JANUARY 2018 -The DORS
Pathways program provides additional supports to college students on the autism spectrum by assisting students with: self-advocacy, communication and organization skills, and by helping them to identify campus resources. Pathways staff also provide education and support to college personnel regarding working with students on the autism spectrum.
Pathways helps students find success during and after college. DORS recently sat down with some Pathways participants to learn a bit about how the program has helped them succeed.
Julian – is a student at CCBC, Catonsville where he is in his third semester and majoring in Mass Communication. To hone his mass comm skills, Julian has joined
CCBC’s New Media Collective and begun
Julian’s Rockin’ Radio Podcast where he’s been working on a heavy metal series, producing 5 podcasts during the 2017 school year.
"I've worked on this [podcast] series, the history of heavy metal...it takes several weeks of recording and editing just to do one, plus interviewing a guest." His professor, Beth Baunoch, says Julian understands what it takes to create a quality podcast: “Julian was very focused on what his piece would be... You have to do all the pre-work…and the editing and take out all the 'ums' because the audience won't forgive that. It has to be produced and sound professional.” Julian works with DORS Autism Services Specialist, Whitney Gray, and is grateful that she encouraged him to join the New Media Collective. In recommending Julian for this story, Whitney described him this way: "Julian Johnson is doing such awesome things at CCBC Catonsville!"
Markus - attends CCBC Catonsville and during the fall 2017 semester, he participated in the
Art in the Round charity event hosted by
The ARC of Baltimore. Artists entered their work in the show, and then the art works are auctioned off; the artists have a chance to win 60% of the proceeds (the remaining proceeds benefit The Arc). Whitney Gray encouraged Markus to enter some of his work and two of his paintings were accepted and included in the auction; both pieces sold, for a total of $300. Whitney: "I am sooo proud of [Markus], he not only went to the event, he also networked and made so many friends while he was there. He plans to participate in the event every year going forward!"
