Welcome to the Rutgers College Support Program (CSP), where we recognize and celebrate the diverse range of cognitive abilities and behavioral traits within our student population. Our commitment extends beyond individual support to a broader transformation of the educational landscape. We provide comprehensive education and training to university professors and staff, arming them with the knowledge to create inclusive environments that foster the success of neurodivergent students. Central to our approach is the Rutgers College Support Program's dedicated space, a purpose-built facility designed to be a vibrant hub for students to connect, relax and build a supportive community.
The CSP is specifically designed to provide the support needed for neurodiverse students to be successful academically and interpersonally. In addition to providing support directly to students, we also provide education and training for university professors and staff about how best to design environments that allow neurodivergent students to thrive. We strive each day to create an inclusive and welcoming space at Rutgers for students with ADHD and Autism. We even have a dedicated beautiful building where CSP students can come and socialize and relax with their peers.
Mission
We firmly believe that neurodivergent students have as much if not more to contribute to society than their peers. We believe that the “problem” doesn’t lie with the student, but with the way society treats them. We seek to empower students with ADHD and Autism to advocate for themselves and their needs. We also provide them with an effective toolkit of skills and strategies so that they can be successful, even when faced with less than optimal school or work environments.
Commitment to Neurodiverse Student Success
Rutgers University is on a mission to be known as a place where students who think and learn differently are welcomed and included. To accomplish this, we brought together two centers from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) and the Center for Youth Social Emotional Wellness (CYSEW), to develop a holistic model that promotes student wellness and well-being. The CSP seeks to enrich the college experience and promote the overall success of university students with ASD and/or ADHD at all stages of their educational journey, from admission to graduation.
The term “neurodiversity” describes the variety of different human minds or brains, which interact and experience the world in many different ways. It is a term often applied to individuals with diagnostic classifications such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome. It does not mean “bad,” “unqualified,” “incompetent,” or any other negative descriptor that many neurodivergent individuals have unfortunately been labeled throughout their lives.
Miriam Motechin, Parent of a current CSP student:
“The CSP at Rutgers is providing my son who has a diagnosis of Asperger's with not only the support he needs but also with the confidence so he can be a successful student. They work with him on his academic skills and executive functioning skills while simultaneously encouraging age appropriate social development. Their peer mentor programs and social get togethers are top notch and every consideration is taken to help my son be a success at college, both in and out of the classroom. Perhaps the most important aspect is that the CSP has helped my son to finally believe in himself.“
READ MORE: Rutgers Is Expanding Services for Students With ADHD and Autism
Initiated through Chancellor Francine Conway’s ScarletWell program, the collaborative effort aims to scale up assessment and treatment offerings
This effort to rapidly scale-up assessment and treatment services stems from a partnership initiated through ScarletWell – a public health- and prevention-focused approach to mental health and wellness led by Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway – and involving the Center for Youth Social Emotional Wellness, the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP).
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