Early identification and treatment can prevent challenging behavior from escalating and becoming firmly established in autistic children. Decades of collaborative research in the United States has shown that parent-implemented behavioral interventions can help to reduce that challenging behavior. However, in China, where more than 2 million children have autism, evidence-based practices have not been systematically…
Communicating how you do your best work is essential to employment success. By understanding their individual needs and communication styles, autistic job applicants and employees can advocate for the tools they require to do their best work. Parents and teachers can begin early to develop that understanding by modeling and teaching self-advocacy skills through understanding…
On a plane and road trip into Maryland, our family stopped in Annapolis, the state capital, and I wondered aloud where would be a good place to eat lunch. Noticeably excited, Ian, our eighteen-year-old autistic son, said, “I know.” So Ian pulled out from his luggage in the trunk a well-worn copy of the comfort…
How can parents and educators foster self-determination skills in autistic young adults and engage in student-centered transition planning? Student-centered planning, also called “person-centered planning,” is an approach to transition planning that prioritizes the interests and aspirations of the individual student. Specifically, the focus is on helping students develop the tools and skills necessary to design…
When I first entered the gates of Mercyhurst University in the spring of 2017, I was excited, but also scared. I was nervous at the prospect of having to navigate college life and make friends (something that has been very hard for me) as an autistic individual in a new environment. Mercyhurst was my college…
Post-graduation employment success is largely based on the foundation that is built throughout your child’s school years and early adulthood. Integrating employment-related goals early on into your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the first step in helping to set them up for success, but learning essential workplace skills must extend beyond the classroom. Regardless…
OAR congratulates the five recently awarded recipients of the Autism Education Grant Program. We are grateful to The Sunshine Foundation for contributing to the grants provided to this newest group of grantees. Launched earlier this year, the Autism Education Grant Program supports projects that aim to promote autism awareness and acceptance among K-8 students through the…
Fifty-one students received scholarships in 2021 through the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and Schwallie Family Scholarship. The two scholarships attracted nearly 600 applicants and the 51 awards total $161,000. With these additional scholarships, OAR has awarded more than $1,331,000 to 440 autistic students since the program started in 2007. Both the Schwallie and Hussman scholarships…
The revised and updated Life Journey through Autism: A Guide for Transition to Adulthood, second edition (2021) serves as a transition planning roadmap for parents and autistic young adults as they prepare to lead more independent, involved, and enjoyable lives. It is also a great resource for educators and counselors. When autistic students graduate from high school…
