Lucas P. Wintrode Autism Support Services
The Lucas P. Wintrode Autism Support Services program strives to create a campus culture where autism is celebrated, individual strengths are valued, and everyone is equipped to support student success. By raising autistic voices, words, pictures, and/or alternative communication, individuals鈥 volume and advocacy will be louder together in the spirit of futuristic educational solutions.
We believe services for students on the spectrum:
- Need to be individualized, depending on each person鈥檚 strengths, needs, desires and goals; therefore, we offer one-on-one coaching
- Must nurture a sense of belonging and community; so, we offer group workshops and social gatherings for both introverts and extroverts
- Should be celebratory; that鈥檚 why we have our Autism Culture and Pride board with autistic students that plan events to advocate for changes, and to raise not only awareness, but also appreciation
- Can and should be reciprocal; so, we have peer mentors that are there to learn from autistic students as much as they are there to provide guidance.
Lucas P. Wintrode Autism Support Services recognizes that many autistic individuals have lived their lives in a non-autistic world. We acknowledge people on the spectrum have been told to fit in a mold that is incompatible and/or destructive for them; and we aim to co-design a better route though communication, education and action. Our goals align with South Dakota State University鈥檚 commitment to collaborative community, educational innovation, excellence and creativity.
One-to-one coaching with Graduate Assistants and Student Workers
- Individual support for students鈥 goals
- Executive functioning support
- Advocacy support and/or instruction
- Academic troubleshooting
- Burnout and recovery
Workshop Topics
- Notetaking
- Study skills and tips
- Stress management
- AI hacks to enhance learning
- Accountability groups
- GLEAN training
- Time management strategies
- Meditation
- Social question and answer sessions
- Anxiety
- Nutrition and exercise
Social Events
- Autistic Culture and Pride club
- Introverts Unite meetings
- Autism Celebration Week festivities
- Card games
- Parties
- Yoga Classes
Peer mentors
- Autistic or nonautistic peers to connect with
- Campus tours
- Friendship
- College tips
Referrals and guidance
- Counseling Center
- Career Center
Bridge to on-campus resources
College transition support for freshmen
Cost: Free for 成人视频 students, plus you can get a scholarship for involvement.
鈥淪ometimes I come to the workshops because there is no pressure to talk but I can be with other people like me.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 happy this program is here because I was lonely last year.鈥
What is autism?
Scores of people have different things to say about this.
Laurent and Fede (2024) argue that an autistic person is any person that was diagnosed with autism or any person that identifies as being autistic.
We know that many autistics are misdiagnosed, missed completely or cannot afford the evaluation, so we not only support those with a formal diagnosis, but also those who self-identify.
When certain students who receive services from Lucas P. Wintrode Autism Support Serivces were asked to describe autism, they said:
- Not a different language, but a different dialect
- Sensation aversion
- Affinity for learning
- Weird, in a good way
- Strong sense of justice
- Lonely, until I learned I like solitude
- Logic-driven, but people and society aren鈥檛 logical
- Being locked out of things
- Hyper fixations
- Buying multiple sets of the same clothes
- 鈥淩ead the room?! Where鈥檚 the book?鈥
The DSM-V's deficit model defines autism as a person with deficits in the areas of social communication and interaction, along with restricted repetitive patterns of behavior. These components can take on a variety of forms, but the most common presentations are challenges with social communication, interpersonal relationships and repetitive patterns of behavior.
What are other symptoms of autism?
Symptoms of autism can vary from birth through adulthood. According to the National Health Service (NHS), some common signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults include:
- Difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling.
- Experiencing significant anxiety in social situations.
- Finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be alone.
- Seeming blunt, rude, or uninterested in others without intending to.
- Struggling to express emotions or say how you feel.
- Taking things very literally鈥攆or example, not understanding sarcasm or phrases like "read the room"
- Relying on a consistent daily routine and becoming anxious if it changes.
Other signs may include:
- Difficulty understanding social "rules," such as not talking over people.
- Avoiding eye contact or feeling uncomfortable with physical touch.
- Noticing small details, patterns, smells, or sounds that others might not.
- Having an intense interest in specific subjects or activities.
- Preferring to carefully plan things before taking action.
- Experiencing sensory fascinations and/or aversions.
- Executive functioning challenges.
If you think you might be autistic, you can take a self-assessment and reach out to a professional specializing in adult autism diagnosis.
To receive a diagnosis as an adult
- Reach out to a qualified professional 鈥 Contact a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neuropsychologist who specializes in diagnosing autism in adults.
- Discuss your concerns 鈥 Share your thoughts and concerns about potential autistic traits.
- Undergo an evaluation 鈥 This typically involves detailed interviews, questionnaires, and more.
- Provide developmental history 鈥 You may be asked to provide information about your childhood development to help with the assessment.
February
13: Valentine鈥檚 Day Party at Keena鈥檚 Place, 5-7 p.m.
14: Valentine鈥檚 Day Crafting Drop-In Hours, 9:30 a.m.-noon
18: Glean Workshop, 1-2 p.m.
19: Study Session, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
20: Card Games, 1-2:30 p.m.
21: Introverts Unite, 3-5 p.m.
24: Test-Taking Tips Workshop
25: Study Session, 10 a.m.-noon
26: Study Session, 2-4:30 p.m.
27: Stress Management Workshop, 9 a.m.
28: Creating Autism Culture and Pride, 4-5:30 p.m.
March
3: Study Skills Workshop
4: Creating Autism Culture and Pride
5: Rev It Up!, 5-6:30 p.m.
6: Group Meditation
18: Group Meditation
19: Rev It Up!, 5-6:30 p.m.
20: Study Skills Workshop, 2-3 p.m.
21: Guest Speaker
26: Rev It Up!, 5-6:30 p.m.
27: Guest Speaker
28: Test-Taking Tips Workshop
