UAT Partners With SARRC To Host 3rd Annual College Prep G33K Camp For Young Adults With Autism

TEMPE, Ariz. - July 21, 2015 - PRLog -- For the third consecutive year, University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is partnering with Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) to host the G33K College Prep Summer Camp for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

During this weeklong camp, SARRC staff and camp participants will have the opportunity to complete the typical college admissions process, move into the UAT dorms, attend classes, collaborate in teams, use new technology, complete a comprehensive group project, eat meals at the university café and take part in student life activities.

The G33K College Prep Summer Camp accepts 10 participants annually, ranging in age from 16 to 26. The participants fall into three categories: those who are looking to go on to college, those with some college experience and may plan to enroll in the future and those who have never attended college and may lack the confidence to participate in the college experience.

Exposing individuals with ASD to a real college environment provides opportunities to learn many of the skills necessary to be successful in a higher education environment.

“There are many individuals on the spectrum who love computers and possess a skill set well-suited for a career in engineering; such as a tremendous focus to detail and the ability to find anomalies in data. Without this camp, there are dozens of young adults who may think that attending college is out of their reach. Because of UAT’s focus on culture and socialization, camp participants are more likely to feel at home,” said UAT Provost Dr. David Bolman.

Jonathan Holden, 20, of Phoenix, participated last year and loved it. “The classroom experience and learning about technology was awesome!”

Helen Holden, Jonathan’s mother, added, “The program was wonderful for our son. He gained confidence and life skills as a result of experiencing college life on his own for the week.”

At the conclusion of the program, camp participants will celebrate their achievements with family during a graduation and group project presentation ceremony.

After the camp, participants will be offered an online class that they can take on an open entry and exit basis to practice their college skills. Participants who complete the course will then receive college credit.

What: SARRC G33K College Prep Summer Camp

When: July 26 - Aug. 1, 2015

Where: University of Advancing Technology: 2625 West Baseline Road, Tempe

About SARRC: Established in 1997, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to autism research, education, evidence-based treatment, and community outreach. We are one of the only autism organizations in the world that provides a lifetime of services for individuals and their families while also conducting cutting edge research.

We're also an entrepreneurial nonprofit, with less than three percent of annual revenue coming from state and federal funding. Our 18,000-square-foot Campus for Exceptional Children and our 10,000-square-foot Colonel Harland D. Sanders Center for Autism Studies, co-located with our Vocational & Life Skills Academy, are state-of-the-art clinical centers that serve as models for similar research and resource facilities.

http://www.autismcenter.org/