About ME
Katie Tobin McDermott
I support autistic young adults with the transition to college and college success.
My practice follows the tenets of person-centered planning and self-determination. I encourage the young adults to share their goals and provide space for families to share their vision for the future. Together, we discuss opportunities and barriers while developing a plan. Let's get started here!
Experience
- Supported students with learning disabilities at the American International School in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
- Orton-Gillingham certification from Massachusetts General Hospital
- Classroom teacher for over 10 years
-Transition Coordinator
-Student Support Specialist
I have presented at local, national, and international conferences with colleagues on supporting autistic young adults and identifying autism-specific college support programs. I participate in the College Autism Network and created the Autism-Specific College Support Programs Database with colleagues Brett Ranon Nachman and Dan Burger.
My research is published in The Journal of Higher Education, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Autism Spectrum News. I also contributed chapters to The Educator's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Staying Informed and Connected
I am dedicated to providing exceptional support for autistic students. To ensure I offer the highest quality services, I prioritize staying informed with the latest research and best practices in autism and college support.
As a proud member of the College Autism Network, I am committed to ongoing learning and collaboration with experts in the field. This allows me to continually refine my strategies and offer students the tools for leading purposeful and meaningful lives.
Education
- Graduate certificate in Secondary Special Education and Transition also from the University of Kansas
- Masters Degree in Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorder from University of Kansas
- Masters Degree in Moderate Special Needs education from Boston College
- BA Elementary/Moderate Special Needs from Boston College
Presentations
College Autism Summit, November 2025, Project PEACES: Four Years of Tracking Autistic College Student Success
Stonehill College, October 2025, Supporting Autistic Students
The Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), October 2025, The Role of Family in Autistic College Students’ Mental Health
College Autism Network Virtual Association of Scholars, September 2025, Belonging on Their Terms: Friendship Experiences of Autistic College Students
14th Autism Europe International Congress, Dublin, Ireland, September 2025,
Centering self-determination in coaching support with autistic young adults
Publications
Nachman, B. R., Isaacson, K. B., Cox, B. E., & McDermott, C. T. (2025). “I Always Ended Up Getting Close to Other People Who are Autistic”: Autistic College Students’ Friendship Development. The Journal of Higher Education, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2025.2497184
Nachman, B. R., McDermott, C. T., & Cox, B. E. (2022). Brief report: Autism-specific college support programs: Differences across geography and institutional type. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(2), 863-870.
McDermott, C. T., Nachman, B. R., Hartlage, A., Jackson, B., & Orlando, A. M. (2020). United States college programs for autistic students. College Autism Network.
