner and pay the bill.

My principal Mrs. Zaft was the person who first told me and my parents about CLE. She said that CLE would be the perfect fit for me because then I could get the life skills I would need to survive in the world on my own. My family agreed to learn more about the program before making any final decision. We were able to tour CLE and Orange Coast College, and I met some of the staff who had helped students succeed in life. I had an interview with some of the staff at CLE to make sure the program was a good fit, by meeting with some of the other students I could get a better understanding of what the program was about. I was concerned about whether or not I would be ready for the program. My family encouraged me to take this step in my life, and get out of my comfort zone. My family and I imagined what would happen if I did stay and take college classes from home. And since it is hard for me to have my own social life and do new things on my own, it felt like my life would just stay the same. I ended up getting accepted a while later, so this is how I ended up at CLE.

She said that CLE would be the perfect fit for me because then I could get the life skills I would need to survive in the world on my own.

The CLE team designs Career Development supports to be a resource and guide for each student’s individualized employment path.

Aniella talks to the fillmmakers

a lot to prepare for

I am looking forward to studying theater arts, and being in the theater productions at OCC. It is exciting and scary at the same time, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. At CLE there are many clubs that I will be able to join. I love being involved at school, and hope to stay involved in college. My dream job is to become an actress on film sets. Ever since I took a class about acting, where we learned how professional sets work, plus how to read a script. This was when I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. Through OCC’s productions and drama classes I can get experience with being on camera. Maybe I could even be in a student film or two.

I have a lot to do in order to prepare for this. My parents will rent an apartment for me and I’ll need to pick out furniture and then move to Orange County. I will have a budget, and with CLE’s help I will need to pay my own bills, which is not the same as what other students usually do when they go to college. CLE is not like living in a dorm, unlike in other colleges, which do not have a pool or a full kitchen. My program begins in the early part of August. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

I will have a budget, and with CLE’s help I will need to pay my own bills, which is not the same as what other students usually do when they go to college.

We believe a positive and supportive environment for neurodiverse individuals is a central part of our community … and a right afforded to all individuals.

Aniella reading a book

Stay tuned, I will be updating you next year about CLE and OCC, and how it is going to play out.

Why “college living experience” is the right first step for me

By Eva Fetherman

I know that if I want to become a real actress I will need to have independence from my parents.

I AM A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL who is on the autism spectrum. I first thought about college last year and did not know where I was going to go or what I was going to do. I wanted to study acting because I love taking acting classes, performing on stage and pretending to be different characters. This is my passion.

College Living Experience (CLE) is the industry’s leading provider of post-secondary supports, including academics, social skills, independent living and career development, for neurodivergent young adults.

Aniella getting ready for work

When I go to CLE I will be living in an apartment with a roommate, and I can walk to classes at Orange Coast Community College.

But, I know that if I want to become a real actress I will need to have independence from my parents. Right now I live in Los Angeles with my family and I know that being away from home will be hard at first. I want to see what it is like with a real roommate in our own apartment. There is a program called the College Living Experience and they have several locations around the country, but the one near me is in Orange County California. When I go to CLE I will be living in an apartment with a roommate, and I can walk to classes at Orange Coast Community College.

Each day at CLE is different, just like everyday life. Every CLE student receives supports tailored around their areas of strengths and areas of development, which we all wish (deep-down) was provided in everyday live. A weekly CLE schedule is designed to adapt according to their needs and commitments.

Aniella doing the laundry

skills for independence

I have a friend from school, who is already at CLE. She has her own apartment and seems to love it. The supports includes academic support and social skills. We will go grocery shopping, take the public bus, go out to dinner, and so much more. I hope to end up like her, and be confident enough to go out to dinner and pay the bill.

My principal Mrs. Zaft was the person who first told me and my parents about CLE. She said that CLE would be the perfect fit for me because then I could get the life skills I would need to survive in the world on my own. My family agreed to learn more about the program before making any final decision. We were able to tour CLE and Orange Coast College, and I met some of the staff who had helped students succeed in life. I had an interview with some of the staff at CLE to make sure the program was a good fit, by meeting with some of the other students I could get a better understanding of what the program was about. I was concerned about whether or not I would be ready for the program. My family encouraged me to take this step in my life, and get out of my comfort zone. My family and I imagined what would happen if I did stay and take college classes from home. And since it is hard for me to have my own social life and do new things on my own, it felt like my life would just stay the same. I ended up getting accepted a while later, so this is how I ended up at CLE.

She said that CLE would be the perfect fit for me because then I could get the life skills I would need to survive in the world on my own.

The CLE team designs Career Development supports to be a resource and guide for each student’s individualized employment path.

Aniella talks to the fillmmakers

a lot to prepare for

I am looking forward to studying theater arts, and being in the theater productions at OCC. It is exciting and scary at the same time, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. At CLE there are many clubs that I will be able to join. I love being involved at school, and hope to stay involved in college. My dream job is to become an actress on film sets. Ever since I took a class about acting, where we learned how professional sets work, plus how to read a script. This was when I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. Through OCC’s productions and drama classes I can get experience with being on camera. Maybe I could even be in a student film or two.

I have a lot to do in order to prepare for this. My parents will rent an apartment for me and I’ll need to pick out furniture and then move to Orange County. I will have a budget, and with CLE’s help I will need to pay my own bills, which is not the same as what other students usually do when they go to college. CLE is not like living in a dorm, unlike in other colleges, which do not have a pool or a full kitchen. My program begins in the early part of August. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

I will have a budget, and with CLE’s help I will need to pay my own bills, which is not the same as what other students usually do when they go to college.

We believe a positive and supportive environment for neurodiverse individuals is a central part of our community … and a right afforded to all individuals.

Aniella reading a book

Stay tuned, I will be updating you next year about CLE and OCC, and how it is going to play out.