Receiving a child’s autism diagnosis can be one of those moments in life when a raft of old notions shatters, and you are swept away by a tumultuous new reality. It can be hard to get your bearings and find a way to move forward after your world is turned upside down. You may need…
In 2018, OAR gave a $2,000 Graduate Research Grant to Sara Spong, who was then a doctoral student at Regent University pursuing a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. Her study examined stress and resiliency factors in caregivers of autistic children. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting…
Employment is one of the most significant structural challenges individuals with autism and those who love them face. According to the 2015 National Autism Indicators Report, issued by Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 58% of young people with autism have never worked during their early 20s. In contrast, over 90% of young adults with…
These resources offer information related to money management and financial preparation for self-advocates and families of autistic individuals and others with disabilities. The ABLE National Resource Center The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 (S. 313/H.R.647) was introduced in the 113th Congress and became law on December 19, 2014. In 2015, the…
William Sowell came to the Hire Autism job board with a goal: to find a job that was meaningful to him, fit his skillset, and provided structure while also allowing autonomy. Upon reading a listing for a job as a collections driver with a Hire Autism employer, Compost Nashville, he immediately applied. When asked what…
OAR takes great delight in introducing the fall 2023 Peer Education Grant recipients. Launched in 2012, the Peer Education Grant Program supports projects that promote autism awareness and acceptance among nonprofits, communities, libraries, and K-12 public schools using OAR’s peer education resources. This fall, OAR awarded $12,669 to support eight projects. In total, OAR has…
How to Dance in Ohio, a new musical, will open on Broadway on December 10, 2023, at the Belasco Theatre, with previews beginning November 15. The show follows seven autistic adults in Columbus, Ohio, as they prepare for their first dance. They spend 12 weeks practicing their social skills as they get ready for the…
Carlos Morales was a few drinks in late one evening when he first contacted his local Coast Guard recruiting office, but when he woke up the next day, he did not regret his late-night submission. He had been eyeing service for a decade, he tells The War Horse. He thought about joining the Marines at…
“Did you talk to them about Kelsey?” That always became a common refrain around the house when either myself or my brother were potentially going to start dating someone. To be fair, we both married women that we met during our high school years, so it’s not like this was a regular occurrence. But, because…
OAR interviewed Nyla Cooper, a 2022 Synchrony Family Scholarship winner, and member of OAR’s Scholars’ Society, about the impact of mental health on her college experience. Nyla is a junior in the ARTs Foundation, majoring in Communication Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, who is passionate about the arts. Art has aided her through her struggles…
