In 2020, OAR awarded graduate researcher Chelsea Anderson a grant of $2,000 for her investigation into the role of auditory attention in speech-in-noise processing in young autistic adults. Her research study examined how auditory attention skills affect the ability of the brain to process sounds, particularly being able to hear speech in noise. Auditory attention…
Accommodations can support success and learning in college. However, even college students with approved accommodations may experience barriers to receiving them. Deciding that you want to disclose your disability is the first step in obtaining approved accommodations, but it is not the end of the process. After you are approved for accommodations, you will need…
“Take time to mourn” That is what the pediatric specialist said to me directly after she told me my son, Connor, was profoundly autistic. The word “mourn” immediately felt misplaced. The first thought in my head being, “what the heck am I mourning”? With a million thoughts and feelings going on inside me, absolutely none…
Transitioning from college to the workforce is a difficult process for anyone, but there are even more challenges that come with it when you’re autistic. Even if you have a great educational background or an impressive resume, there are certain skills to be successful in the workplace that may not be intuitive to autistic people.…
While the physical transition to a new living environment will not occur until your child has at least finished high school, preparation for that transition can start much earlier. As autistic individuals generally require more time to learn life skills, it is recommended that key personal care and daily living skills be introduced no later…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven applied autism research studies in 2023. These new grants, totaling $276,212, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.7 million since 2002. This article is the last of the seven previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Sleep concerns affect up to…
In today’s interconnected world, no one is immune to social media’s portrayal of perfect parenthood, but reality is rarely seamless. This immaculate portrait of parenting is not only unattainable, it is discouraging and breeds guilt as we fall short of effectuating this model within our own families. Raising any child is extremely stressful. While parenting…
OAR’s Hire Autism program has recently partnered with three organizations to improve employment opportunities for autistic adults and support them as they search for jobs. Getting Hired is a job board dedicated to providing employment opportunities to job seekers with disabilities and other diversities. This job board is for both remote and in-person roles across…
It is summertime, and pools, beaches, lakes, and ponds are wonderful places to enjoy recreation. For autistic children, though, places near water can be dangerous because they have a tendency to wander. A 2018 study that surveyed parents reported that 40% of them said that their child had wandered or attempted to wander at least…
OAR awarded nine grants totaling $16,312.97 in the 2023 Graduate Research Competition. These newly funded grants are a part of the more than $322,067 awarded to fund more than 180 graduate research studies since 2003. The program offers up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to doctoral candidates or post-doctoral students to conduct autism-focused…
