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A Summer Holiday Away from Home?

Hubbub

My son is 19, has (mild) Aspergers and is coming to the end of college this summer and has applied to go to university next September. Thinking back to last summer when he was mostly stuck in front of a computer screen every day, I was wondering if anyone could suggest some kind of adventurous holiday that might be suitable, as he likes the outdoors if he has like minded pals to go with (thin on the ground). I have looked on the net, but all I can find that might interest him are for younger teens. The alternative is adult adventure holidays, but I suspect he might not enjoy those if everyone else is much older and not be bothered to befriend the slightly odd kid.

My 3 other children at this stage in their lives were doing similar things but as young leaders (eg Camp America, tall ships) and social holidays with friends and had jobs. My youngest son is a little immature and apt to hold back in case he is thought to be doing something wrong, though is unafraid of physical challenges. Learning some independence would be so good for his future, at university and beyond. Last year we left it all too late to arrange anything and now it seems that he is too old for the fun stuff. I think a summer job abroad might be difficult for him to manage, as most are rather exploitative at best.

If anyone has any ideas before we delve into adult adventure holidays, I'd be most grateful.

 

 

Parents

  • Many universities now have volunteer schemes. This is seen as beneficial to students finishing, as evidence on their CVs and is also useful to students who are not so good at socialising, to get involved in voluntary activity. I have known students with Aspergers getting involved in student volunteers with very good outcomes.

    If you know which university he is likely to go to, it may be worth asking them about volunteering activity he could get involved with over the summer, through them.

    Presumably you are going to visit the University in the spring, on an open day, to look at the facilities, and to have preliminary discussions with the disability support staff at student services. It is worth doing this to see in advance what issues he may encounter, and you should be able to talk with academic staff via the disability team to see if there are any course issues.

    As quite a few disabled students get involved in student volunteering, the disability team is also likely to be used to liaising with the volunteers, which means some monitoring perhaps of summer volunteering.

    And this would then get him involved with his university and better able to settle in.

Reply

  • Many universities now have volunteer schemes. This is seen as beneficial to students finishing, as evidence on their CVs and is also useful to students who are not so good at socialising, to get involved in voluntary activity. I have known students with Aspergers getting involved in student volunteers with very good outcomes.

    If you know which university he is likely to go to, it may be worth asking them about volunteering activity he could get involved with over the summer, through them.

    Presumably you are going to visit the University in the spring, on an open day, to look at the facilities, and to have preliminary discussions with the disability support staff at student services. It is worth doing this to see in advance what issues he may encounter, and you should be able to talk with academic staff via the disability team to see if there are any course issues.

    As quite a few disabled students get involved in student volunteering, the disability team is also likely to be used to liaising with the volunteers, which means some monitoring perhaps of summer volunteering.

    And this would then get him involved with his university and better able to settle in.

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