getting help
getting help
“Advocating for yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone—those are two really important things. When you step into the adult world, there’s not always going to someone there to help you through.”
“Advocating for yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone—those are two really important things. When you step into the adult world, there’s not always going to someone there to help you through.”
WATCH
WATCH
WATCH
meet maria from student services
meet maria from student services
meet maria from disabled student services
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.


WATCH
WATCH
WATCH
meet maria from student services
meet maria from student services
meet maria from disabled student services
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.
As Associate Director of the UC Riverside Disabled Student Services office, Maria describes how they get ‘down in the trenches’ with disabled students, helping them with all facets of college life.
WATCH
WATCH
WATCH
aniella's STORY
aniella's STORY
aniella's STORY
PART one:
PART one:
PART one:
meet aniella
meet aniella
meet aniella
Aniella, a senior at UC Riverside, reflects on her low point Sophmore year, when she disclosed her diagnosis and got help.
Aniella, a senior at UC Riverside, reflects on her low point Sophmore year, when she disclosed her diagnosis and got help.
Aniella, a senior at UC Riverside, reflects on her low point Sophmore year, when she disclosed her diagnosis and got help.

READ
READ
READ
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:

READ
READ
READ
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
diagnosis disclosure: courage & consequences
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Blacher, Ph.D.
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:
Many students on the spectrum struggle with the disclosure question, especially when completing college applications. Here’s my take:
“The accommodations were pretty simple. I got time and a half, which is basically extra time on my exams and priority enrollment in my classes. So I didn’t have to do the whole hunger games style fighting that the freshmen had to do.”
“The accommodations were pretty simple. I got time and a half, which is basically extra time on my exams and priority enrollment in my classes. So I didn’t have to do the whole hunger games style fighting that the freshmen had to do.”
READ
READ
READ
self advocacy 101 for school and beyond
self advocacy 101 for school and beyond
self advocacy 101 for school and beyond
by Caroline
by Caroline
by Caroline
Self advocacy means speaking up for your needs. It means to reach out to make sure all of your needs are met. And, self advocacy may mean something different in context—here are some hacks:
Self advocacy means speaking up for your needs. It means to reach out to make sure all of your needs are met. And, self advocacy may mean something different in context—here are some hacks:
Self advocacy means speaking up for your needs. It means to reach out to make sure all of your needs are met. And, self advocacy may mean something different in context—here are some hacks:

LISTEN
PODCAST EPISODE 9:
PODCAST EPISODE 9:
PODCAST EPISODE 9:
“WHEN PROFESSORS ARE HELPFUL, IT REALLY HELPS.”
In this episode, Caroline talks with one of her professors at Cal State Fullerton, JudelMay Enriquez, about the ways they worked together. Caroline was struggling in a methods and research class. Even with accommodations, she found she got more support by visiting her professor during office hours to let her get to know her, and her learning style better. She also picked up strategies for keeping up in the course. They also discuss how professors can reach out to students on the spectrum who may benefit from academic support.

WATCH
WATCH
WATCH
meet ilene from life project
meet ilene from life project
meet ilene from life project
The head of the Life Project at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.
The head of the Life Project at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.
The head of the Life Project at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.


WATCH
WATCH
WATCH
meet ilene from project life
meet ilene from project life
meet ilene from project life
The head of the Project Life at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.
The head of the Project Life at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.
The head of the Project Life at Cal State Long Beach, and peer mentor to Jonathan, Ilene is on the leading edge of efforts to better accommodate autistic students at college.
LISTEN
PODCAST EPISODE 11:
coaching from the sidelines
Parents of students on the spectrum are often very involved because that is the only way to make sure school works for your child. Jackie Lorrainne began navigating her son James' school experiences as soon as he was diagnosed in elementary school, and all the way through his college graduation coming up in May of 2022 from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Along the way she found James a therapeutic middle school and high school, she compromised with him about college choices, and, coached him over the phone about his dorm situation once he got there and eventually decided to transfer to a different university.

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WATCH
WATCH
GUILLERMO’S STORY
GUILLERMO’S STORY
GUILLERMO’S STORY
PART three:
PART three:
PART three:
the incident
the incident
the incident
A run in with a classmate spells crisis for Guillermo.
A run in with a classmate spells crisis for Guillermo.
A run in with a classmate spells crisis for Guillermo.

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WATCH
WATCH
jonathan's STORY
jonathan's STORY
jonathan's STORY
PART three:
PART three:
PART three:
aubry
aubry
aubry
Jonathan works with his professor, Aubry Mintz, who also shares what it’s like having Jonathan in his class.
Jonathan works with his professor, Aubry Mintz, who also shares what it’s like having Jonathan in his class.
Jonathan works with his professor, Aubry Mintz, who also shares what it’s like having Jonathan in his class.


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WE JUST WON A GOLD ANTHEM AWARD!

The Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences has awarded us a gold medal for diversity, equity & inclusion. Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. The Anthem Awards is a division of the Webbys for cause-focused content.
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THE PODCAST SERIES
See the full list of episodes of our Anthem Award-winning Podcast here.

EPISODE 9: WHEN PROFESSORS ARE HELPFUL, IT REALLY HELPS
In this episode, Caroline talks with one of her professors at Cal State Fullerton, JudelMay Enriquez, about the ways they worked together.
It is estimated that 2% of US college students have autism. With a combined 20 million public and private college students nationwide, it is estimated that over 400,000 students attending college in the US have autism. That number is steadily rising.
It is estimated that 2% of US college students have autism. With a combined 20 million public and private college students nationwide, it is estimated that over 400,000 students attending college in the US have autism. That number is steadily rising.
It is estimated that 2% of US college students have autism. With a combined 20 million public and private college students nationwide, it is estimated that over 400,000 students attending college in the US have autism. That number is steadily rising.