No limits on college majors

This spring, Marshall University will graduate a half dozen students who have Asperger Syndrome. They come from different states and different family situations. Their majors range from chemistry to modern languages to psychology and general studies. Some will have finished in four years; others have taken five. All are beneficiaries of the widely heralded College Program for Students with Asperger Syndrome. What the program director, Marc Ellison, and his top lieutenant, Rebecca Hansen, have accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. An estimated 60 staffers, students, parents and graduate assistants who support students in the program gathered Saturday for the annual Parent’s Weekend breakfast to celebrate achievements and to network. The powerful message of the day: Success is yours for the taking. “The people in this program really know how to push your dream buttons,” said one father, whose son receives his bachelor’s in spring 2010. “Their love and support have made all the difference.”