Dr. Byron Ross, instructional associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, has established a peer-mentoring program for students at UH with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of the program is to provide additional support to students with ASD—or any student with social challenges—by matching them with a student mentor who can assist them in navigating life as a college student.

Students are paired with undergraduate peers, most of whom are members of the UH chapter of the National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Student mentors provide additional support in three primary areas: organization, social life, and personal responsibility. The program started accepting mentors and mentees Fall 2017, and has served 17 mentors and 15 mentees. There are currently 11 mentor-mentee matches.