Roanoke College Launches ASPire Program to Support Neurodivergent Students

By Margo Boone '26

Over the past few years, Roanoke College’s Accessible Education Services (AES) Director Dustin Persinger and Director of Student Wellness Services Sandy McGhee noticed they were receiving referrals about neurodivergent students that were having a hard time adapting to college. These students weren't having academic troubles so much as they were struggling with the social dynamics of college life. 

As a result, Persinger and McGhee developed and soft launched the ASPire (Autistic Support) Program in fall 2025. The program is specifically designed to provide resources to new and current students on the autism spectrum who want to enhance their college experience. 

“Every student’s needs are individualized, and that includes many students on the spectrum,” said Persinger (pictured at left). “Many institutions offer accommodations or limited support programming, but far fewer offer a structured, multi-faceted program with this level of coordination and proactive skill-building.” 

Starting college can be challenging even for neurotypical students who may struggle with homesickness, loneliness and increased independence. For neurodivergent students, this sudden life change often means a loss of structural support, intense demands on executive functioning, communication challenges and anxiety. For students who struggle to adapt to high-sensory environments, such as a crowded cafeteria, it can be hard to absorb multiple new stimuli at once.  

When these students arrive on a college campus, they are often left to figure out their new routine by themselves. Taking in all these new changes can be overwhelming, and without targeted intervention, students often end up not taking care of themselves or deciding they aren’t cut out for college. 

ASPire is designed to be that targeted intervention because Persinger and McGhee want prospective students to feel welcome on campus—and for their parents to feel assured that they’re sending their child to a place where they can thrive. 

While there are many colleges that have specialized support initiatives for autistic students, Roanoke’s ASPire program is unique due to its comprehensive, cohort style that provides structured, wraparound support beyond traditional disability accommodations. This multifaceted program provides mentorship, social engagement opportunities and proactive skill building that will not only help students adapt to college but also make students feel that Roanoke College can be a home away from home.

ASPire includes a unique peer-mentoring program where students are paired with an upper-level Roanoke College student mentor. This mentor will help ASPire participants to set goals, establish routines and develop stronger success habits. The program features multiple community-oriented experiences, including weekly workshops and bonding events. The program is also a great place for finding a community on campus. 

The weekly workshop sessions focus on essential college success skills such as self-advocacy, study skills, self-care and social skills. ASPire holds multiple events each semester that are fun, productive and mindful of overstimulation. One example was a private trip to Illuminights, a holiday light display in Roanoke County, that allowed students to enjoy themselves without crowds and excessive noise. 

Parents of students on the spectrum also have expressed concerns about how their students will obtain career-building skills. To address those concerns, ASPire is partnering with PLACE to help create career workshops specifically for the ASPire program. In the future, Persinger and McGhee also hope to collaborate with PLACE to create a reverse career fair that would allow professionals to visit students where they can network in a more comfortable setting. 

“We want ASPire students to develop a skillset that improves their chances for post-graduation employment and enhances their overall success and well-being in the workplace. These skills include communication with co-workers and supervisors, networking and professionalism,” said McGhee (pictured at right). “Meaningful work experiences are a large part of leading a happy and fulfilled life.” 

ASPire will be a fee-based program to help cover the cost of events and supplies, and to pay peer mentors. For that reason, first-year students in ASPire will pay a fee of $2,500 per semester, while subsequent years will only require a fee of $1,500 per semester. These fees were created with individualized support and accessibility for families in mind, and they are priced lower than similar program fees at other Virginia colleges and universities. It is not the goal of the ASPire program to keep a student from receiving support due to financial barriers. Students interested in learning more about financial support for ASPire are encouraged to reach out. 

Students must be enrolled at Roanoke College to apply for the ASPire program. To apply, students who are registered with Accessible Education Services must complete an online application so reviewers can learn about their goals and aspirations. Once the application has been completed, the student will be contacted by an AES staff member to schedule a brief interview. 

If prospective or current students are interested in learning more about the ASPire program, they are encouraged to reach out to Dustin Persinger at persinger@roanoke.edu or Sandy McGhee at mcghee@roanoke.edu.