Arlington, VA, April 3, 2025 –The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is excited to announce the winners of the Spring 2026 Peer Education Grant Competition. During this cycle, OAR awarded $34,449 to seven programs that support autism education for nearly 15,000 students in grades K-8.
Since 2012, OAR has helped educate more than 290,000 students about autism through the Kit for Kids peer education program. Through this program, OAR continues its commitment to educating students by awarding grants ranging from $500 to $10,000. Teachers, administrators, parents, youth group organizers, and autism professionals will lead these funded projects, teaching today’s youth about autism in school or other community-based settings.
Over the past year, OAR expanded the peer education grant funding through the support of Jewelers for Children (JFC), a nonprofit founded by the US jewelry industry dedicated to helping children in need. Since 2018, JFC has donated $645,000 to OAR to benefit autistic children.
Congratulations to the seven grant recipients!
Shelby DiPilla
Akilli’s Peer Education
Akilli’s House, Ozark, Alabama
Erica Jackson
Autism Awareness Week
Columbus County Schools, Whiteville, North Carolina
Alyece Smith
Color for Autism: Expanded Peer-Supported Awareness Program
Caidens Corner Inc., Kiln, Mississippi
Kristin Lambrosa
Deepening Inclusion and Understanding at P.S. 133
P.S. 133 Fred R. Moore Academy, New York, New York
Whitney Price
Double The Impact This Year with Kits for Kids
Unpuzzled Parents Connect, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Whitney Lawrence
Preparing Educators and Peers for Inclusive School Communities
Kentucky State University, Louisville, Kentucky
Brandon M. Dietrick and Marie Manuel
Preparing Educators and Peers for Inclusive School Communities
The School Board of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
OAR will accept applications for the fall cycle from April 20 through June 29. For inquiries regarding the Peer Education Grant Competition, please visit the website or contact OAR at 571-977-5391 or by e-mail programs@researchautism.org.
About OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national non-profit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism. OAR is dedicated to promoting research that can be applied to help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions. Learn more at www.researchautism.org.
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