In partnership with the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), OAR is pleased to announce the winners of the Community Grant Competition. This grant supports community members to design, develop, and distribute resources to positively improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of autistic individuals. Each recipient receives a one-time…
OAR has awarded scholarships to 64 students for 2024, bringing the scholarship total to $1,909,500 provided to 622 autistic students since 2007. That is the highest number of scholarships OAR has ever awarded in a single year. This year, the Schwallie Family Scholarships, Hussman Scholarships, and Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color attracted 1,096 applicants,…
OAR’s fall 2024 webinar series will focus on topics of employment, such as vocational training; mental health, soft skills, and inclusion in the workplace; and barriers to employment like housing and transportation. Additionally, OAR will host a panel webinar to foster conversation about neuroinclusion in the workplace and best HR practices. Join us this fall…
A recent study that adapted Sex Ed for Self-Advocates, OAR’s online guide, for use in a direct-instruction intervention found that participants’ knowledge of interpersonal relationships increased on average between 16% and 20% on pre- and post-intervention measures. Participants also reported the intervention as helpful, with 92% indicating that their knowledge either improved or greatly improved…
With the rising inclusion of autistic students in general education settings, the challenges of managing a classroom can be more complex. An Educator’s Guide to Autism, one of OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism guides, provides educators with a plan for teaching an autistic child in the general elementary classroom setting. Uniquely, this guidebook includes a six-step…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research studies in 2024. These new grants, totaling $297,569, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $5 million since 2002. This article is the last of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Suicide and self-harm are serious global…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the current rate of autism diagnosis is one in every 36 children. This increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism is frequently a focus of autism acceptance in K-12 schools. However, this also means autistic children are increasingly present in local communities and…
What do you remember most about your relationship with teachers in kindergarten or the early school grades? Some people have fond memories—learning to read, making new friends, becoming attached to the teacher. Autistic children and other neurodivergent students, however, may have quite different experiences. While the literature based on non-autistic student-teacher relationships has established that…
The funny thing about getting older is that sometimes you don’t realize you’re getting older. Sometimes, it has a funny way of sneaking up on you. Sometimes, you don’t even realize that time is moving at all. I mean, if I’m honest, I’m an almost 40-something-year-old with the mindset of someone in their early 20s.…
Autistic children can unlock a more independent future by focusing on developing crucial skills now. As a parent, educator, or caregiver, it’s your goal to provide the tools and support necessary to help these children thrive in their daily lives. This not only makes routines easier for everyone, but it provides a foundation on which…
