Our autistic loved ones have touched our lives in profound ways. Each day, they teach us something new about ourselves. Last month, we asked you, our readers, to share what makes you thankful for the autistic individual(s) in your life. We are grateful for the stories you all shared. We chose to share these because…
It’s not easy to be the sibling of an autistic person. As our autistic siblings face challenges and trying times, so do we. Though others may expect us to innately understand and love them without any moments of frustration, it’s not that simple. In fact, the struggle some siblings face can lead to hurt and…
Whether your child struggles with nonverbal communication or has atypical speech patterns, therapy should not end when they leave school. While shadowing and participating in speech therapy in the school setting, I realized that there are numerous ways parents can reinforce the lessons learned in speech therapy at home. READ, READ, READ, AND THEN READ…
In a time like this where change is inevitable, some autistic children need constant support at home that many parents are not able to provide because of work or various home responsibilities. Whether it is a change of schooling, lack of a set schedule, or event cancellations, Autistic children are facing great challenges with their…
For as long as the autism and disability communities have existed, they have engaged in a robust conversation about labels. This ongoing conversation has been tied to deeper conversations about disabled people’s worth, needs, and rights. When OAR was founded in 2001, person-first language, which places the personhood of the individual before their disability, was…
Parenting is never easy, but parenting during a pandemic poses entirely new challenges. For many, if not all of us, school is going to look different this year. For parents of children with special needs, this burden is unique as we take on the role of teacher, paraprofessional, and therapist, all while juggling work, family,…
My children are teaching me about how to approach the school year. My family learned many lessons over the last six months. We learned how much we valued each other, how much we could endure together, and how to help others. With four daughters at home ages 2, 4, 6, and 20, my school day…
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many school districts to hold classes remotely this fall. While virtual learning can be difficult for students on the autism spectrum and their parents and teachers, it also provides the opportunity to take advantage of online resources. OAR’s online educational resources can supplement virtual learning for a range of audiences:…
In July OAR held its second annual Active for Autism 5K, transforming it from an on-site 5K into a global virtual event that was a huge success. The event quickly surpassed our original fundraising goal of $40,000, raising more than $70,000. More than 500 runners, representing 34 different states and 6 different countries, participated. OAR…
Living in a rural area has made getting the right diagnosis and proper treatment for my son with autism a problem I didn’t anticipate. Like many children with autism, he requires many hours of a variety of therapies to thrive. But what happens when my son can’t receive the treatment he needs? In rural areas…
