“Gotta get up, gotta get going…” This beginning of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh theme song often plays in my head. My response is usually “Ugh, I’m tired and not ready.” It can be hard as an autistic parent to not start the day feeling daunted, but my bright-eyed autistic child is definitely…
“I am the proud mom of a son who is on the Spectrum.” Erinn Hannigan, along with 56 RUN FOR AUTISM athletes, will compete at the 2025 Walt Disney World ® Marathon weekend this January, representing OAR. Her son, Tommy, was diagnosed with autism at age 12. “Without the research that was available, we would…
As we approach the end of another impactful year and OAR’s 23rd anniversary, we want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together and share some exciting plans for next year. Your support continues to drive OAR’s mission to tackle the real challenges autistic individuals face every day. Whether you’re a donor,…
One of the most overlooked resources for providing effective interventions to your autistic child is already in your home: You. When you use interventions in your everyday parenting routines, you play an active role in your child’s development while building your confidence. Training parents or other caregivers to lead their children’s interventions is an effective…
The number of autistic Asian Americans has been rising rapidly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the rate of autism among Asian-American children is higher than other racial groups. Although the reasons for this increase are unclear, it is well-known that Asian American caregivers of autistic children face multiple barriers in accessing…
Navigating the process of obtaining services for your autistic child can be challenging, especially when waiting lists for essential therapies like speech therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, and occupational therapy can be lengthy. During this interim period, parents play a crucial role in fostering their child’s development and wellbeing. Engaging with your child in…
“Are you sure he has autism?” The one sentence I am sure every parent to a child with Level-1 Autism is sick of hearing. From the dentist to his speech therapy evaluation, my son has been observed and his diagnosis has been questioned. In those times, it makes me want to ask, “Would you like…
RUN FOR AUTISM runner Joseph Carrasquillo completed a personal challenge in September, running a 100-mile race to raise awareness of autism on behalf of his son, Jacob, who was diagnosed with autism nine years ago. “Jacob had a wonderful neuropsychologist at the time who brought it to our attention that he had tremendous potential but…
OAR has released a new collection of books about autism for kids and teens on the OverDrive Libby app, thanks to generous funding provided by Jewelers for Children. It is OAR’s goal to help autistic children process their autism identity and help non-autistic children, including siblings, understand and embrace autistic differences through evocative storytelling and…
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in late July providing guidance for pediatricians on how to address oral health in children and youth with developmental disabilities, including those with autism. It also highlights the challenges facing children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families in getting dental treatment. The first of…
