Paula Pupil’s Response 

One major thing I wish my professors would take into consideration with regard to ASDs is sensory problems:  I have a very hard time in my lecture halls because there are so many students all talking at the same time during discussions or at the beginning of class, and before class starts, many of my professors put loud music on in the background, apparently as a way of “livening things up” or something.  All that noise is extremely painful, and yet, if I show up right as class is starting, then I get a terrible seat and wind up worse off than if I had just put up with the noise.  I know it’s hard to prevent 100+ college students from talking all at once, but eliminating the music, or perhaps ensuring that the autistic can step out periodically if things get too loud would be a good start.  Lighting is a problem too: most of my classrooms use bright fluorescent lights, and if I’m having a bad sensory day, such lighting can cause headaches, nausea and a feeling of overwhelming suffocation.  Turning off the lights in certain parts of the lecture hall, such as near the front where the presumed lecture slides are being shown would help, as would replacing the fluorescent lights with more natural yellow light bulbs.

Something else I wish professors understood is our general aversion to group activities:  I have a professor who loves group discussions and projects, and is forever lumping us together to talk over concepts in class.  If professors would give the option to write our thoughts down rather than discussing them with a group, it would be infinitely preferable.

It would also be helpful if professors understood our typical discomfort with close proximity.  If I am forced to sit in the middle of the lecture hall surrounded on all sides by other students who are no more than an nudge away, I get very uncomfortable, frustrated and uneasy.  If professors can make sure we get a spot ideally in the front row where there is usually more space, or at the very least at the edge of an aisle where there are fewer people, that would make things a lot easier.  It may sound like special treatment, but it’s really just a matter of ensuring comfortable sensory boundaries.

Question 3.  In order to accommodate Paula you would….

A.  Hang a sign on the door of Kreider Hall that says, “If you make a peep inside of this room you will receive an F.”

B.  Meet with Paula Pupil privately, as you suggested about Laurie Learner, and determine what seat would be optimum.

C.  Also while meeting privately, negotiate under what conditions Paula may take a break from the classroom when needed, without disrupting the rest of the class in the process.

D.  Limit group discussions to a reasonable number, and never penalize for lack of participation.

E.  This is ridiculous.  You tell the student to tough up.  “You’re on your own, Sister.”