In this week’s blog post, a teacher and mother to a son with autism discusses the power of play. This piece was originally published on Jessica’s blog, Changed for Good. Ben won a tiny toy shark from the treasure box at school the other day. As soon as we got home, he announced that he…
As we enter the warmer months, our thoughts naturally turn to pleasant outdoor activities to take advantage of the enjoyable weather. While this is certainly a refreshing opportunity after a long winter, it does present challenges for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as they finish the school year. During this time of year, school…
A young adult self-advocate explains the road to diagnosis for her and her brother, and shares a message to parents and educators on how their experiences could have been improved. There is a photo of me at 3 years old. I am standing in a meadow on the tips of my toes, arms scrunched up like…
OAR will accept applications for the 2017 OAR Scholarship Program through Friday, May 5 at 11:59 pm EST. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…
As the parent of a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you sit down each year with a group of professionals to craft the Individual Education Program (IEP), a document that focuses on the goals you would like your child to achieve over the next year. But it could and should do more than that.…
Jessica writes about the strategies she uses in the classroom and with her own son to ensure all children have access to the understanding and sensory tools they need to succeed. This post was originally published on her blog Changed for Good and is re-posted with permission. I recently read a discussion post on a sensory…
OAR will accept applications for the 2017 OAR Scholarship Program through Friday, May 5 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time, post-secondary, undergraduate education or vocational-technical…
Sexuality is a central component of socialization for all people and can play a major role in an individual’s overall self-identity and quality of life. Unfortunately, the discussion and promotion of this area of adaptive and social functioning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often avoided. A number of myths regarding sexuality and…
These recommendations from OAR’s “A Guide to Safety” can help you steer your adolescent in a healthy and safe direction. Luke is a teen with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like any other teenager, dating and relationships are something he thinks about a lot. Like many of his peers with ASD, he doesn’t understand the unspoken…
OAR developed the Kit for Kids program to help teach elementary and middle school students to better understand and learn to accept their peers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The kit consists of a lesson plan, peer education booklet, classroom poster, and how-to tips for parents and teachers. We sat down with Dr. Jonathan Campbell…
