Autistic teens with intellectual disability are at risk for mental health disorders, particularly anxiety. In fact, anxiety occurs at higher rates in autistic teens/adults with intellectual disability (53%) compared to non-autistic individuals with intellectual disability (17%). Assessing anxiety can be particularly challenging given teen communication and behavioral differences. Caregivers are often required to identify and…
In any relationship you have, there will be agreements and disagreements. That is normal. As you get to know an acquaintance, for example, you may disagree on the best pizza place in town. Or a friend may accidentally forget what time you were going to meet to play video games. Disagreements and mistakes happen in…
As a growing number of educators are discovering, gamification can have a profound impact on autistic learners. By leveraging the principles of game-based learning, teachers can create an engaging, dynamic environment for their students with learning disabilities. Through meaningful rewards, clear instruction and safe exploration, gamification not only helps to improve academic performance, but also…
OAR thanks the 74 young artists who submitted their creative artwork to the 2023 Youth Art Contest. We received artwork from young people in 17 states and six countries. Every entry demonstrated the theme of “community” in a unique and inspiring way. Congratulations to the winners of OAR’s 2023 Youth Art Contest! Autistic Youth Category …
At OAR, we support local communities with valuable resources, assist autistic individuals preparing for employment, and raise funds to support autism research studies. Below are some ways you can join our mission and help make a difference. Goal 1: Support the autism community with information resources for autistics, families, educators, and professionals. OAR’s Life Journey…
Although religious gatherings can provide a sense of meaning to life and belonging, gatherings may be inaccessible or present barriers that exclude autistic attendees. Organizers of religious gatherings need to be acutely aware of how they may inadvertently create these barriers that exclude people. Whether you’re a member of a religious organization, assist in running…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven applied autism research studies in 2023. These new grants, totaling $276,212, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.7 million since 2002. This article is the fourth of seven previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Asian Americans constitute the fastest growing demographic…
In 2018, the Pew Research Center reported that social media has surpassed print newspapers as a source of news information in the United States, and more than two thirds of adults use Facebook. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, use algorithms to determine the content that is most likely to be of…
April has been designated as a month to celebrate and campaign for autism acceptance since the 1970s. As part of OAR’s April activities, we are hosting a four-part webinar series on the themes of sexuality and relationships. Conversations about sexuality and relationships are needed just as much in the autistic community as they are in…
Military duty often requires service members to be away from home for extended deployments for training or combat operations. Depending on your child, the immediate impact of such absences may vary from near-calamitous to barely noticeable. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to help mitigate the effect, including: Create a “countdown calendar” with…
