Imagine arriving at work and being told where to sit, what to do, and how to do it—without being asked what you prefer or how you feel. Your success depends on you doing exactly what you’re told. Every time you try to express yourself, someone redirects you. For many students with profound autism, this is…
Earlier this year, OAR laid out a set of ambitious goals to continue engaging community members in celebration of April’s Autism Acceptance Month. OAR staff worked with parents, educators, autism professionals, autistic individuals, and employers to support their local initiatives and increase autism acceptance. With the support of community partners like you, OAR promoted autism…
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. The new research grants total $338,844, bringing OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the fifth of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Over half of autistic students display challenging…
Parents and grandparents of autistic children founded OAR in 2001 because they believed that research should help people now. They wanted practical research to improve the quality of life for autistic individuals and their supporters, not to study causes and cures. Today, that mission is more important than ever. At a time when research funding…
A Shift in Communication Early in my career as a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP), I worked with a student who had very limited verbal speech. His frustration often led to behavioral outbursts, as he struggled to make his needs known. I introduced an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) core board that allowed him to choose…
Arlington, VA, April 11, 2025 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is excited to announce the winners of the spring 2025 Peer Education Grant competition. This cycle, OAR has awarded fourteen grants totaling $40,730.17 to teach nearly 14,000 students about autism. Since 2012, OAR has helped educate more than 250,000 students and peers about…
Chester County Intermediate Unit Media Release April 3, 2025 Chester County Intermediate Unit Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day with Countywide Initiatives Contact: Christa Fazio …
Happy Autism Acceptance Month! This year, OAR has set some ambitious and actionable goals for promoting autism awareness and acceptance across the country. Here’s how we can work together to make a difference. Goal 1: Provide informational resources to families of autistic individuals. OAR’s collection of Life Journey Through Autism guidebooks offers high-quality, research-based information…
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for five applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. These new research grants, totaling $288,930, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the third of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Accessing and navigating campus life are challenging…
As we celebrate the beginning of 2025, OAR is looking ahead to the ambitious goals it has set for this year, including goals for Autism Acceptance Month. Join us to promote autism awareness and acceptance in your community and across the country! Goal 1: Provide informational resources to families of autistic individuals. OAR’s collection of…
