ABSTRACT
Building collaborative support systems for college students includes working with families. Working with families includes partnering with parents while establishing healthy boundaries. Some parents found that they had to be the squeaky wheel to obtain needed support in K–12 settings. Acknowledging that the high school to college transition can be difficult on a parent and providing full understanding of supports helps meet parents where they are. Open lines of communication help shift parents to the role of cheerleader and promote healthy distancing between the student and parent. Parent connections to the university are also fostered by spotlighting what works for college students on the autism spectrum. The office of parent and family connections is involved with freshman orientation and transfer orientation biannually and provides a parent track during orientation sessions.
