Ryan Rivera is the founder and publisher of CalmClinic.com. As someone who spent seven years of his life suffering from, as he calls it, the “whole package” – panic attacks, severe anxiety, agoraphobia, social anxiety, unbearable physical symptoms, headaches, neck pains, constant tension, diarrhea, palpitations, pounding heart, he understands the effects of anxiety and how…
In 2011, OAR’s Scientific Council selected seven applied research projects for funding. Dr. Hsu-Min Chiang’s project is the first of those that we are featuring in The OARacle. Study Predictive Factors of Participation in Employment for High School Leavers with Autism Researcher Hsu-Min Chiang, Ph.D., Teacher’s College at Columbia University, New York City Purpose…
Repetitive behavior is a trademark characteristic of autism. This behavior can range from odd and harmless, such as hand flapping, to self-injurious and harmful. In Effects of a Family-Implemented Treatment on the Repetitive Behaviors of Children with Autism, researchers lead by Brian A. Boyd, Ph.D.at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill investigated a…
Traditionally, OAR publishes summaries of the applied research grants for which it has provided funding, one each month. However, this month, we are featuring a graduate study grant. In 2011, OAR awarded nine graduate awards, offering each student researcher grants of $1,000 or $2,000. This study is unusual both because it is the first grant…
Repetitive behavior is a trademark characteristic of autism. This behavior can range from odd and harmless, such as hand flapping, to self-injurious and harmful. In Effects of a Family-Implemented Treatment on the Repetitive Behaviors of Children with Autism, researchers lead by Brian A. Boyd, Ph.D.at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill investigated a…
Imitation is an essential part of learning communication and social skills. Deficits in this important milestone often signal a developmental delay. Some individuals with autism, especially those with intellectual delays, have poor imitation skills. Children with poor imitation skills need direct, explicit instruction to master skills that other children simply learn through imitation. A group…
Dr. Thomas Zane is a professor of education and director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Online Program at the Van Loan Graduate School of Endicott College. He is a licensed psychologist in New York and Massachusetts. Dr. Zane has published in various journals and books, presented at regional, national, and international conferences, and been an…
Jamie Pagliaro is executive vice president and co-creator of Rethink Autism, an award-winning educational technology company headquartered in New York City. He has spent the past 15 years working in programs for individuals with autism and related disorders. Prior to Rethink Autism, Jamie was executive director of the New York Center for Autism Charter School,…
A 2010 journal article highlighted a research study that supports the underlying importance of manner and attitude by medical professionals. The study, “A Strength-Based Approach to Parent Education for Children With Autism” by Amanda Mossman Steiner, PhD, from the Yale Child Study Center, reminds professionals how important their demeanor can be while working with families.…
As every parent and teacher knows, independence is one key to success for all children, including those with autism. At Georgia State University, researchers examined the use of self-operated auditory prompting systems (SOAPs) to increase independence in the self-care tasks of elementary school students. SOAPs are any device that delivers audio prompts, the most common…
