April has been designated as a month to celebrate and campaign for autism acceptance since the 1970s. As part of OAR’s April activities, we are hosting a four-part webinar series on the themes of sexuality and relationships. Conversations about sexuality and relationships are needed just as much in the autistic community as they are in…
Military duty often requires service members to be away from home for extended deployments for training or combat operations. Depending on your child, the immediate impact of such absences may vary from near-calamitous to barely noticeable. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to help mitigate the effect, including: Create a “countdown calendar” with…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research studies in 2023. These new grants, totaling $313,712, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.7 million since 2002. This article is the second of eight previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Unhealthy substance use, which includes alcohol, marijuana,…
The need for resources and support in higher education is paramount for autistic individuals who are interested in obtaining post-secondary education. Research suggests that students with disabilities, including autism, graduate with a bachelor’s degree at a rate of 38.8% compared to 60.4% of all college students (Newman et al., 2011). According to the College Autism…
Incorporating the Kit for Kids into a curriculum is a significant step in a school’s anti-bullying strategy. Research shows that students with disabilities — especially those with autism — are more vulnerable to bullying than their counterparts. The Kit is designed so that students who positively influence their classmates can lead the program. It encourages…
OAR’s 2023 Youth Art Contest is officially open for submissions. The theme for the third annual contest is “community.” We look forward to seeing what community looks like through the eyes of children and youth. This will be their opportunity to tell a story about community in as abstract or literal sense as they would…
As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, OAR is also looking ahead to the ambitious goals it has set for 2023, including goals for Autism Acceptance Month. Join us to promote autism awareness and acceptance across the autism community. Goal 1: Support the autism community with information resources (autistics, families, educators, professionals). OAR’s…
In January, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) approved a new strategic plan, as reported in Disability Scoop. The new plan provides recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding autism research, services, and supports, among others. In addition, it calls for a “substantial increase” in government funding for autism research to reach…
A new year means new job seekers eager to secure part-time and full-time employment opportunities. With the help of our navigators, job seekers gain new confidence and skills to prepare them for their job search. Five talented volunteers completed their training in January to become Hire Autism’s newest navigators. Please congratulate Rebecca Winfield, Ben Malecki,…
“How many more times are we going to watch the same Star Wars movie?” I asked my brother. I couldn’t believe he wanted to watch the same movie again. He had been fixated on Star Wars for the past two weeks and spent his free time rewatching the movies and reviewing the fan pages online.…
