Trials and Tribulations (Part 14)- Daily Living On A College Campus

After careful thought and deliberation, I thought others would find this interesting about our battle with Asperger Syndrome. If anyone would like to post about their trials and tribulations, please leave a link so we can read your story. :)

This is written in the third person.


M and his parents made an Information Binder to help M figure out the likely pitfalls with daily living on campus. All relevant information was put in a binder with dividers about the college and the strategies that he can use for easy access when needed. M can add whatever material he needs to the binder for later retrieval.

The binder was divided into the following subjects:

• Academics- curriculum guidelines, general requirements for his major, schedule of classes, what classes that still need to be taken for his major, Tips For New Students To Ensure Academic Success At College, etc., Commonvision, UMBC Design and Print Center (printing information, names, locations, services, price, times that they are open, phone numbers, etc.)


• Campus Card and Mail Services- information, additional funds/plans, deposits, FAQs, contact and support, mailing options, term and conditions, vending, etc.


• Church- names, locations, phone numbers, maps, times for Mass, online Mass videos, activities, groups, etc.


• Contacts- college advisor, family, friends, and emergency contacts which include phone number, cell number, and email address, etc.


• Dining- meal plans & meal times, names, locations and hours of dining options, types of food, Meal Plans FAQs, Rewards, etc.


• Financial- Student Business Services (SBS), locations of ATMs on campus, etc.


• Health- Health Center/University Health Services information, Counseling Center information, medication information, prescriptions to refill medicines, doctors names and contact information, FAQ, etc.


• Housing/Life at UMBC- rules, activities, copy of signed roommate contract, community living principles, student life at UMBC, etc.

Housing- Your Housing License, Special Living Environments, Breaks & Closings, Suite Condition Reports (SCR), Check Out, Room Changes, Housing Selection Process, Key & ID Cards, etc.

General Services- Cable, Internet Access, Community Desks, Community Rooms, Facilities Reservations, FXIT: Submit a Work Order (Maintenance) Request, Ice, Keys, Swipes & Identification Cards, Laundry, Mail, Phones, Toilet Tissue, Transportation, Vacuum Cleaners, Vending Machines, Voice Mail, Housekeeping, Extermination Cycles, Recycling & Green Initiatives

Rights & Responsibilities- UMBC Residential Life Rights & Responsibilities, Resolving Allegations of Misconduct, Misconduct Related to Residential Life Rules & Regulations, Misconduct Related to the Code of Student Conduct, If you are Found Responsible, Noise & Quiet Hours, Resident & Guest Sign-In, Keys & ID Cards, Host Responsibilities, Entering Without Permission, Alcohol, Illegal Drugs or Controlled Substances, Behaviors Which Jeopardize the Safety of Self or Others, File Sharing, Weapons, Compliance, Fire Safety, Cooking & Appliances, Care for Facilities & Damage, Community Security, Theft & Property Damage, Recreational Equipment & Activities, Posting, Solicitation, & Commercial Operations, Health & Sanitation, Living Agreements, etc.

UMBC Student Agreement Form- This tool will help M and his roommate(s) establish living expectations for the year. Having all the rules written up enables the student to visually see what they must do and helps ASD individuals learn how to get along with others which is something they need to do independently throughout their lives.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Dorm Life- to avoid unnecessary pitfalls while living in a dorm.

Getting Along With Your College Roommate- Communicating with your roommates is key to getting along. Since ASD individuals have social skill deficits, problems with their roommates is bound to crop up. Here are suggestions that might help make living with a roommate much easier.

Fire Drills- exits in dorm, how to handle fire drills at any hour especially in the middle of the night, etc.


• Safety- Personal Safety, Emergency Responses, and Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Procedure at UMBC. Be sure to sign up for E2 Campus Alerts to receive information directly from UMBC.


• Scenarios- “What If” scenarios (scroll down to this) of problems that could happen in college and what to do.


• Student Support Services Department- contact information, days and hours it is open, copy of services he is receiving and accommodations that are currently being provided, etc.