In October 2025, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research grants. These new research grants, totaling $397,372, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.8 million since 2002. This article is the second of the previews in The OARacle this year. Most autistic adults, like neurotypical adults, are interested in and engage in sexual relationships. However, they face challenges…
OAR is excited to announce our 2026 Youth Art Contest, inviting autistic children and their siblings, classmates, and friends to share their creativity through art. The 2026 theme, Courage, encourages young artists to explore what it means to be themselves and express what courage looks like through their unique lens. Our Youth Art Contest continues to attract artists from across…
My life has changed a lot these past four years. I have a little sibling, and at first we did not know, but when she reached the age of two, she was diagnosed with autism. My family went into a spiral. We had never experienced this before. After spending a lot of valuable time with her, we…
TroveMarket.com is the first online marketplace in the country exclusively for entrepreneurs with disabilities. It went live at Thanksgiving with items ranging from greeting cards and personalized tumblers to jewelry and potholders, all made by sellers with disabilities. When Belle Meador, a young autistic woman created a microbusiness selling handmade greeting cards, she inspired her…
At the beginning of a new year, January offers a natural moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. For OAR, 2025 was a year of continued growth, learning, and connection across the autism community. Throughout the year, we advanced our mission to apply research to the challenges of autism by expanding resources, strengthening partnerships, and…
This fall, OAR set out to provide free informational resources about autism to families, individuals, and communities across the country. With your help, we surpassed many of our goals for distributing paperback resources and increasing engagement with our Libby library. Goal 1: Provide Informational Resources to Support Families By the end of the fall outreach…
Clear, accessible health information is essential for autistic people and their families. OAR can help with these new free online resources focused on improving the health and wellness of autistic individuals. Pathways to Wellness is a user-friendly e-book designed to support autistic individuals, their families, and professionals in promoting healthier lifestyles. Created by Eden II Programs, this…
In October 2025, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research grants. These new research grants, totaling $397,372, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.8 million since 2002. This article is the first of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Communication difficulties remain a core diagnostic feature of autism, significantly affecting children’s academic readiness, social…
When your child receives an autism diagnosis, the world shifts, quietly, and then all at once. The air in the house feels different. Your thoughts rearrange themselves. And suddenly, you’re not only a parent, but an interpreter of a new language. Sharing that diagnosis with neurotypical siblings and extended family can feel like opening a door that may not feel very safe…
This year, nearly 1200 athletes took on a RUN FOR AUTISM event to support autism research. We’re incredibly proud of all of our athletes, and want to recognize a few outstanding individuals and teams with our first-annual RUN FOR AUTISM awards. The Standing Ovation Award: This award is presented annually to the highest fundraising individual with RUN FOR AUTISM, in…
