Imagine standing at a podium and delivering a speech to a large audience, getting to page four only to find that the remaining pages are blank. It almost seems cruel – you have worked hard to get to that podium, with great accomplishments to show for it, and you have prepared intensely for this very…
OAR’s new guide for parents offers advice on how to help siblings of children with autism overcome the challenges they face. One of the biggest challenges these children and teenagers face is when their outside world, like school and friends, collides with their home life. Bringing friends over for a playdate or having peers ask,…
At my last reading for my book, Next Stop, a teenager came up to me for some advice. “I really love my little brother,” she said, tears springing to her eyes, “but his autism takes all of my parents’ attention. I know it sounds selfish, but what about me?” There it was again, one of autism’s…
It’s always exciting news when OAR expands its collection of informational materials for members of the autism community. Today’s announcement is even more meaningful because we’re shining the spotlight on an important but often overlooked demographic: brothers and sisters of individuals with autism. To kick off its “Autism Sibling Support” initiative, OAR is releasing a…
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 last in a series of seven that will appear in…
Have you even been thrown or pushed into a pool with no warning? You come up spluttering, wet, and unsure about exactly what just happened or what you are supposed to do next. For individuals with autism, that’s what transitions can feel like. Difficult. Bewildering. Even painful. Thanks to an unusual week-long summer program on…
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 sixth in a series of seven that will appear in…
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…
