Working With Autistic Deaf Students in Postsecondary Settings

Due to the increasing number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs),  professionals who work with deaf students should expand their capacity to support autistic deaf students, especially in transition planning and postsecondary settings. The rate at which children are identified with ASD has increased over the last 20 years, with around 1 in 59 children now being diagnosed with ASDs every year. Deaf people have autism at comparable rates to the general population. Autistic students experience many of the challenges that deaf students experience during transition and beyond, including insufficient support, falling through the cracks, and fewer job opportunities. These challenges, among others, may result in autistic deaf people not continuing their education or pursuing work opportunities after high school.