OAR takes great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and Schwallie Family Scholarship for 2017. The two scholarships attracted over 400 applicants and the 39 awards total $120,000. Through this program, OAR has now provided scholarships to 269 students with autism diagnoses – a total financial contribution of $818,500 since…
If you are a teacher whose classroom includes students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s critical that you understand ASD and its associated behaviors. What you may see as misbehavior, such as when a child with ASD does not respond to directions, ignores you, or clowns around, may very well be related to ASD. The…
In college, you’ll have to send professional emails. Whether it means emailing a resume to a potential employer or a clarifying question to a professor, it’s important to know how to format your message, what to do, and what not to do. Here are some types of individuals you may send professional emails to: Potential…
In this week’s blog, a mother tells how her never-ending belief in her son’s ability helped her find the right school system for him, which led him to find success in college. This blog was originally posted on The Mighty. We received the most amazing letter this week from our son’s university. It said, “On…
Problematic behavior, such as biting or hitting in response to unpleasant events, can emerge at different times in a child’s life, and is considered developmentally normal. The behavior often reduces to tolerable levels when caregivers express displeasure and redirect the child to respond more appropriately to the situation. However, in some children, the behavior can…
As information consumers surfing the internet, we often find ourselves inundated with programs and treatments that claim to be effective, even when there is no scientific evidence behind the claims. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) on the other hand, are interventions that have been shown to be effective based on the scientific literature. So far, the National…
This article is an excerpt from OAR’s “Understanding Autism: Professional Development Curriculum.” For students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), temper tantrums may be triggered for a variety of reasons. Because many children with autism have difficulties communicating in socially acceptable ways, they may act out when they are confused, afraid, anxious, or stressed about something.…
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…
