July

July 6-10, 2026: West Chester University presents the College Autism Readiness Retreat (CARR-2) at West University Campus

Participants: Up and rising Seniors, with Autism, who plan on attending a 2 or 4-year post-secondary education

Cost: $950 (includes residence hall stay and meals in the dining hall)

Goal: To provide an overnight, on campus, experience that will enhance the previous skills acquired in previous CARR program or post-secondary preparatory programs while providing a commuter and residential expectation of college. 

Objectives include: experience campus life, commuter style and residential style; access Dining Hall options; practice skills of self-determination, social, time management, independence, community integration, safety, problem solving, and communication; acquire information with Campus services (including Student Recreational Center, the library, Student Union Building, student bookstore, dining halls, residential buildings, and academic buildings); participate in classroom formats (e.g. lecture, lab, studio, structured, unstructured); talk with current students with ASD about experiences; acquire/practice/generalize college classroom etiquette and communication skills; create and deliver a presentation on experience as well as skills acquired and needed to transition to college; and learn/differentiate the difference between entitlement and eligibility in the transition from high school to higher education

Applications open February 2, 2026 and are due by May 1, 2026

More information can be found here

July 13-24, 2026: West Chester University presents the College Autism Readiness Retreat (CARR-3) at West University Campus

Time: July 13-24, 2026 (including overnight through a weekend)

Ages: High School Students (new graduates, 18+), *does not have to have attended CARR or CARR2 to participate in CARR3; can have previous higher edu experience

Cost: $2500.00 (includes residence hall stay and meals in the dining hall)

Goal: To provide an overnight, on campus, experience that will enhance the previous skills acquired in previous CARR programs or post-secondary preparatory programs while providing a more realistic expectation of college life for students with ASD 

Objectives include: reside in a residence hall and participate in the scheduled activities; access a variety of meal plan options (dining hall, Rambucks, Meal swipes, and cash); learn and practice budgeting skills; attend workshops via campus resources to acquire/review skills in the areas of resiliency, stress management, study skills, budgeting, self-advocacy, and classroom etiquette); participate in activities and workshops to learn more about majors-to-careers, employment opportunities, volunteer experiences, and early start programs; identify/locate/receive information on different campus resources; develop a personal schedule that includes time set aside for everyday activities, such as meals, self-care/downtime and transition from one activity to the next; create a personal schedule that incorporates time for group projects or meet-ups with people having various schedules; and learn/differentiate the difference between entitlement and eligibility in the transition from high school to higher education

Applications open February 2, 2026 and are due by May 1, 2026

More information can be found here