Maryville College provides a new type of autism-specific support service

Maryville College has many resources to help disabled students succeed. Though autism-specific support services at colleges have been uncommon in the past, more and more are popping up every year. 

On MC’s campus, there is an Autism Support Group, a group for autistic students to come together, support each other, sympathize with each other and make friends. Having a group like this is part of what makes Maryville so attractive to neurodivergent students; it shows proof from the outside that Maryville truly cares about all of their students.

Being autistic can be very isolating, both for the diagnosed and undiagnosed. Growing up undiagnosed until later in life can leave someone feeling very alone, and without the support they need, even when friends and family assist. The goal of an autism support group is to bring autistic students together, to alleviate that loneliness and to offer support in a way that’s easily accessible.

The Autism Support Group at Maryville College was founded in 2022 by Alice Gawne (‘27) in the first term of her freshman year. She explains that she founded the group because she understood the need for it.

“I went to an online office high school. And I was kind of the person they put in charge of all the younger kids trying to get into colleges and submitting things to disability resources. And then I started doing that.” Gawne said.

Gawne said she then began talking with Emily Dobias, the first steps coordinator and head of many support groups on campus. Dobias then encouraged Gawne to start the Autism Support Group.  

Support for our disabled students doesn’t stop here, part of the group’s main goal is to help teach skills that autistic students may feel strong in, from the understanding perspective of a fellow autistic peer.

“A lot of us just don’t really know some basic college stuff. First Year Seminar isn’t going to sit down with you like ‘this is how you address your roommate when they are upsetting you’.” Gawne explained.

Part of the power of a group like the Autism Support Group is giving autistic students the power to help other autistic students. 

The narrative surrounding autism is so often told by the neurotypical, that providing the opportunity for autistic solidarity is necessary in these trying times. We can succeed not because someone else lifted us up, but because we can lift each other up.

So if you are feeling alone, if you are struggling or feel these resources would be helpful, you can always reach out to the Autism Support Group to find someone who understands.