OARacle Newsletter

At OAR, we support local communities with valuable resources, assist autistic individuals preparing for employment, and raise funds to support autism research studies. Below are some ways you can join our mission and help make a difference.

Goal 1: Support the autism community with information resources for autistics, families, educators, and professionals.

OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism guidebooks offer comprehensive, high-quality, research-based information for parents, teachers, and autistic individuals. These resources cover essential topics such as the transition to adulthood, education, and safety. 

By the end of April, OAR hopes to distribute 40,000 informational resources to families, individuals, schools, community organizations, police and fire stations, and libraries. 

How you can help: OAR is a national organization, but you are an expert on your local community. Reach out to local support groups, families, schools, organizations, community centers, or first responders who might benefit from these resources. Or sign up as an autism materials distributor and spread the word about these resources in your local community and through social media. 

Your efforts will help others learn more about autism and be better community members for autistic adults and children around them. Download any of our resources for free or order up to two free paperback copies of our guides in our online store. For bulk orders, contact us. 

Goal 2: Teach students in general education about autism using the Kit for Kids program.

Autistic individuals are essential to our communities, so teaching children about their peers on the spectrum is vitally important. OAR’s Kit for Kids helps educators, parents, friends, and classmates teach K-8 students about autism. Thanks to Nick, the autistic character featured in the Kit, neurotypical children learn that autistic students are just like them, even if they may think differently or need some accommodations. Since 2014, more than 184,000 students have learned about autism through the Kit for Kids. Let’s reach an additional 15,000 students by the end of April. 

How you can help: Use the Kit for Kids materials at your local schools to help start class discussions, enhance school campaign efforts, and help build friendships among classmates through a greater understanding of autism. 

In addition to telling the “What’s Up with Nick?” story, teachers can also use: 

• OAR’s Autism Tuned In website, which features animated videos and online games about Nick. 
• Friendship Tip Sheets to encourage students to be good friends with their autistic classmates. 
• The Kit for Kids Activity Workbooks to help students engage with the materials presented in the rest of the Kit for Kids. 

For questions, comments, or bulk orders, please contact the Programs team at 571-977-5391 or via email. 

Goal 3: Support autistic young adults through OAR’s Hire Autism initiative.

Hire Autism is a free program with the mission to improve employment opportunities for autistic individuals and help businesses create more inclusive workplaces. Since 2017, Hire Autism has directly supported over 700 job seekers, onboarded over 270 employer partners, and trained over 100 volunteers. 

This year, Hire Autism aims to register 1,000 new job seekers, support 240 job seekers through the Navigator Program, train over 40 volunteers for our volunteer programs, and onboard 80 new employer partners. 

How you can help: Whether you are a job seeker, employer, or community member, you can support Hire Autism’s goals this April and all year long. 

Job seekers 

• Work with a Hire Autism navigator and receive free one-to-one mentorship for your job search, including your resume, cover letter, and interview prep. 
• Gain access to autism-friendly employer partners and job listings. 
• Explore free downloadable resources such as online guides for job searching, resume writing, and more.   

Employers 

• Create an employer account and post an unlimited number of job listings to our job board free of charge. 
• Gain access to a diverse talent pool. 
• Learn more about autism in the workplace through our free resources and autism-friendly employer training. 

Community members 

• Volunteer virtually with our Navigator or Regional Ambassador Programs. 
• Request a presentation for your students or organization. 
• Submit an upcoming employment-related event to our events board. 
• Share our free Hire Autism resources with your network.  

To learn more about how you can get involved or contribute to Hire Autism’s mission, contact Courtney Carroll. 

Goal 4: Raise money for OAR’s programs, resources, and new research.

RUN FOR AUTISM is OAR’s signature running and fundraising program. The RUN’s goals for April are to: 

• Raise $80,000 in April to fund two new research studies through its Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash. Money raised beyond the $80,000 will be used to support OAR’s mission to apply research to the challenges of autism. 
• Sign up 500 athletes to dedicate their 2023 miles to autism research by the end of April. 

How you can help: 

• Join us for the fifth annual Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash on April 16 in Alexandria, Va., for a fun, family-friendly event. 
• Join us virtually for the Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash between April 1 and April 15. Run, walk, cycle, or swim at your own pace, at times convenient for you, from wherever you are. 
• Sign up and be part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team at one of our signature events. 
• Share these opportunities with someone you know who wants to dedicate their miles to autism research. 

For more information, email the RUN staff at run@researchautism.org.