To join a live meeting, please email Brett Nachman (BrettRanonNachman@gmail.com) or join the CANVAS listserv to get detailed reminders about upcoming meetings.
July 16, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET
Cultivating Community through Research: A Participatory Project Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Burnout and Educator Burnout for Autistic Educators in the United States
Presenters:
Alex Newson, PhD (University of Oregon), Erin Hopkins PhD (Case Western Reserve University), Lauren Collier, MA (Associate Director for Disability Services at University of Massachusetts Amherst), Liam Whitney, MS Ed., (COMS, VRT), and Madeline Mueller (MSSW/MPH Candidate at Columbia University)
Presentation Description:
In their AIR-P-funded project, Double Burnout: Exploring the Experiences of Autistic and Educator Burnout Among Autistic Educators, they have purposefully curated a space where Autistic educators and researchers can collaborate effectively. Guided by principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the team of Autistic Community Partners (ACPs), Autistic researchers, and allied researchers engaged in all phases of the research project, from design to dissemination. In this presentation they will discuss the logistics of actively including Autistic perspective through the applied example how they collaborated to develop a model for Autistic flourishing and burnout. They will review lessons learned and ways that our collaboration strengthened study quality, provided learning opportunities for ACPs, and allowed for increased accessibility and communication.
August 9, 2024 at 12 p.m. EST
Predictors of Sexual Victimization Among Autistic and Non-Autistic College Students
Presenter:
Natalie Libster (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
Presentation Description:
Sexual victimization is a critical and prevalent issue on college campuses, and undergraduate students with certain disabilities are more likely than students without disabilities to be sexually victimized. The current study examined whether autistic college students are more likely than non-autistic students to experience unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault, controlling for co-occurring diagnoses. This study further examined whether students with other disabilities, specifically ADHD, learning disability (LD), and psychological disorders, are more likely than students without these disabilities to experience unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault.
September 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. EST
Faculty response to autistic college students: Faculty supportive behaviors and beliefs
Presenter:
Dana Kanhai (PhD Higher, Adult & Lifelong Education from Michigan State University; Talent Development Specialist)
Presentation Description:
Dr. Kanhai will share some key findings from their dissertation research which explored faculty perceptions of their supportive behaviors towards autistic college students and faculty beliefs about their behaviors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) as a theoretical framework to guide this qualitative research, they interviewed 15 faculty who shared how they supported students in different aspects of their work. They will share some of the behaviors identified by faculty, some of their beliefs about the benefits of their behaviors, important referents who provided approval or acted as role models, and supports that bolstered faculty resolve to act in supportive ways towards autistic students.
2024
May
Dr. Cindi May (Professor of Psychology, College of Charleston) and Dr. Christopher E. Whelpley (Assistant Professor of Management, Virginia Commonwealth University) – Biases in the Hiring Process for Job Candidates with Autism…and Solutions That Might Help Level the Playing Field
April
Mark Tapia, Ph.D. (Researcher) –Self-Advocacy at the University Level: Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Advocate for Their Needs
March
Chiara Latimer (Co-Director Center for Neurodiversity, PATH Program Coordinator, Rowan University); Dr. Amy Accardo (Co-Chair and Associate Professor, WISE Department, Rowan University); and Dr. Casey Woodfield (Assistant Professor, WISE Department; Faculty Fellow, Center for Neurodiversity, Rowan University) – Affirming Neurodiversity Culture on Campus: Priorities of Neurodivergent Students, Faculty and Staff
February
Gary McManus (Spectrum Support Program Specialist, Rochester Institute for Technology) – How Autistic College Students Define Success
January
Lauren Baczewski, PhD (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Autism at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.) and Project Advisory Board Members – Exploring the Mental Healthcare Experiences of Autistic LGBTQIA+ Young Adults: Colleges as Facilitators to Care & Community.
2023
November
Sandra Thom-Jones (Consultant, Autistic Professor) – Is Academic a Good Career for Autistics?
