In a crowded hall filled with laughing and chatting teenagers devouring pizza, one girl approached me shyly. “You know, I really didn’t want to come to this, but I’ve had so much fun today.” “This” was a self-determination conference, organized by and for students with disabilities in my school system. Starting a club about self-determination…
Guest blogger Jessica uses a metaphor about her son’s ability to ride a bike as a way to explain her thoughts on his transition to middle school. This post originally appeared on Jessica’s blog Changed For Good. It’s Monday morning, the last day of winter break. We are blessed with beautiful weather in Florida. This is truly the best time of…
At the beginning of February, two members of Congress introduced the Autism CARES Act of 2019 (HR 1058). The bill would reauthorize federal research; expand funding for critical research, education, housing, and other programs; and ensure that people with autism who age out of critical assistance programs and enter adulthood are supported, according to an…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2019 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the…
On April 14, 2019, OAR will host its first annual Active For Autism 5K. Join us and bring your family and friends to the Potomac Yard Trail in Alexandria, Va. This 5K will help spread autism awareness while raising money to fund life-changing research and provide free resources to families and educators. The family-friendly event…
OAR is hosting a free webinar on the topic of social skills for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on March 28, 2019, at 2 p.m. ET, featuring Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D. Register now to attend “Social Skills for Adolescents and Adults with ASD: Finding Relevant Targets for Instruction, Using Instructional Strategies…
OAR is pleased to share the newly redesigned Operation Autism website in support of military families affected by autism. OAR is committed to supporting military families impacted by autism by providing this updated resource that addresses the many challenges they face: extended family separation, moves, varied access to specialized health care, and more. According to…
In October, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight new applied autism research studies in 2019. These new grants, totaling $228,036, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.7 million since 2002. This is the third of eight previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. As many as 84 percent of children…
Orders and transfers to new duty stations are part of everyday life in the military. Rarely do military families establish roots anywhere before the next set of orders has them planning, packing, and executing a move to another duty station. While moving can be a difficult transition for anyone, it can be especially challenging for…
Change. Every military family will experience it at some point in time when they choose to serve. In fact, it seems to be the only thing a military family can count on as the service member changes positions and moves to another installation. When I sense the edginess and anxiety in the faces of our…
