Living independently in college.

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This is my first post on this forum. I am a junior in high school diagnosed with AS. My ultimate goal after high school is to go to college away from home, but currently, my parents aren't allowing me to because they feel like I won't be capable of living independently based on forgetting to do certain things that most NT's do instinctively. My parents complain because I only brush my teeth once a day, My room is a mess with laundry and an unmade bed, and they want me to put it into the laundry basket and make my bed almost immediately. I have pretty good grades in school with little to no studying, but sometimes, I forget to turn in homework on time, and my parents find that completely unacceptable. As a result, once again, they are forcing me to go to college around the area when I really just want to leave! What can I do to get into the habit of doing these things every day so I can live on my own immediately after high school?

^^ Greetings AmericanRogue. ^^ I believe I too am very messy. Although I attend University and live with my happy parents, they are currently away for a very long time and thus I am currently living with only myself and my two kitties. ^^ I initially found great difficulty with completing tasks, however my lovely sister one day created a list for tasks to complete on magical little post-it notes.She also included which days to complete them. Perhaps you may ask your parents to do this for you.

These notes helped me very much as the tasks merged with my routine. ^^ Perhaps to help your happy head remember to tidy your bed and clothes, you may post post-it notes very near to the tasks or perhaps for you to see when you awaken. ^^ I believe this is very fun if you write these remindings with very big writing.

Also for school works, I found that carrying a little diary with me helped me to complete the correct assignments for the correct dates. I would write a reminder for the required assignment within my fdiary on the day I received the assignment and also write which date (I did not write the month or year, just the number, for instance 18th) next to the assignment). Then, each morning I would look inside my happy diary to ensure that I possessed the correct homeworky friends with me to carry to school.

^^ I do hope this was useful for you AmericanRogue. *Blesses*

It's pretty likely that I'll be able to live at home when I go to college.

Can you do it online? Can you hire some sort of caretaker? Can't you just turn 18 and do whatever you want regardless?

Try lists. That's the only way I can get anything done. The absolute necessity for me to do anything under my own power (except pursue my special interests) is to make a list, less than twenty-four hours before I need to start implementing it, of what I need to do the day I make the list or sometimes the next day (if I make the list at bedtime). But it has to be complete. It has to include everything I could possibly need or want to do. Otherwise it doesn't work, for some reason.

As the other suggested, try making lists or a chart that you go by everyday. As for turning in schoolwork...that's something you need to be doing before college. Professors often don't remind you of tests and stuff. Organize your binder, keep your homework scheduled in a planner, whatever it takes. Talk to your parents about seeing a counselor or someone and they can help you with little goals like this that will help you get ready for college.

In college you have to do more than make your bed and turn in homework...I'm in junior college now, but moving out of state for college this fall. I do my laundry/wash my bedding, refill my prescriptions, keep up with doctor appointments, take care of my schoolwork, and some other stuff. Not to say I don't need my parents help :] But it's best to start doing this stuff now so it's no big deal when you move off on your own.

Also when you start looking at schools, try to find one that fills this need of yours. Say, maybe one where you won't hardly have to leave campus so you remain fairly self-sufficient. For example: the school I'm going to in the fall has almost everything I need at the school; laundry, cafeteria, tutoring, computer help/printing, huge library, counselor, etc. (Most schools should have this stuff, but some will operate more smoothly than others.)