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 second of seven previews that will be featured in The OARacle…
Are adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at greater risk for sexual violence than others because of social deficits? For example, do they miss information coming from sources like friends or family on what constitutes sexually appropriate behaviors? Researchers from York University in Toronto, Canada sought to answer these and related questions in a…
When Dwight Good became Morgan Hill’s (Calif.) fire marshal, the official who creates and enforces safety laws for the community, he was putting his passion to work, fulfilling an interest that began seven years ago when he began studying to fill gaps in his department’s fire prevention safety education capabilities. Today, Good describes himself as…
As each New Year begins, many of us engage in that time-honored practice of bettering ourselves by making resolutions, and I am no different. As I began thinking of my own list this year (lose those holiday pounds I have gained, set up a gym schedule and actually stick to it this year, read a…
For many parents of children with autism, even the most straightforward safety concerns can be overwhelming, often lasting into the child’s adulthood. There are questions that other parents don’t have to worry about in the same way, like, “Will my nonverbal child with autism know how to ask for help when he gets lost?” or…
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 will bring the total funds awarded by OAR to over $3.3 million since its first grants in January 2003. Starting with this preview, we will offer summaries of the newly funded research…
A classic hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is an impaired ability to appropriately interpret and respond to social cues like facial expressions. Due to this deficit, faux pas and misunderstandings can be a frequent occurrence; it’s as if many individuals with autism have a habit of deviating from the socially acceptable script. Recent efforts…
For this month’s Profile, OAR asked Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy who leads the Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), to answer some questions about the office and how it can help people with autism spectrum disorders who are seeking employment. Q: What is your office’s vision for…
What should you expect for your child with autism after high school? In short, a life that provides as much independence as possible. Expectations for the adult lives of people with disabilities have changed greatly in a relatively short period of time. Until very recently, the norm for people with disabilities after they finished secondary…