October
Dr. Leslie Ann Bross (Assistant Professor of Special Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte) – Effects of a Peer Coaching Intervention for Young Adults with Autism on a College Campus
September
Seri Shevchuk-Hill (Graduate Student, College of Staten Island, CUNY), Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch (Associate Professor, College of Staten Island and the Graduate Center, CUNY), and Bella Kofner (Teacher, College of Staten Island, CUNY) – Insights from Emerging Research on the Narrative Writing of Autistic Students
August
Dr. Carolyn O’Laughlin (Adjunct Instructor, Saint Louis University – Acts of Resilience and Resistance: Persistence by Autistic College Students
June
Dr. Azadeh Bolhari (Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Director for Undergraduate Education of Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Colorado Boulder) – Exploring Innovation Self-Efficacy in Neurodiverse Engineering Students
May
Dr. Morgan Strimel (Research Assistant, George Mason University), Dr. Grace Francis (Associate Professor, George Mason University, Dr. Jodi Duke, (Associate Professor & Academic Program Coordinator, George Mason University) – Looking at the Whole Student:” Identities and the Higher Education Accommodation
April
Kathy Szechy (LMSW, PhD Candidate, Wayne State University School of Social Work) – Autism, Adulthood and Employment Challenges: The Double Empathy Problem and Perceptions of an Autistic Employee in the Workplace
March
Helen Rottier (Doctoral Student, University of Chicago at Illinois); Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch (Associate Professor, College of Staten Island), Dr. Jonathan Vincent (Lecturer, Lancaster University), and Dr. Theo Bakker (Professor, The Hague University of Applied Science; Researcher, Vrije Universiteit) – CANVAS 5th Anniversary Panel: The State of Research on Autism in Higher Education
February
Elinor Lim (PhD Student, University of Portsmouth) – Supporting autistic university students: Perspectives of autistic students and disability support staff
January
Kayden Stockwell (Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology, University of Virginia) – “I just had to figure out what I was doing and hope I was correct”: Autistic young adults navigate higher education
2022
November
Aylin Ulker, OTD, OTR/L & Tom Beeson, EdS (Clemson University) – Sensory Inclusion in Higher Education: Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Experiences and Perspectives
October
Brian Irvine (University of Birmingham) – Framing and Reframing: Specialist (Autism) Mentoring in UK HEIs
September
Drs. Brett Nachman (University of Arkansas) & Brad Cox (Florida State University) – Launching Project PEACES: A National Survey of Autistic College Student Success
August
Dr. Amber Meyers (Tarrant County College) – People Matter: Recruiting Autistic High School Students into Dual Credit Classes
July
Dr. Theo C. Bakker (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) – Study Progression and Success of Autistic Students in Higher Education, A Longitudinal, Propensity Score-Weighted Population Study
May
Brett Nachman, Ph.D. (Director of Research, College Autism Network; Post-Doctoral Research Scholar, North Carolina State University) –Translating Passion to Professional Pathways: Supporting Autistic Community College Students’ Career Aspirations
April
Dr. Brittany L. Jackson (Online Learning Manager, Hiram College, Director of Training and Technology, College Autism Network) – Postsecondary Social Support Programs for Students with ASD as Described by Students, Directors, and Staff
March
Dr. Jill Underhill (Associate Professor, Communication Studies & Director, Writing Across the Curriculum, Marshall University) and Victoria Ann Ledford (Doctoral Candidate, Communication Science and Social Cognition, University of Maryland) – Autistic Student Success in Public Speaking Courses
February
Dr. Sally Reis (Letitia Neag Morgan Chair in Educational Psychology, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor), Dr. Joseph Madaus (Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Director, Collaborative on Postsecondary Education and Disability), and Dr. Nicholas W. Gelbar (Associate Research Professor); all at the University of Connecticut – Understanding the Academic Success of Academically Talented Students with ASD
January
Helen Rottier (University of Illinois Chicago/Institute on Disability and Human Development) – Constellation Mentoring- Evaluating a Novel Approach to Support Autistic College Students
2021
November
Dr. Mary Baker-Ericzén (San Diego State University) – College SUCCESS
October
Dr. Hyejung Kim (Binghamton University) – Korean American Autistic College Student’s Experience
September
Dr. TC Waisman (Doctor of Innovation at Autism Training Academy) – How higher education leaders, faculty, and staff can enhance services and outcomes for Autistic students
August
Dr. Jane McLeod (Associate Executive Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and Provost Professor of Sociology; Indiana University) – College and Beyond for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
July
Dr. Amelia Anderson (Assistant Professor of Library & Information Studies Darden College of Education and Professional Studies; Old Dominion University) – The Intersection of Libraries and Autism
May
Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware), Cherie Fishbaugh (Director of Autism Services; West Chester University), & Laurie Ackles (Director, Spectrum Support Program; RIT) – Understanding Autistic College Students’ Needs in the Times of COVID-19
April
Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) and Dr. Brian Freedman (Associate Director, Center for Students with Disabilities & Director, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) – Social Skills Interventions for Young Adults: Fitting into a Neurotypical World?
