Since starting at OAR in 2022 as a Hire Autism associate, Brittany Short has had “the privilege of engaging with passionate professionals committed to understanding and improving recruiting and workplace experiences for autistic and neurodivergent individuals.” Now that she has been promoted to Hire Autism manager, Short is excited to continue that conversation and “step…
During Autism Acceptance Month, 520 virtual and in-person participants took on the annual Active for Autism 5K and Kids Dash to support autism research. Participants hailed from 28 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Canada, and ranged in age from 3 to 80. Together, they raised nearly $50,000 for OAR’s Changing Lives Fund. “The…
Don’t stop now! Autism Acceptance Month is over but there are plenty of chances for you to stay involved or get involved. It matters. And it’s fun! Volunteer Are you a parent, educator, or autistic individual who: Is interested in teaching children about autism acceptance? Would enjoy distributing informational resources to organizations in your community…
Check out the Neuroinclusive Healthcare Education Hub, created by All Brains Belong VT to host online resources and lived experiences for the autistic community. Partially funded through the OAR and AIR-P Community Grant in 2022 and 2023, the Hub is a collection of online resources co-created by neurodivergent healthcare professionals and patients to educate medical…
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. These new research grants, totaling $338,844, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the fifth of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. In a 2014 study of newly diagnosed…
Across the lifespan, autistic people are more likely to have a diagnosis of obesity than non-autistic people. For this article, “obesity” refers to the medical diagnosis of an elevated body mass index. It is important to be mindful of variety in preferences related to term use (for example, a preference for “larger body size” instead…
Our bodies are designed to move. Every bit of movement counts as physical activity, which is critical for maintaining good health. Physical activity doesn’t have to be intensive sports or heavy gym workouts. There are many other practical ways to stay active and healthy. Health behavior scientists recognize that excessive sedentary behavior is a risk…
A Shift in Communication Early in my career as a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP), I worked with a student who had very limited verbal speech. His frustration often led to behavioral outbursts, as he struggled to make his needs known. I introduced an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) core board that allowed him to choose…
Job searching is hard, even for the most qualified and skilled candidates. Whether you’re just starting your job search or several months into the process, it’s easy to get discouraged. Luckily, this article provides strategies and tips to help you stay motivated from the initial search to the offer letter. Don’t Neglect Your Interests Outside…
