FAQs

CUA Students are encouraged to enroll in the weekly CASP group sessions and/or the CASP peer mentoring program. 

CASP services are completely free of charge and available to any student enrolled at CUA. 

CUA students that are interested in participating in CASP must have an Autism diagnosis. We also work with the Disability Support Services (DSS) to recruit students registered with them.

CASP is a independent program housed within the Department of Psychology. While we are not part of DSS, we partner with their office frequently. If you (or your student) are/is registered with DSS, and are interested in joining CASP, please sign up for CASP via our  interest form.

The CASP groups meet weekly for one-hour over the duration of one semester. Group sessions focus on 12 main topic areas  including identity and advocacy, time management, conversations and friendships, stress management, interacting with faculty, conflict resolution, study skills, motivation and flexibility, family, romantic relationships, internet safety and goal setting. 

Each session begins with a new relaxation exercise, followed by a review of the previous week's topic before introducing the new topic. Group members then relate themes to their own experiences and engage in group discussions.  Group leaders encourage students to think about the topic during the upcoming week, and report back during the following session. 

The CASP Peer Mentoring Program is launching during the Fall 2025 Semester. The program is designed to pair autistic CUA students with upperclassmen peer mentors, including autistic students who completed the weekly CASP Group Program. Peer mentoring aims to ease the transition to college and create a social community. Peer mentors have been trained to provide assistance with academic and social support needs, and to redirect students to campus resources when applicable. We plan to host social events during the semester to encourage community engagement and social connection!

No, while we encourage all participants to join in the weekly group sessions to benefit from our resources and community connection, weekly group session participation is not mandatory to be involved in the peer support program.

Fill out our interest form to sign up or request further information!