College for son with Aspergers

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My apologies for trampling on the College Learning Experience (CIP)! They are really a great program that we're looking into again for our son.

I had it confused with the College Internship Program (CIP). That's the one we looked at, which was beyond horrible.

Sorry for the confusion. I'm an addled, stressed out mom dealing with trying to find a solution for our son's future and dealing with the end of a very tough divorce. My brain is a bit addled.

what other information did you get on cip because i was looking for it for my self as a transitional living program (not quite yet because they said they would be getting a new location and that location would work best for me) besides the extreme price (which ive seen worse i heard of a program in conneticut for $80,000)

Okay, here's the deal. My impression, after looking at the FL & Berkeley campuses, was that it was nothing more than a dumping ground for kids.

As a parent, you get an idea when people are trying to hide something, or aren't telling you the whole story. I got that sense in Berkeley. We weren't allowed to see classes in progress. We saw only hallways and empty rooms. Everything else was explained to us. But I read all that in the brochure. The trip all the way to CA was a total waste of time.

We asked how many of the students went on to other schools. We asked for data on how well they did. How long did they stay, etc... The head of the campus had no data. She said everyone was different. Really? That's hiding something.

We asked about the different prices per student ability. She said that everyone came in at the $70,000 range. Huh? Then why have that pricing?

OK, so now to the campuses.

1. Florida. "Only 10 minutes away from the beach!" No, it's behind a strip mall that faces a 4 lane highway. There was no way to become independent due to the highway. Everyone has to go around in a van to the grocery store. Or to a movie. But you can't be spontanous at all. She said they habe group activities like going to the strawberry festival across the street in the spring. Fun! Not.

The school was closed when we went there but the facility stunned me. It was a small., old building with about 4 rooms. The large one had a few tables where students have to spend all their time when they're not going to school. It was empty save for a few board games. She told me that what the kids to.

Another room had 4 computers. Another room was a classroom. The place was very depressing. The apartments had paint peeling from the ceiling, broken furniture and cabinets.

Every Friday evening the students are required to either play World of Warcraft or go bowling.

2. Berkeley

This facility was larger and nicer. But we didn't get to see anything other than the offices and a student apartment. So I'll report on that.

The student who showed us her apartment had been there 3 years. The program says they teach kids how to cook and keep their apartments clean, do laundery, etc. I've seen dorms before, but this was horrendos. The dishwasher was broken. The furniture was broken. And the place was more than a mess. Who was monitoring this? The answer was no one. One of the bedrooms was so crammed with junk you could hardly get in there.

I asked her about student activities. She said sometimes they'd have a potluck dinner.

Were they teaching life skills? Well, the answer was, "Not really."

On another note, we visited Landmark, which is $20,000 less expensive. They had state of the art technology. WIFI in all the student dorm rooms. They had everything coordinated. All the teachers, therapists, tutors, etc.. all coordinated with each other to make sure each student was on track.

In summation, I got the feeling that this program was no more than a scam and a dumping ground for LD kids with wealthy parents. Please write again if you have more questions.

thank you for the info i actuaaly already have my associates but need the life skills part as a transitional living type of program unfortunatly most of these programs im begining to get to the point of aging out of because i went first to community college (and it took more than the average two years to get my associates because i could only handle a few classes at a time) i hope you find something for your son personally in my opinion its better to get the lifeskills program part first because you can go back to a community college at any age (there was an 80 something year old woman graduating in the same graduating class as me) you cant always go to these special programs at any age. most of the ones im finding are either for lower functioning or like the one in conneticut thats specially for aspergers thats 80,000 dollars a year (and that price was a few years ago!)

maybe you should look for a program temporarily like for a year so maybe that the year after he might be more ready for landmark ( i assume they will give him another chance to get in the following year if the reason for not accepting him in the firsr placewas them not find him mature enough )

We just accompanied our son to the summer session at CIP in Brevard, FL. The summer location is on the campus of FIT. It will be a typical "college experience" for him. Eating at the dining hall, using the gym, sleeping in a dorm. We also have visited the CIP year round location a few minutes away. The staff there just blew us away. What a caring, dedicated group of professionals! Our son has quite the mixture of diagnoses...they were gracious enough to give him a go there even though the program seems geared toward Asperger's. I loved the fact that it was across the street from the community college. Yes it's behind a strip mall, and on a main street, but there is a traffic light there and a bus stop. The kids learn independence by being taught how to use public transpiration and being safe crossing the street. Our son has passed his driving test, as had some of the students we met, but he is definitely not ready to be responsible to drive alone.

I completely disagree with the earlier post from jennifer54. With all due respect, we have done our research and listened to the reasoning behind the location and cost. For us the "$70K" will be a stretch to say the least, but if it gives our son even a chance at being independent, it's worth mac and cheese for a few years. The cost is broken down and based on services needed. If a student comes in with no abilities (IE - able to do own laundry or cook) then those students will require more "services". Fortunately we've taught our son to do his own laundry and he can make his own meals if needed, but he'll need help with more executive functioning like how to plan a week or breaking down a large task like a school project.

