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Families

Tune into OAR’s Upcoming Webinars

OAR is hosting two free webinar events in the coming months on the topics of self-determination and travel training. Those who attend the live events will receive a certificate of attendance. Self-Determination: Tips for Including Students in Their Education and Transition Planning Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. ET Presenter Deborah Hammer will introduce the fundamental…

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Supporting Healthy Sibling Relationships

“It feels like whenever my family and I are out in public, my autistic brother will have a full-blown meltdown. People always stare so I get really embarrassed, but I also worry about how angry he gets. What can I do about this?” This is one of the many challenges kids and teens grapple with…

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Keep Your Eye on the Ball

My father died almost 40 years ago. Nonetheless, hardly a day goes by without something Dad taught me coming into play. Sometimes it’s a direct memory. Other times it’s a turn of phrase, a joke, or a pun. He loved the English language, the spoken word, and the gift of conversation. What would he be…

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Apply for an OAR Scholarship for Post-Secondary Education

OAR is accepting applications for the 2020 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria) pursuing full-time, post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…

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Get Active for Autism at OAR’s 5K

Join OAR for its second annual Active For Autism 5K on April 19 at the Potomac Yard Trail in Alexandria, Va., and bring your friends and family! The family-friendly event will feature a safe, flat, and fast out-and-back course, kids dash, and post-race party. Along with the fun and fitness, the 5K will help spread…

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Don’t Miss These April Webinars

OAR is hosting two free webinars in April on crisis safety planning and self-determination.   Seminar in Crisis Safety Planning for the ASD Population Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m., ET Presenter Scott Fowler will discuss wandering and elopement, working with first responders, seclusions and restraints, and bullying in the school environment. Both professionals and parents…

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Navigating School-related Issues on the Path to Adulthood

Our ongoing research at Towson University focuses on the transition to adulthood for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through interviews with 12 young adults with ASD, 35 parents, and 19 teachers, we have gained a sense of some of the issues that matter most. One thing that surprised us was how often people linked…

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How Parents Can Support the Sibling of Their Child with Autism

In this blog post, Eddie Grabill discusses his experience growing up with a brother on the spectrum and offers advice to the parents of other autism siblings. I was very fortunate to grow up with hardworking parents that made life great for both my little brother Tommy and myself.  My family made a lot of…

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Scholarship Applications Accepted Until May 4

OAR is accepting applications for the 2020 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV or V criteria) pursuing full-time, post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…

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Autism Representation in the Media

Set to release this month on Disney+, Pixar’s newest animated short film, “Loop,” has sparked excitement throughout the autism community. According to Pixar, the film’s plot is set to follow a non-verbal girl with autism and a bubbly young boy during a canoeing trip. This news comes after the release of another Pixar short film,…

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