Texas State ODS to host virtual event for Autism Awareness Month

By Bianca Thomas Life and Arts Contributor

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) will host an event called “Understanding Students on the Autism Spectrum” to discuss ways in which students and faculty can create a system of support and inclusion as more students on the spectrum come to Texas State. The event will take place at 11 a.m. on April 6 via Zoom.

Lori Wischnewsky, a doctoral student whose focus is on nonacademic support programs, said there has been a massive increase in autistic student college enrollment over the last 10 years and that those numbers are rising. Wischnewsky believes that the best thing students and faculty can do to help autistic students said. "We think every autistic student looks a certain way but that’s just not the case.”

The event's speakers include Director of ODS Gavin Steiger and Clare Duffy, supervising psychologist at the Texas State Counseling Center.

ODS is dedicated to ensuring that students with disabilities get equal access to all university programs and activities through the coordination of academic accommodations and support services.

Harlan Ballard, outreach coordinator for ODS, said the objective of the virtual event is to teach people about autism.

“The objective is [that] when people come to this presentation they will get to learn about autism,” Ballard said. “They’ll learn to recognize some of the symptoms of students on the This event is not only a way for students and faculty to learn more about what autism looks like and how to support those with it, but it is also a way for students and faculty to learn more about ODS and how it supports students. Anusha Chintapilli, an ODS outreach graduate assistant, shares that she, like many other students, did not learn about ODS until her last second semester and she hopes that this event will allow students to get to know about the services that are available to students.

“Whenever we conduct an event, many students will come and say we didn’t know about this office,” Chintapilli said.

Wischnewsky also agrees that attending these events will benefit the students and allow them to learn about what ODS does for students.

“ODS does an amazing job,” Wischnewsky said. “I highly recommend students attend these events. They just have so much information and are a great resource on campus.”