Transition teams are critical to building effective plans for youth who are preparing to embark on their adult lives after high school. These teams are tasked with creating and implementing plans that best align with young adults’ goals, strengths, and interests. The transition process is meant to answer questions such as: What does the youth…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research studies in 2022. These new grants, totaling $313,712, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.7 million since 2002. This article is the first of eight previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Evidence-based practices are a key way to…
It’s finally happening …You’re ready to move into your own home after months or maybe even years of planning. Having worked with many autistic young adults and their families over the years, I’m happy to share my ideas for making this important transition a smooth one. Moving to a new place, whether you will be…
My experiences of having an autistic brother aren’t anything special. I am not a saint. My parents aren’t saints. Strangers have an assumption that helping people with autism and raising a son with autism makes you an angelic, divine person. That they would never dare to do anything like that. We are ordinary people. My…
If you have weighed the pros and cons of disclosing your disability in order to obtain approved accommodations through your college’s disability office, please refer to the general steps in the process below. There may be differences in the steps at your college, but these should reflect the general or common practices. Sample scripts are…
Disability Disclosure Many Autistic individuals are provided information during their time in high school or elsewhere that encourages them to disclose their disability across college, employment, and/or social realms. However, making the decision regarding whether to disclose your disability is a deeply personal one and a choice that is yours alone. Data suggests that only…
Staying safe requires your child to develop an important set of skills and to apply them to a variety of situations throughout his life. To be successful, he is going to need your support and encouragement. In this guide, we strive to provide general information about safety topics that can help families address their unique…
OAR is delighted to announce seven new research grants from the 2022 Applied Research Competition. These new grants, which total $276,212, brings OAR’s all-time total research funding to more than $4.74 million since 2002. The competition opened last December. OAR received 123 pre-proposals and subsequently invited 45 applicants to submit full proposals. From the full…
Just in time for holiday gift giving, there’s a new book for autistic people that is practical and just right for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With loads of good advice and 100 recipes, the Autism-Friendly Cookbook has been described as the “first cookbook for autistic people.” British journalist Lydia Wilkins, who is autistic, noted in…
Since the beginning of January 2022, 73 companies have joined the Hire Autism employer partner network, for a total of 262 autism-friendly employer partners and counting. As the number of employer partners continues to grow, so does the number of job seekers supported through the Hire Autism program. Take a look at Hire Autism’s 2022…