March
Dr. Craig Thompson (Curtin University) & Dr. Melissa Black (Curtin University) – Autistic Adults’ Success Factors for Employment and Beyond
February
Dr. Laura Graham Holmes (Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate; Boston University) & Dr. Emily Rothman (Professor, Community Health Sciences; Boston University) – Using Formative Research to Develop HEARTS: A Healthy Relationships Promoting Intervention for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
January
Courtney Butler (Program Coordinator, College Support Program; Rutgers University) – An Individualized Approach to Teaching Adults with Autism to Successfully Navigate Job Interviews via Remote Instruction
2020
November
Cheryl Widman (University of Illinois at Chicago) – Understanding Parent Participation in the Postsecondary Education of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
October
Julie Lounds Taylor (Vanderbilt University) – Serving as an editor of the Autism journal: “Pulling back the curtain: tips from the editorial desk.”
September
Jonathan Vincent (York St. John University) – Transitions from higher education for autistic students and graduates: qualitative insights from the UK context
August
Eilidh Cage (University of Stirling) and Jack Howes (Autistic Writer and Fundraiser) – Dropping out: Understanding the university experiences of autistic students who could not complete their studies
July
Alexandra Sturm (Loyola Marymount University) – Academic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Incoming College Freshmen with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Comorbidity and Gender
May
Ryan A. Miller (University of North Carolina-Charlotte) – Emerging research on the experiences of autistic LGBTQ college students
April
Sean LaRoque (Mansfield Hall) –Measuring autistic college students’ journeys to adulthood using the Pathway to Independence Inventory: Development, results and lessons learned at Mansfield Hall – a residential college support program for students with learning differences
March
Jodi Duke and Grace Francis (George Mason University) – Research on autistic college students and co-occurring mental health disorder; discussions on the impact of needs and coping strategies
February
Amy Radochonski (College Living Experience) – “Crosswalks” between postsecondary education institutions and independent autism programs
2019
September
Fred Volkmar (Yale University | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)
May
Kirsten Brown (Edgewood College)
April
Sasha Zeedyk and Yasamine Bolourian (University of California-Riverside)
2018
November
August
- UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PRESENTERS
-
July 16, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET
Cultivating Community through Research: A Participatory Project Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Burnout and Educator Burnout for Autistic Educators in the United States
Presenters:
Alex Newson, PhD (University of Oregon), Erin Hopkins PhD (Case Western Reserve University), Lauren Collier, MA (Associate Director for Disability Services at University of Massachusetts Amherst), Liam Whitney, MS Ed., (COMS, VRT), and Madeline Mueller (MSSW/MPH Candidate at Columbia University)
Presentation Description:
In their AIR-P-funded project, Double Burnout: Exploring the Experiences of Autistic and Educator Burnout Among Autistic Educators, they have purposefully curated a space where Autistic educators and researchers can collaborate effectively. Guided by principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the team of Autistic Community Partners (ACPs), Autistic researchers, and allied researchers engaged in all phases of the research project, from design to dissemination. In this presentation they will discuss the logistics of actively including Autistic perspective through the applied example how they collaborated to develop a model for Autistic flourishing and burnout. They will review lessons learned and ways that our collaboration strengthened study quality, provided learning opportunities for ACPs, and allowed for increased accessibility and communication.August 9, 2024 at 12 p.m. EST
Predictors of Sexual Victimization Among Autistic and Non-Autistic College Students
Presenter:
Natalie Libster (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center)Presentation Description:
Sexual victimization is a critical and prevalent issue on college campuses, and undergraduate students with certain disabilities are more likely than students without disabilities to be sexually victimized. The current study examined whether autistic college students are more likely than non-autistic students to experience unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault, controlling for co-occurring diagnoses. This study further examined whether students with other disabilities, specifically ADHD, learning disability (LD), and psychological disorders, are more likely than students without these disabilities to experience unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault.September 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. EST
Faculty response to autistic college students: Faculty supportive behaviors and beliefs
Presenter:
Dana Kanhai (PhD Higher, Adult & Lifelong Education from Michigan State University; Talent Development Specialist)Presentation Description:
Dr. Kanhai will share some key findings from their dissertation research which explored faculty perceptions of their supportive behaviors towards autistic college students and faculty beliefs about their behaviors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) as a theoretical framework to guide this qualitative research, they interviewed 15 faculty who shared how they supported students in different aspects of their work. They will share some of the behaviors identified by faculty, some of their beliefs about the benefits of their behaviors, important referents who provided approval or acted as role models, and supports that bolstered faculty resolve to act in supportive ways towards autistic students. - PAST MEETING MINUTES & RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
- 2024
May
Dr. Cindi May (Professor of Psychology, College of Charleston) and Dr. Christopher E. Whelpley (Assistant Professor of Management, Virginia Commonwealth University) – Biases in the Hiring Process for Job Candidates with Autism…and Solutions That Might Help Level the Playing FieldApril
Mark Tapia, Ph.D. (Researcher) –Self-Advocacy at the University Level: Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Advocate for Their NeedsMarch
Chiara Latimer (Co-Director Center for Neurodiversity, PATH Program Coordinator, Rowan University); Dr. Amy Accardo (Co-Chair and Associate Professor, WISE Department, Rowan University); and Dr. Casey Woodfield (Assistant Professor, WISE Department; Faculty Fellow, Center for Neurodiversity, Rowan University) – Affirming Neurodiversity Culture on Campus: Priorities of Neurodivergent Students, Faculty and StaffFebruary
Gary McManus (Spectrum Support Program Specialist, Rochester Institute for Technology) – How Autistic College Students Define Success
January
Lauren Baczewski, PhD (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Autism at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.) and Project Advisory Board Members – Exploring the Mental Healthcare Experiences of Autistic LGBTQIA+ Young Adults: Colleges as Facilitators to Care & Community.
