News and Knowledge

OAR is pleased to announce the first three winners of the Autism Education Grant Program. Launched earlier this year, the Autism Education Grant Program supports projects that aim to promote autism awareness and acceptance among students in grades K-8 using OAR’s peer education program.

Congratulations to the Grant Recipients!

• Christina Rodriguez for her project, ASD: Same or Different?
  University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UM NSU CARD), Miami, Fla.

  UM NSU-CARD will partner with up to four schools identified as having a high population of students with ASD in inclusive settings and a high minority population. Rodriguez will implement Autism Tuned In to impact 400 students over a month-long period.

• Sarah Heldmann for her project, Scout Disability Awareness Day
  The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, Sylvania, Ohio

  The Ability Center of Greater Toledo will partner with local Girl and Boy Scout chapters to provide disability awareness training utilizing the What’s Up with Nick? booklets. Their goal is to train 400 scouts who will then share their training with another scout or school group for magnified impact.

• Sharon Green for her project, Rancho’s Autism Awareness and Acceptance Initiative
  Rancho Milpitas Middle School, Milpitas, Calif.

  Green is a special education teacher at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, which serves a high minority population. The Kit for Kids program will be used during advisory classes to impact 721 students. Green will measure success using a five-item pre- and post-program survey.

Submit an Application

OAR has helped educate more than 135,000 children through the Kit for Kids Peer Education Program since 2012. The next rolling application deadline is July 30, 2020, for projects starting as early as September 1, 2020. Teachers, youth group organizers, parents, and autism professionals are eligible to apply for $500-$5,000 grants.

OAR supports projects that use the Kit for Kids and Autism Tuned In to increase autism awareness and acceptance among students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Example projects include awareness campaigns, workshops, and presentations. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to OAR’s peer education materials, print costs, honorariums and travel expenses for guest speakers, venue rental, and refreshments.

For questions or comments, contact OAR at programs@ researchautism.org.