The Speech-Language Pathologist's Role in Supporting Autistic Students in Postsecondary Education Settings

Santhanam, S. p., Bellon-Harn, M. L., Kashinath, S., Wilson, K. P., VanUitert, V. J., & Barnett, A. (2025). The Speech-Language Pathologist's Role in Supporting Autistic Students in Postsecondary Education Settings. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 34(5), 2533-2546. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_ajslp-24-00467

Publication date: 21 Jul 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Navigating the postsecondary landscape is a complex and daunting journey for many autistic students due to widespread misconceptions about autism among nonautistic peers and educators. Additionally, barriers to self-advocacy limit students' academic and social integration, ultimately compromising their ability to graduate. Despite these challenges, there remains inadequate support for this population with social communication, executive functioning, and self-advocacy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are well positioned to reduce existing barriers and provide support to autistic students and their postsecondary communities in these needed areas. This clinical focus article highlights the pivotal role SLPs could play in establishing personalized supports for autistic college students and describes how SLPs can leverage their unique skills to fulfill this role. METHOD: Drawing from existing literature, clinical expertise, the neurodiversity framework, and lived experiences of autistic college students, we offer guidelines for the indirect and direct supports that SLPs can provide. In addition, we provide a case example and personalized support plan to illustrate the application of direct supports. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted direct and indirect supports are crucial to autistic students' retention, success, and graduation rates and to building a welcoming postsecondary community. This article emphasizes how SLP supports for autistic college students fall within the scope of practice and how these supports can be operationalized through the concrete examples provided. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29496335.

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Cited references
70
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
7 / 70 (10.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
17 / 255 (6.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 17 / 117 (14.5%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 13 / 233 (5.6%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
117 / 255 (45.9%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 99 / 233 (42.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
100 / 117 (85.5%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 100 / 255 (39.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 86 / 99 (86.9%).
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