2023November
Sandra Thom-Jones (Consultant, Autistic Professor) – Is Academic a Good Career for Autistics?
October
Dr. Leslie Ann Bross (Assistant Professor of Special Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte) – Effects of a Peer Coaching Intervention for Young Adults with Autism on a College Campus
September
Seri Shevchuk-Hill (Graduate Student, College of Staten Island, CUNY), Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch (Associate Professor, College of Staten Island and the Graduate Center, CUNY), and Bella Kofner (Teacher, College of Staten Island, CUNY) – Insights from Emerging Research on the Narrative Writing of Autistic StudentsAugust
Dr. Carolyn O’Laughlin (Adjunct Instructor, Saint Louis University – Acts of Resilience and Resistance: Persistence by Autistic College Students
June
Dr. Azadeh Bolhari (Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Director for Undergraduate Education of Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Colorado Boulder) – Exploring Innovation Self-Efficacy in Neurodiverse Engineering StudentsMay
Dr. Morgan Strimel (Research Assistant, George Mason University), Dr. Grace Francis (Associate Professor, George Mason University, Dr. Jodi Duke, (Associate Professor & Academic Program Coordinator, George Mason University) – Looking at the Whole Student:” Identities and the Higher Education AccommodationApril
Kathy Szechy (LMSW, PhD Candidate, Wayne State University School of Social Work) – Autism, Adulthood and Employment Challenges: The Double Empathy Problem and Perceptions of an Autistic Employee in the WorkplaceMarch
Helen Rottier (Doctoral Student, University of Chicago at Illinois); Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch (Associate Professor, College of Staten Island), Dr. Jonathan Vincent (Lecturer, Lancaster University), and Dr. Theo Bakker (Professor, The Hague University of Applied Science; Researcher, Vrije Universiteit) – CANVAS 5th Anniversary Panel: The State of Research on Autism in Higher EducationFebruary
Elinor Lim (PhD Student, University of Portsmouth) – Supporting autistic university students: Perspectives of autistic students and disability support staffJanuary
Kayden Stockwell (Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology, University of Virginia) – “I just had to figure out what I was doing and hope I was correct”: Autistic young adults navigate higher education2022November
Aylin Ulker, OTD, OTR/L & Tom Beeson, EdS (Clemson University) – Sensory Inclusion in Higher Education: Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Experiences and PerspectivesOctober
Brian Irvine (University of Birmingham) – Framing and Reframing: Specialist (Autism) Mentoring in UK HEIsSeptember
Drs. Brett Nachman (University of Arkansas) & Brad Cox (Florida State University) – Launching Project PEACES: A National Survey of Autistic College Student SuccessAugust
Dr. Amber Meyers (Tarrant County College) – People Matter: Recruiting Autistic High School Students into Dual Credit ClassesJuly
Dr. Theo C. Bakker (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) – Study Progression and Success of Autistic Students in Higher Education, A Longitudinal, Propensity Score-Weighted Population StudyMay
Brett Nachman, Ph.D. (Director of Research, College Autism Network; Post-Doctoral Research Scholar, North Carolina State University) –Translating Passion to Professional Pathways: Supporting Autistic Community College Students’ Career AspirationsApril
Dr. Brittany L. Jackson (Online Learning Manager, Hiram College, Director of Training and Technology, College Autism Network) – Postsecondary Social Support Programs for Students with ASD as Described by Students, Directors, and StaffMarch
Dr. Jill Underhill (Associate Professor, Communication Studies & Director, Writing Across the Curriculum, Marshall University) and Victoria Ann Ledford (Doctoral Candidate, Communication Science and Social Cognition, University of Maryland) – Autistic Student Success in Public Speaking Courses
February
Dr. Sally Reis (Letitia Neag Morgan Chair in Educational Psychology, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor), Dr. Joseph Madaus (Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Director, Collaborative on Postsecondary Education and Disability), and Dr. Nicholas W. Gelbar (Associate Research Professor); all at the University of Connecticut – Understanding the Academic Success of Academically Talented Students with ASD
January
Helen Rottier (University of Illinois Chicago/Institute on Disability and Human Development) – Constellation Mentoring- Evaluating a Novel Approach to Support Autistic College Students2021November