We took a tour of the site as well. It was a typical apartment dorm setting. If you want luxury, then you don't send kids away to college. The dorms at FIT were in terrible shape. The dorms at CIP Brevard are kept clean and in good repair. Again, they are dorms. There is a student advisor on the premises 24/7. That was a great comfort. If your child needs med reminders at night or a bedtime check, that will be a service they provide.

I could go on but to me the people where what made the place! Dedicated, caring, professional....the other stuff is just stuff. My son's life is not defined by the space he exists in. I hope we can afford to provide this opportunity for him.

PS - Our son is on the football team, has played on the soccer and golf team in HS. He is not a couch potato, but does enjoy video games and bowling. The students that are there currently are the ones who as a group decide what they will do for fun. There is a great park down the block for running, rollerblading, picnicking, etc. Students are required only to "participate" in social events, not play video games or bowling...those are examples of what the students choose. Each weekend they have cookouts and the theme changes....voted on by the students.

Dear thinkingpositively, I appreciate you sharing your experience on this forum. I am the Marketing Director for CIP. I've served as Admissions Director and even residential staff member during my seven years at CIP. The Brevard Center is enormously lucky to have such a caring and professional staff. What they have going is something very special. That being said, CIP is not for everyone, and each family or student is looking for their own perfect fit. I am very glad you seem to have found it!

Should he go to a college for those with learning disabilities?

I'm not suggesting he shouldn't, however it's a question I feel you should ask yourself. My parents did not assist me in any aspect of the college process. In fact, by my mid teens they had become rather distracted with things other than parenting, and I was left to my own devices in many respects. I was even tasked with attending to business that should have been attended to by my parents. My mother, for example had a policy of shutting herself in her room every time the land lord knocked on the door, leaving me to deal with him.

While such a hands off parenting technique certainly had some downsides (it would have been nice if they had at least looked at a few campuses with me), it had many valuable benefits as well. While my parents had always known I was on the spectrum, their distraction from parenthood tasked me with responsibilities that gave me the liberty to grow into a responsible adult, more capable than I feel I would have been if I were raised by some parents of those on the spectrum today. I did not have parents running around continually attaching the stigma of a disorder to me, implying and continually reinforcing that I was incapable in some way (however well intentioned) and this gave me the opportunity to find my own potential and define myself as a person...rather than be the person my parents and doctors defined me as.

Most universities have an office for students with disabilities and cater fully to those with learning disabilities, and one does not have to worry about the name on the degree leading to job discrimination by tipping the employer off that the individual has a learning disability. Ordinary universities likely offer more of a real world experience than universities for those with learning disorders. This is exactly what most parents fear, but they do not do him any favors trying to shelter their children from this. It would be much more beneficial for them to instead stand at the side of their children, ready to offer guidance through new and difficult situations, rather than behind their children always trying to catch them when they fall.

There is one aspect of life that I feel parents of those with AS should be closely involved in and that's guiding their children socially.

Check your PM's I sent you some info.

I know two people who went to CIP in Berkeley. My opinion of it is mixed. They did really well in the program, but I think they transitioned them out to early.

I should be going to a day college in September in ict
But I am looking at 2 collages
Braintree
And
Cambridge region college

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jennifer54,
Have you picked a college for your son yet? If not, I have two bits of advise that you can consider. One or both may be a good option. I have 2 sons. One has AS and one does not. The older one, who is 23, has AS. He went to 2 traditional colleges and did okay at one and not the other. Both had basic, federally mandated, special needs programs. The major at the second school changed and his grades were not good so we looked for a 3rd college. BINGO! University of Indianapolis has an extra Learning Disabilities program. It is called BUILD! It does cost extra but it is worth it!! My son is getting "A's" and "B's" and he has not done that well sense grade school! It is around $5,000 or so a year. They have tutoring m-f, substitute classes in some cases, like math. The director even works with students to help them with independence, like taking them driving for their license or to job interviews. some of the students that have come to U of I and the Build program went to Landmark before coming. This is one option to consider although it is a way from home. Option 2 refers to my other son who does not have AS. He was tested but never diagnosed with any learning problems. However,his grades in school were always middle level. In high school, he almost did not graduate. However, he wanted to go to college for audio technology, a difficult field. We sent him to community college for his core courses first. We wanted him to make sure that he could learn at a college level and not spend too much in case it did not work out.It did! He did well and we saved serious money when it was time for him to go to the he really wanted to go to. In summary, if I were you, I'd talk to a few local community colleges and look up University of Indianapolis in the meantime to learn about BUILD! Lastly, my son with AS will be graduating with a Bachelor's in the Spring. Good Luck!