Beth Jamison

College life has been difficult for Austin Forney, yet wonderful. The junior has soared with feelings of inclusion and ached with the pain of isolation. Through it all, he has relied on the support of his mother, Melissa Pullon, and a mix of students and adults on campus who have lent a helping hand. In turn, Forney has helped out, sending hearts soaring with his musical selections for The Gathering in 2017-18 and as disc jockey for athletics events in 2018-19. This is the final part of a three-part series.

When students identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle to fit in socially, GCU leaders collaborate with solutions. In Part 2 of GCU Today’s series, Dr. Tim Griffin, Pastor and Dean of Students, Dr. Sherman Elliott, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the father of a son on the spectrum and Student Disability Services director Beth Jamison discuss their experiences supporting students on the spectrum.

As Grand Canyon University grows, more students arriving on campus are identified with autism spectrum disorders. Efforts to welcome and include these students occur naturally on a campus where students look out for each other. Intentional efforts are expanding all across campus, from faculty members to Student Disability Services staffers who have implemented a new program, ASD Connection, to boost social and academic support. Part 1 of GCU Today’s series on the University’s approach to students on the spectrum includes the viewpoint of Austin Forney, a GCU junior who shared the highs and lows of navigating college life.