On the recent anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Labor Secretary Tom Perez said, “People with disabilities want to work. They want to be independent and self-sufficient. They even want to pay taxes. They want the feeling of pride and purpose that comes with waking up every morning, performing a job, and earning…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination of individuals with disabilities. It requires employers to make modifications (which are called reasonable accommodations) that enable a person to participate in the interviewing process or to perform his or her work. In my coaching practice, I have seen many cases where…
Understanding (and leveraging) the factors that impact work performance is crucial for any adult, but it can be especially important for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These individuals often have sensitivities to things that don’t bother other workers, such as fluorescent lighting or having to shake hands. At the same time, they tend…
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism was established in 1998 by former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their son, Doug, Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Today, he is 23 and, like many of his peers, faced with new challenges that come with…
When OAR launches its employment Web site later this year, it will offer job seekers with autism in the Northern Virginia/Tyson’s Corner area a place to find meaningful employment opportunities and the supports necessary to succeed long term. The Web site will be tailored to meet the needs of both job seekers and employers. The…
As an autistic self-advocate, I consider myself fairly lucky to have been relatively unaffected by bullying for most of my life. However, it is an unfortunate fact that many other autistics are very likely to be affected by bullying at some point in their lives. We have trouble making friends; we have interests that might…
OAR-funded researchers Joshua Plavnick, Ph.D., and Brooke Ingersoll, Ph.D., Michigan State University, conducted their study, Enhancing Traditional Group Social Skill Instruction using Video-based Group Instruction Tactics, in 2013. The purposes of the study were to: Compare the effects of video-based instructional tactics to traditional direct instruction with modeling on the social skill performance of children…
“All of my life I have been bullied.” Luke Jackson, Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome Luke speaks for thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who experience bullying and harassment in schools. Once a silent epidemic endured by countless children daily, bullying in schools is now being recognized as a public health concern. How…
In 2014, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2015. This additional $210,000 in research grants brings the total funds awarded by OAR to over $3.3 million since its first grants in January 2003. This is the last of seven previews that have been featured in The OARacle…
Executive function skills like flexibility, goal setting, planning, organization, big-picture thinking, and task completion are critical to our ability to live independently. Unfortunately, they are often profoundly lacking in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). OAR-funded researchers John Strang, Psy.D., and Lauren Kenworthy, Ph.D., from the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Children’s National…
