FREE APPS TO
TIPS
Students should be running the
individualized transition plan
meeting.
This helps the student to develop self
advocacy skills and allows the student
to be involved in their educational plan.
Finding an advocate within the
school, may be helpful for your child
This can be a resource for your child,
for questions or concerns during the
school day.
Students should have a complete
battery of psycho-educational testing
completed before graduation
This is necessary for possible
accommodations for the college board
examinations and the disability
services offices of their prospective
colleges.
If a child is unaware of what they
might want to do, many schools allow
for community based learning
This is similar to a job during the school
day, to gain experience and interest in
a field.
Preparing the student to deal with
stressful situations can be a helpful
for college life.
This could include, a designated quiet
place, a regular exercise routine or
effective calming activities.
SUPPORT COLLEGE
SKILLS
A GUIDE TO
Academics and Organization
Dragon Anywhere - Note taking app
COLLEGE
READINESS
that allows students to take digital notes
without typing.
FOR MIDDLE
myHomework-  Helps students to stay
organized and track progress on
assignments, including due dates and
reminders.
IStudiezPro- This is interactive planner, SCHOOL
STUDENTS
allows students to manage events
through a easy to use calendar, keep a
log of homework and study time, and
WITH
even track grades through the grading
system.
Executive Functioning
Habitica- A interactive program: allows
AUTISM
users to log positive or negative habits.
Users can set goals and work to achieve
them. 
RESOURCES
Dawson, Peg, and Richard Guare. Work-Smart Academic Planner:
Write It down, Get It Done / Peg Dawson and Richard Guare. The
Guilford Press, 2017.
Francis, Grace L., et al. “Apps to Support a Successful Transition to
College for Students With ASD.” TEACHING Exceptional Children, vol.
51, no. 2, 2018, pp. 111–124., doi:10.1177/0040059918802768.
Freedman, S. (2010). Developing College Skills in Students with Autism
and Asperger’s Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Palmer, A. (2006). Realizing the College Dream with Autism or
Asperger Syndrome : A Parent’s Guide to Student Success. Jessica
Kingsley Publishers.
 HIGH SCHOOL
PREPARATION
For a middle school student with Autism,
preparing for high school can be a daunting
task, but the right high school path is essential
for a student with dreams of going to college.
Here are a few things you should consider
before entering high school.
TRANSITION PLANNING
When entering high school each child will  Standardized  testing is a requirement for
have an ITP, which is a Individualized Transition
Plan. This is separate from an IEP plan, and is
used to specifically determine goals for high
school, this plan is designed to meet the
students specific needs and will include:
What the student wants to do after high
school
Where the student would want to live
What they would need to learn to
achieve these goals
Goals an ITP can address could include:
Basic life skills
Use of money
Use of public transportation
Personal hygiene routines
Self advocacy
Leisure and recreational activities and
skills
Personal and social skills
STANDARDIZED TESTING
admission to most colleges. With the
completion of the eligibility form, Services
with Students with Disabilities, you can apply
for testing accommodations. These could
include:
Extended time
Non-bubble answer sheet
A reader or writer
Use of computer
Extended breaks
When test results are sent to prospective
colleges, it is important to remember that these
results are not labeled stating the student used
accommodations.
Be aware that accommodations available in high
school are more extensive than are available in
college. The requirements for accommodations
moves from ensuring student success to
ensuring student access. Students need to use
their high school years to develop skills in self-
advocacy, executive functioning, and learning
strategies.
EXECUTIVE
FUNCTIONING
There are many executive functioning
skills that are needed and very useful
for a student who is college bound.
Here is a example of a few and some
ways you can help to begin developing
these skills.
ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
Students can gain practice with
managing a planner and assignments
A visual family calendar
Practice making checklists
Independent practice in making,
keeping and canceling appointments
EMOTIONAL REGULATION SKILLS
Practice self-awareness in emotional well
being
Practice with recognizing and
verbalizing emotions
Learn and practice meditation strategies
Students can try to journal to better
understand their emotions
SELF-CARE SKILLS
Develop routines for: personal hygiene,
bed time and medication management
Begin basic cooking skills
Begin becoming familiar with money,
banking services (ATM, online, checking
account) and budgeting skills