In October, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2018. These new grants, totaling $176,090, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.6 million since 2002. This is the fourth of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Pedestrian skills are necessary for successful independent…
Autism Awareness Month is a perfect time to foster peer acceptance and inclusion in schools. Widespread misunderstanding of autism is a common issue in schools across the country, which can in turn lead to a host of larger discriminatory issues like social isolation and even bullying. Last April, OAR released the interactive learning program, Autism…
Remember when tolerance was thought to be social progress, even though it emanated a clear subtext of “Oh, wellllllll, if I haaaave to…”? At the time, we thought the concept of racial tolerance or religious tolerance was revolutionary. And before “acceptance” we had “awareness,” which too often could imply that “we wanted to make you…
After being diagnosed with autism in her 30s, University of Tokyo student Satsuki Ayaya uses her personal experiences to help generate new theories that autism is a perceptual, rather than mainly social, disorder and its symptoms as resulting from differences in the way the brain processes information. In autism, the brain is said to emphasize discrepancies…
This is the second part to Kat Albee’s blog post Finding Resources. In the conclusion of her blog series, Kat includes additional guidance for how those in the autism community can continue to advocate for themselves. Using The Internet If you are reading this, then you have an advantage unique in all of human history. No, it’s…
According to Brenda Wiederhold, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, “some studies report up to 50 percent adults [with autism] have co-occurring social anxiety disorder.” A new study suggests that moderate use of Facebook is associated with increased happiness and self-confidence in these adults, providing a “safe space” for improving communication.
Self-advocate Kat Albee highlights ways in which those on the spectrum can be resourceful and hold onto a positive outlook in a variety of real-world situations. This is Part One of her post. Part Two will be featured in next week’s blog. Changing Your Mindset I recently read a memoir called Growing Up Yanomamo. It’s about…
You very likely know someone diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); you also are likely to know of someone who has died by suicide. Unfortunately, it is possible that these two people may be one and the same. People with ASD may have an increased risk of suicide and suicidal behavior for reasons we hope…
The newly developed Psychological Development Questionnaire (PDQ-1) could help pediatricians and other primary care providers identify autism more efficiently than the test currently used, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers – Revised with Follow Up (M-CHAT R/F), which requires an additional follow-up phone interview before determining whether an evaluation is necessary. A research study…
In 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted law enforcement and families with approximately 20,500 cases of missing children. Many families and caregivers try to protect their children from abduction by specifically teaching them skills like understanding the concept of strangers, warning signs of distrustful behavior, and what to do if they…
