<p>Eric Cox: Estimates indicate that at least 10% or close to 2 million college students fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. We're here at Aurora University where they're working to become one of the first schools in the entire nation to offer a fully supportive on campus experience to students on the autism spectrum.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: The fact of the matter is people are desperately searching for programs like this.<br /><br />Eric Cox: Brianne Jonathan is director of Aurora University's Autism Initiative.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: I just envision a campus that is truly neurodiverse.<br /><br />Eric Cox: A place where students on the spectrum feel as accepted as everyone else.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: And not just acceptance, but seeing the value in that, the value of sitting next to someone in the classroom who thinks differently than you do.<br /><br />Eric Cox: Now, Jonathan's one giant step closer to her goal. Construction is underway on a dorm dedicated to neurodiverse students, complete with sensory supportive spaces, to help with handling anxiety.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: We've done a lot of research on the ways that neurodiverse individuals experience the world around them. We're really focused on building those supplemental supports around them, but in a way that are student led, student driven so that independence starts to sink in.<br /><br />Eric Cox: But a residence hall is only the beginning. AU is also implementing a new Pathways Collegiate Program to help autistic students find success.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: We're really focused on that transition from high school to college, and then from college to the workplace. We want our students to get those experiences before they ever submit their resume.<br /><br />Eric Cox: Undergrads will meet weekly with an advisor and get paired with an AU peer trained to help support them. During junior and senior year, students work with a career mentor and receive job shadowing opportunities.<br /><br />Brianne Jonathan: We know that we can support them to be successful both here on our campus and then as they head off into their careers, learning those skills, finding out what it's life to be in a work setting in the field that they want to go into and get that familiarization on a different level, a deeper level than they would in another setting.<br /><br />Eric Cox: The first class of Pathway students are set to begin the program next fall. And the five story residence hall is set to open sometime in late 2022. For Talking Cities, Aurora, I'm Eric Cox.</p>