Presenters: Stefan Charles-Pierre, Bethany LaLonde, College of Staten Island

Neurodiverse students are coming to the College of Staten Island (CSI) with numerous challenges as they transition from high school to post-secondary education. Staff at the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) and CUNY LEADS at CSI address these challenges by providing appropriate support and accommodations, but, yet still make the students accountable for their academic and professional success. This presentation will depict the methods and strategies in which OAS provides support while promoting self-advocacy and accountability. The presentation will allow participants and the presenters to discuss scenarios and develop best practices when working with neurodiverse students in an academic setting.

This presentation will highlight the success of students and emphasize the practices of the OAS, including peer mentoring, group programming and workshops, as well as opportunities to engage students through service learning and internships to promote professional skills and self-advocacy. This presentation will also address the ongoing challenges of student engagement and how to utilize technology and provide new approaches to meet the needs of the current student population.