Our ongoing research at Towson University focuses on the transition to adulthood for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through interviews with 12 young adults with ASD, 35 parents, and 19 teachers, we have gained a sense of some of the issues that matter most. One thing that surprised us was how often people linked…
Many students with an educational label of autism do well academically in school and therefore receive minimal supports from special education teachers or therapists. However, these students may be slipping through the cracks when it comes to addressing their real area of need: social-emotional skills. For these students, passing their exams and classes may mask…
On December 11, OAR hosted a webinar that highlighted Unstuck and On Target, an executive functioning intervention. The archived webinar is available to watch on OAR’s website. Presented by Drs. Laura Anthony and John Strang, the webinar provided an insightful overview of the research progress conducted on the intervention, the goals and design of the…
The number of individuals who are identified with autism currently presents at 1 in 59. Let’s consider semantics, altering this to 1 among 59. The first separates; the second includes. To be among or within a group is preferential to being tagged as a part of a prevalent trend apart from the general population. You…
OAR aims to stimulate autism research through the Applied Research Competition. We encourage aspiring and experienced autism researchers alike to submit applications. If you are interested in submitting a proposal in 2020 for a grant starting in 2021, OAR has the tools you need. We recently produced a new video with an accompanying preparation tip…
OAR invites graduate students to submit proposals for new research studies that will commence July 1, 2020, or later for the 2020 Graduate Research Grant Program. Since the program was established in 2004, OAR has awarded over $269,970 in grants to fund 149 graduate research studies. Last year, OAR made grants to 11 students with grant…
While the use of virtual reality in teaching and supporting people with autism is not new, educators and others are finding new ways to use the technology. A Massachusetts school district, for example, has turned to the technology to serve its students with disabilities. According to a DisabilityScoop article, the Holten Richmond Middle School of…
OAR invites graduate students to submit research proposals for its annual Graduate Research Grant Program. Since the program was established in 2004, OAR has awarded over $269,970 in grants to fund 149 graduate research studies. Last year, OAR made grants to 11 students with grant awards totaling $20,372. OAR hopes to build on this success in 2020,…
As school children across the country hoist their backpacks and return to the classroom, reports about issues in special education are making headlines. Lack of Confidence in Educator Preparation According to 2018 a survey of nearly 1,500 special education teachers from around the country, just 8 percent reported that their general education colleagues were…
OAR’s August 12 webinar about addressing problem behavior is available for viewing on our website. Led by Dr. Jane Barbin, the webinar covered critical topics such as: Reasons problem behaviors can occur Behavioral intervention plans Ways to collaboratively increase positive, replacement behaviors Of the 75 participants that provided feedback: 93 percent reported the content as…
