Blog for Autistic College Students: How to Talk to your Professors

Welcome back to my College Student Transitions Blog Series. We have discussed how autistic students can prepare for college and how to access accommodations and assistance. Today, we will talk about how to advocate for your needs with your professors.

You are not in high school anymore. Your college professors don’t go out of their way to reach out to you if you’re struggling. There is the occasional heartwarming story of a professor who went above and beyond the call of duty to help a student out. BUT, professors are busy and they usually have a LOT of students.

Your professors don’t know you have autism

In college, most professors believe their students are responsible for their own academic success. Professors expect a struggling student to attend their office hours or reach out to them directly. But, asking for help can be really hard for college students on the spectrum. It might be pride, shame, or simple confusion about what question to even ask the professor. Regardless the reason, the professor simply doesn’t know what’s going on if you don’t talk to them.

Furthermore, a college professor is much less likely to reach out if you are struggling than your high school teachers did. In fact, it’s important to know that a faculty member or instructor is not legally obligated to reach out to a student with a disability. Even if it appears to be causing the student academic difficulty. Again, it is not the professor’s job to reach out to you if you’re struggling.

Advocate for accommodations and assistance before you start struggling

As a college student, it is your responsibility to disclose your neurodiversity if you need help. Perhaps you need a notetaker or extended time on exams in a quiet room. Even if you have approval from the student disability center on campus, this is not enough to guarantee the teacher will give you accommodations. The disability center will not seek out your professors and inform them of your autism or the accommodations you are entitled to. You actually need to go to your professors and hand them a letter of accommodation.

Disclosing your autism to your professors may be hard for you. Many students share that this causes them to feel anxious. I have had clients tell me that disclosing this information is hard because it’s embarrassing, or they don’t want to stand out. I have had other college students tell me that they don’t know what to say when they talk to their professors. And I have even had college clients deny they even need services.

Being memorable to a professor is actually a good thing!

Although it may be very hard for you to talk to your professor, it is a very important thing to do to ensure academic success in college. You may find that after you disclose your autism, you will feel a sense of relief knowing that your professor is aware of what’s going on and available to support you.

How to ask questions or ask for assistance in class

Asking questions during class puts you on the teacher’s radar. I have taught many college classes, so I have behind-the-scenes knowledge about professors. Professors will see you as an engaged and interested student if you ask questions in class. If you later need their help they will be more willing to listen to your case. They will more likely perceive you as a student who cares, rather than a “lazy” or “entitled” student.

However, I have found that some students on the spectrum stand out too much in class. What do I mean by this? They ask too many questions, such as several in a row, or take up more than a couple of minutes of time for their questions. Because the teacher does have a class lesson to cover, being derailed by an onslaught of questions can frustrate them. Depending on how you word questions, they might even perceive you as offensive.

Be your own advocate, self-advocacy skills for autistic students can be useful!

If you are struggling with how to appropriately ask questions, or how to disclose your neurodiversity, it is important to roll play similar situations in a social skills group, with an ABA therapist or skills coach, or with a trusted friend or family member. Also, if your professor or peers seem frustrated with your questions, consider reaching out to your professor via email or during office hours for further assistance. Remember, YOU are responsible for your academic success.

Stay Connected With Open Doors Therapy

Thank you for taking the time to read my College Blog Series. I hope that the information in the series and in this blog are useful to you or someone you love. If you enjoyed reading this post and want to know more, please follow these three simple steps to stay connected with my San Fransisco/Bay Area autism therapy office:

Schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation call to learn more about our services,
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Other Autism Services at Open Doors Therapy

Our Palo Alto/Bay Area counseling clinic provides autism services to individuals with autistic traits. This includes individuals who identify as having Asperger’s, high functioning autism, undiagnosed autism traits, etc. and their families. We are proud to offer a variety of counseling and therapeutic services including individual counseling, parent counseling, and group therapy. Additionally, our therapists offer several social skills groups for neurodiverse working professionals, college students with autistic traits , gifted youth & caregivers , autistic adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, a summer social skills college transition training program for youth transitioning to college, teens & caregivers, and a mothers group. For more information please call or email our office and schedule a free consultation.

About the Author

Dr. Tasha Oswald is a trained developmental and clinical psychologist. She is the founder and director of Open Doors Therapy, a private practice in the South Bay Area, near San Francisco, CA. She specializes in helping neurodiverse teens and adults and facilitating social skills groups.