For this month’s Message, The OARacle is featuring two parents’ perspectives on what back-to-school means for their children and families. School is one of the most critical elements of future success for all children, meaning that every decision – including something as basic as selecting the right school – can be a difficult endeavor for…
For parents in the autism community, managing transitions and change seems to be a constant focus. Anticipating, preparing for, and coping with the potential unpleasantries of the unknown and the unexpected can require a lot of energy. While school typically provides a great deal of structure and predictability, each fall brings new teachers, classrooms, and…
With the recent CDC publication regarding the prevalence of autism in the United States, the debate about best practices in special education has grown more divisive. A recent NPR story by Deena Prichep highlighted the two sides, broadly speaking, of the debate: integrated classrooms (the inclusion model) or specialized schools. As the number of students with…
“It was a long time before I accepted the fact that my son had autism,” admits James Harlan. “I want other fathers to accept the diagnosis so they can become better fathers.” He recalls battling shame as he and wife, Debra Vines, were raising their son, Jason, 26. As his friends noted traditional milestones like…
Every day as the parent of children on the autism spectrum is a new adventure. Our family recently had one of those adventures when I was asked to speak at our township’s Memorial Day event. After I completed my speech, I walked down to be with my family for the laying of flowers on the…
In 2013, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2014. This additional $210,000 in research grants brought the total funds awarded by OAR to over $3 million since its first grants in January 2003. This review is the fifth in a series of seven that will appear in…
While it takes a village to raise a child, you may feel like you need an entire country to raise a super hero. My husband and I do. We have established an entire team of doctors, professionals, teachers, and advisors to help us with tough decisions when it comes to dealing with Jake and his…
In 2013, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2014. This additional $210,000 in research grants brought the total funds awarded by OAR to over $3 million since its first grants in January 2003. This review is the fourth in a series of seven that will appear in…
More recent research indicates that the outlook is still relatively bleak: 35 percent of individuals with autism do not participate in any work or school activities in the first six years after high school, slightly more than half of adults with autism had ever worked for pay outside the home, and just over 20 percent…
In 2013, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2014. This additional $210,000 in research grants brought the total funds awarded by OAR to over $3 million since its first grants in January 2003. This review is the third in a series of seven that will appear in…
