Chip In Fore Autism – September 20 This fall OAR is bringing our community together again for an evening of celebration, connection, and purpose at Chip In Fore Autism. The event takes place on Saturday, September 20, at Topgolf National Harbor, beginning at 5 p.m. More than just a fundraiser, Chip In Fore Autism is…
Problem behavior, such as self-injury, aggression, and disruptive behavior, which many autistic children demonstrate, can strain family relationships and result in challenges at school and other places. If not addressed, it can lower quality of life, limit the autistic child’s access to education and community activities and raise parental stress. In a two-year OAR-funded study,…
For many children, the start of a new school year is filled with excitement—fresh notebooks, new classmates, and the excitement of seeing their friends after a summer apart. For children with disabilities, this time can also bring anxiety, uncertainty, and worry about not having friends at school. Students with disabilities often face emotional and physical…
My journey with OAR’s RUN FOR AUTISM program started in 2022. I had signed up for the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to fundraise for a charity since I had missed getting an entry through the lottery. After some research, I discovered the amazing RUN FOR AUTISM community! Of course, there were dozens of…
A clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in June recommends that pediatricians evaluate children as early as possible for global developmental delays/intellectual disabilities. Genetic disorders account for up to 50% of diagnoses of developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. Diagnosing the causes as early as possible provide multiple benefits, the report’s writers note,…
OAR is excited to announce the most recent recipients of the Spring 2025 Synchrony Tech Scholarship. This scholarship supports autistic adults pursuing technology-related courses or training to advance their careers. Congratulations to Sienne Rodwell, Joshua Keller, Vance Belleci, and Mark Alexandrov! Scholarship award amounts depend on the technology-related course or program, but can range from…
Mark your calendars for two exciting opportunities to support OAR while connecting with your community and having fun. Shop for Good with Kendra Scott – August 16 Join OAR during your back-to-school shopping on Saturday, August 16, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for Shop for Good at the Kendra Scott store, located at 8093U Tysons…
OAR is proud to offer free informational resources for the autism community, which include our collection of autism resources on our website and our curated library of autism-related e-books and audiobooks in Libby. To widen access to these resources to families, individuals, and communities we have set two goals for distributing resources across the country…
Summer is heating up, and so are OAR’s local, in-person events. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the chance to connect with supporters, families, and new faces at two local gatherings that combined fun with purpose. Jeni’s Sweet Support – June 25 On June 25, we teamed up with Jeni’s Ice Creams in Alexandria,…
Sleep difficulties are highly prevalent in autistic youth, often contributing to negative child and family outcomes. Behavioral sleep interventions have been shown to reduce those difficulties, yet few studies have examined how they would work for autistic youth. In 2024, co-investigators Cameron Neece, Ph.D., and Tori Van Dyk, Ph.D., conducted a two-year, OAR-funded study to…
