This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter Two: Individualized Education Programs” of OAR’s resource “Navigating the Special Education System”. One of the first phrases to come to mind when talking about special education is the Individualized Education Program, whose abbreviation, IEP, instantly becomes one of those acronyms that parents remember for life. The IEP…
OAR has expanded its commitment to peer education by awarding grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support projects that promote autism awareness and acceptance. When children understand autism, they develop better relationships with their peers with the disorder. OAR has helped educate more than 135,000 children through the Kit for Kids Peer Education Program…
Many of OAR’s resources are available in Spanish to support Spanish-speaking families, educators, and clinical professionals within the autism community, including: “What’s Up with Nick?” This colorful, kid-friendly booklet is the story of a new autistic student named Nick, told by one of his neurotypical classmates. The story teaches young children that autistic students may…
Mathematics skills are crucial to postsecondary success. Autistic secondary students need instruction that explicitly prepares them to apply the skills they learn in school to real-world settings. Simply knowing what to do without knowing when or why is insufficient. With generalization and independence as the ultimate goal, students need instruction that addresses the skills necessary…
OAR is pleased to announce the fall 2020 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 Kit for Kids Peer Education Program. OAR has helped educate more than 135,000 children…
Research shows that paraprofessionals can implement supports in the classroom that will enable them to address challenging behavior among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has also shown that functional communication training can be implemented in school settings among students with ASD. What research has not shown, however, is if paraprofessionals can deliver functional…
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many school districts to hold classes remotely this fall. While virtual learning can be difficult for students on the autism spectrum and their parents and teachers, it also provides the opportunity to take advantage of online resources. OAR’s online educational resources can supplement virtual learning for a range of audiences:…
For parents of students with special needs, including those with autism, the decision about returning to school is magnified. On the one hand, remote learning is the safest option in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. On the other, getting kids who need specialized services back into the classroom is critical in order to make…
OAR takes great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and Schwallie Family Scholarship for 2020. The two scholarships attracted over 600 applicants and the 33 awards total $103,000. With these additional scholarships, OAR has awarded a total financial contribution of more than $1,170,000 to 389 students with autism since the…
With a new school year drawing closer, school districts across the country are weighing difficult decisions about the best way to continue education for their students while keeping them safe and stopping the spread of COVID-19. From remote learning to in-person classes to some hybrid of the two, educators are weighing a variety of solutions…
