News and Knowledge

Arlington, VA, June 26, 2026 – Twelve graduate students recently received grants from OAR to support their research studies. 

OAR recently announced the recipients of its 2026 Graduate Research Competition.  

The program offers up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to doctoral candidates or post-doctoral students to conduct autism-focused research. This year, OAR is awarding 12 grants totaling $20,152. These newly funded grants are a part of the more than $368,724 awarded to fund 213 graduate research studies since 2004. 

OAR received 47 proposals from graduate students across the world this year. OAR’s Scientific Council reviewed and scored each proposal. They based their evaluation on three key criteria: 

• Alignment with OAR’s research priorities 
• Methodological soundness 
• Relevance of potential findings for those affected by autism  

In keeping with OAR’s dedication to high-quality research, only the best of the best proposals were selected for funding.

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Congratulations to the 2026 grant recipients! 

Md. Ashrafuzzaman, University of Rajshahi
Life Satisfaction and Psychological Distress among Primary Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rajshahi, Bangladesh 

Lisa Beccera, University of Kansas
Cultivating Connections: Exploring Emotional Culture and Communication in Autistic Latino Adults 

Tihitina Bekele, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Measuring Communication and Sensory Barriers and Supports in Autistic Adolescents: Development and Links to Quality of Life 

Sourav Das Gupta, Florida International University
Navigating the First Year: Post-Diagnostic Experiences of Low-Income Families with Young Children Diagnosed with Autism 

Julia Duran, Idaho State University
Autism Traits & Lived Experience Scale (ATLES): A Community-Developed Autism Questionnaire for Diagnosing and Screening Adults 

Meghan Edwards-Bowyer, Clemson University
Evaluating Teacher Treatment Integrity of a Function-Based Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction for Autistic Secondary Students 

Jennifer Macko, North Carolina State University
Intersections, Interests, and Instruction: Pathways to Autistic Female Student Belonging 

Margaret McAllister, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Understanding Echolalia: Development and Refinement of a Measure of Repetitive Speech in Autism 

Emily-Marie Roberts, University of Alberta
An Exploration of Autistic Adults’ Dental Experiences Through a Table-Top Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) 

Julie Stone, Northern Arizona University
Advancing Equitable Physical Therapy for Children with Autism: Insights from Family Caregivers 

Olivia Ward, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Exploring Sibling Relationship Quality and Identity Among Non-Autistic Young Adults with Autistic Siblings 

Grace Winder, University of Utah
Negative impacts of social camouflaging on neurodiverse individuals during video meetings: A cross-sectional observational study.

For inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Grant Program, please contact OAR at 571-977-5391 or e-mail research @ 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.