Finding My Second Family In The Face It Club

by: Greg Lowenthal

What is ASD? ASD is short for Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s a neurological and social disorder that can affect an individual’s everyday life, from social interactions to personal interactions with family and friends. But where it can impact one’s life the most is in an academic environment, where the normal pace of learning by neurotypical individuals can be slowed down to almost a crawl…think of it as driving a car with the brakes on.  

As an individual with high-functioning autism (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome), I had some difficulties with my education when I started my college journey back in 2007. I had to go through two different academic upgrading programs in order to get myself college-ready. Once I did, I went to Humber College for the General Arts and Science College Transfer Program. I struggled in the beginning; due to the overwhelming number of courses I was taking at a time. After having my course load reduced, I was able to graduate and move on to Sheridan College’s Print Journalism Program. I did a learning assessment to determine what learning aids I could make use of, and then had my learning advisor make up a plan for me, allowing me to use equipment such as a LiveScribe pen for taking short-form notes to record in class and extra time during tests and exams. 

It was on this journey that I discovered the FACE IT club. (FACE IT stands for Friends Accepting Challenges and Endeavouring to Improve Themselves). This club is for students on the autism spectrum and it made me feel at home. It became a second family for me…I could see friends and facilitators every week and catch up with them on how their weeks were going. I started to realize that not only was I alone on this journey, but there were others who were like me and shared similar experiences and hobbies. It allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and volunteer for things I would have never volunteered for. I felt more confident being a student and individual with ASD. I no longer felt as though I was struggling. I was now thriving and enjoying college life even more. 

My final thought is this: If you are a student with ASD and are at Sheridan, don’t be afraid to be someone with it. You’re unique and just as gifted as anyone else. 

Discover Accessibility Resources Here!

This blog post was written by Greg, the Vice President of the Face It Club at all Sheridan Campuses. If you’re looking to make your digital content more inclusive, familiarize yourself with accessibility tools, or want to make accessibility a habit, click the button below to learn more.