EMILY BRADY
Staff Reporter
Laura Gibison helps autistic college students navigate the path from campus to career as a counselor for Spectrum Scholars, a college-to-career initiative at the university’s Center for Disability Studies.
The center works to improve the academic and daily experiences of students with disabilities.
Gibison’s position provides one-on-one coaching and supporting students throughout their time at the university, in everything from college life to academics.
“My role specifically is a career counselor, so I’m specifically meeting with students, mostly one-on-one, to help them figure out what they want to do after college and help them develop career readiness skills,” Gibison said. “So interviewing, resume development, all that fun stuff, networking, and then helping them connect with opportunities, internships, part-time jobs, things like that. And really plan for life after college.”
Gibison shared that every day looks different, although most days tend to revolve around one-on-one coaching with students. She tends to have one hour-long sessions per week with each of her students, which can involve anything from simple career coaching to submitting job applications and working on resumes.
Gibison’s position does not come without difficulties. She noted that the main challenge is people’s perception of the students she works with.
“I have encountered, unfortunately, people who still very much have a deficit focus mindset when it comes to autism and people who are just on the spectrum,” Gibison said. “They maybe still use some terminology that’s a little bit offensive and demeaning. So that is always challenging to navigate.”
She also detailed the uniqueness of the university’s disability studies program and the collaboration that occurs between the program and other individuals and organizations on campus.
“I feel like we’ve created a really strong community,” Gibison said. “I think the way that our program works, students are UD students first and foremost. So they’re not living in separate dorms. They are taking classes with the rest of their peers. We’re just an added support.”
Unlike other disability programs, the university emphasizes that its students are not defined by the fact that they receive support from Spectrum Scholars.
Gibison also shared the important lessons she has learned through her work with the university’s disability studies program.
“Before starting this job, I was a lot harder on myself,” Gibison said. “And I wasn’t super patient with myself, but through working with students and having to be accommodating and listening, I’ve learned to apply some of the same things to myself.”
Throughout her time working with Spectrum Scholars, Gibison has experienced many rewarding and fulfilling moments.
“I would say when I am in those moments with students who’ve maybe had a hard time, whether they’ve struggled, figuring out what they want to do, or speaking up for themselves, and see how much they have grown,” Gibison said.
Through career counseling and mentoring, Laura Gibison and the Spectrum Scholars team help autistic students navigate college and plan their futures — part of a broader university push to build more inclusive campuses for students with disabilities.
