Community Resources

The number of identified students on the Autism Spectrum (AS) is growing dramatically. Rio Salado College professionals need to understand how difficult it is for AS students to adjust to change and how different each AS case may be. It is important help this population of bright and inquisitive students who have much to offer.

Seek out the resources below to learn how to help AS students be successful in college.

ASD Video

Temple Grandin (2010) – A fact-based story of an autistic woman who became an unlikely hero to America’s cattle industry and autistic people across the country.

ASD Webinar

Autism Spectrum: Helping Student’s Transition and Succeed – This video provides tips on how to work with AS college students. PowerPoint handouts are also available.

ASD Technology

• Evernote – Intuitive note taking system
• Time Timer – Timer used for studying, breaks, sleep and the like
• Erudio – Manage courses with dates, times and locations.
• Firefly Application – Digital access to textbooks, novels, articles and the like
• Dragon Naturally Speaking – Speech recognition software
• Echo Live Scribe Pens – Records everything students hear, say and write

ASD Community Resources

Southwest Autism Research & Resources (SARCC) – autismcenter.org

Community Resources

• National Center for Learning Disabilities – ncld.org/
• Learning Disabilities Association of America – ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities

Using an Interpreter in Your Classroom

• Sign Language interpreters facilitates communication between an individual who is deaf/hard of hearing and a normal hearing individual. Their role is to"bridge the gap between two individuals who do not share the same language and/or mode of communication.
• Relax. Using an interpreter is not meant to be difficult or overwhelming.
• A Sign Language Interpreter is licensed by the State of Arizona, credentialed and bound by a code of confidentiality.
• Speak naturally. There is time lag involved between the spoken message and the interpretation. However, the interpreter will inform you to repeat something or slow down.
• Maintain eye contact with the Deaf student. The interpreter is there to facilitate the communication between you and the student.
• Don't ask an interpreter any personal questions about the student. The interpreter is bound by a code of confidentiality and cannot repeat any information they have learned on previous interpreting jobs.
• American Sign Language is a language with its own unique grammar and syntax that bears no relation to spoken English.
• Do not say things that you do not want interpreted. The interpreter ethically must interpret everything they hear.
• If there are written materials for the student, ask the interpreter if he or she would like copies.
• During testing, the interpreter is available to interpret your instructions and the student’s questions concerning the test. Interpreters follow a National Code of Professional Conduct. The Interpreters do not interpret the test.
• Longer class times and/or full-time interpreting schedules require the use of a team of two interpreters. Teaming allows the interpreters to switch primary and secondary roles every 15-20 minutes. This helps avoid physical damage to the interpreters (repetitive motion injury) and reduces mental fatigue, which causes degradation of the interpreted message for the student.

Captioning How-To and Resources

Deaf and hard of hearing viewers are excluded without captions, which is a legal and an ethical problem. In addition to that, studies show that captions are beneficial beyond just the deaf and hard of hearing population. Captions: 

• Make it possible for people to view videos in sound-sensitive environments, like offices and libraries 
• View videos in noisy environments, such as restaurants, sports clubs and public transit
• Help English as a Second Language (ESL) viewers
• Help when dialogue is spoken very quickly, or the speaker has an accent or mumbles, when there is background noise and when the subject matter is complicated 
• Increase viewer retention, user engagement and SEO (search engine optimization), according to studies
• Can benefit everybody

Captioning Online Videos in YouTube Using a Transcript

To post or create a transcript of the video, post and upload the transcript. The voice recognition engine automatically inserts the timings for you. Follow these steps:

1. Create your video.
2. Create a transcript of your video and save it as a Rich Text Format file.
3. Upload your video to YouTube.
4. Go to the My Videos section of your YouTube account.
5. Find the video you just uploaded.
6. Select the Captions button.
7. Select the Add New Captions or Transcript button.
8. Browse to your transcript file.
9. Select the Transcript file radio button.
10. Select the Upload File button.

Here is another explanation from Digital Strategy of how captioning in YouTube works.

DRS101 – Faculty Canvas Course (Coming Soon)

Community Resources

• Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation Services – https://des.az.gov/services/employment/rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation-vr
• Office for Civil Rights: Auxiliary Aids & Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html
• Office for Civil Rights: Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators – https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
• Arizona Bridge to Independent Living – abil.org/
• Job Accommodation Network – askjan.org/

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• Financial Aid Guide for Students with Disabilities – onlineschools.org/financial-aid/disabilities/
• Scottsdale Mayor Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities – https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council/mayors-committee-on-employment-of-people-with-disabilities-awards

Service Animal Definitions and Other Specific Rules Related to Service Animals -  ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD): legal.maricopa.edu/maricopans-with-disabilities/web-site-accessibility