Dr. Mary Baker-Ericzén (San Diego State University) – College SUCCESS
October
Dr. Hyejung Kim (Binghamton University) – Korean American Autistic College Student’s Experience
September
Dr. TC Waisman (Doctor of Innovation at Autism Training Academy) – How higher education leaders, faculty, and staff can enhance services and outcomes for Autistic studentsAugust
Dr. Jane McLeod (Associate Executive Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and Provost Professor of Sociology; Indiana University) – College and Beyond for Young Adults on the Autism SpectrumJuly
Dr. Amelia Anderson (Assistant Professor of Library & Information Studies Darden College of Education and Professional Studies; Old Dominion University) – The Intersection of Libraries and Autism
May
Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware), Cherie Fishbaugh (Director of Autism Services; West Chester University), & Laurie Ackles (Director, Spectrum Support Program; RIT) – Understanding Autistic College Students’ Needs in the Times of COVID-19April
Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) and Dr. Brian Freedman (Associate Director, Center for Students with Disabilities & Director, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) – Social Skills Interventions for Young Adults: Fitting into a Neurotypical World?March
Dr. Craig Thompson (Curtin University) & Dr. Melissa Black (Curtin University) – Autistic Adults’ Success Factors for Employment and BeyondFebruary
Dr. Laura Graham Holmes (Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate; Boston University) & Dr. Emily Rothman (Professor, Community Health Sciences; Boston University) – Using Formative Research to Develop HEARTS: A Healthy Relationships Promoting Intervention for Young Adults on the Autism SpectrumJanuary
Courtney Butler (Program Coordinator, College Support Program; Rutgers University) – An Individualized Approach to Teaching Adults with Autism to Successfully Navigate Job Interviews via Remote Instruction
2020November
Cheryl Widman (University of Illinois at Chicago) – Understanding Parent Participation in the Postsecondary Education of Students with Autism Spectrum DisorderOctober
Julie Lounds Taylor (Vanderbilt University) – Serving as an editor of the Autism journal: “Pulling back the curtain: tips from the editorial desk.”September
Jonathan Vincent (York St. John University) – Transitions from higher education for autistic students and graduates: qualitative insights from the UK contextAugust
Eilidh Cage (University of Stirling) and Jack Howes (Autistic Writer and Fundraiser) – Dropping out: Understanding the university experiences of autistic students who could not complete their studiesJuly
Alexandra Sturm (Loyola Marymount University) – Academic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Incoming College Freshmen with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Comorbidity and GenderMay
Ryan A. Miller (University of North Carolina-Charlotte) – Emerging research on the experiences of autistic LGBTQ college studentsApril
Sean LaRoque (Mansfield Hall) –Measuring autistic college students’ journeys to adulthood using the Pathway to Independence Inventory: Development, results and lessons learned at Mansfield Hall – a residential college support program for students with learning differencesMarch
Jodi Duke and Grace Francis (George Mason University) – Research on autistic college students and co-occurring mental health disorder; discussions on the impact of needs and coping strategiesFebruary
Amy Radochonski (College Living Experience) – “Crosswalks” between postsecondary education institutions and independent autism programs2019September
Fred Volkmar (Yale University | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)May
Kirsten Brown (Edgewood College)April
Sasha Zeedyk and Yasamine Bolourian (University of California-Riverside)2018November
August
WAYS TO BECOME INVOLVED
- Check out the minutes, presentations, and articles from previous monthly meetings (see links on this page).
- Click here to sign up for our autism/higher ed list serv (here where we share news articles, research, events, and other content related to college students with autism). Click “join group” to start receiving emails.
- Once you’ve joined the listserv, you can share articles, presentations, and other news by sending an email to: can-canvas@collegeautismnetwork.org
- Contact Brett Ranon Nachman (BrettRanonNachman@gmail.com) to get updates about upcoming CANVAS meetings.
- Visit our CANVAS Google Drive (here we share our meeting agendas, minutes, and other CANVAS content; you can even post a profile about yourself and your work)
