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The OARacle Newsletter

Apply for a Community Grant

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) at UCLA are co-hosting the Community Grant Competition. This competition supports the design, packaging, and distribution of informational resources that will improve health outcomes for autistic people. This competition recognizes the expertise of community members and aims to empower…

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Promoting Better Criminal Justice Outcomes for Autistic Individuals

With multiple high-profile stories of negative interactions between autistic individuals and law enforcement, coupled with the fact that autism impacts individuals throughout their lives, there has been increasing attention to the need for better understanding of how to prevent adverse outcomes. Preliminary research has demonstrated that autistic individuals deal with the criminal justice system frequently,…

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Improving Suicide Risk Screening for Autistic Youth

According to a report by the United Health Foundation released in early October, suicides among adolescents ages 15 to 19 jumped 29% over the previous decade, from 8.4 per 100,000 to 10.8 per 100,000. In March, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new recommendations that call for pediatric health providers to screen all young people…

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New California Law Reforms Conservatorships

A new California law will make conservatorship a “last resort,” as noted in an article on the Disability Scoop website. Instead, it promotes alternatives to conservatorship, makes it difficult to set up conservatorships and easier to get out of them, and ensures that even when under a conservatorship, people have choices. The law, which becomes…

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“911, What Is Your Emergency?”

Calling 911 is a call that no parent wants to make. But that call to 911 is critically important when an autistic child is missing. It is the most important step in keeping your child safe in the event of a wandering episode. In Montgomery County, Md., where Officer Laurie Reyes works, it is more…

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Autism Acceptance as a Late-Diagnosed Parent

Prior to receiving a diagnosis of autism, I struggled with feelings of discomfort and awkwardness. I truly felt like an actor on a stage without a script. Cruel names such as “annoying” and “misfit” have followed me from grade school into adulthood. After enduring years of bullying and harassment from peers and teachers, I became…

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Autism Within the Criminal Justice System

OAR sat down with Haley Moss to get her perspective on safety, criminal justice, and autism. Haley Moss is an attorney, author, advocate, artist, and consultant. Diagnosed with autism when she was 3 years old, Moss now uses her personal and professional experience to bring insight and perspective on neurodiversity and inclusion to a broad…

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Autism in the Workplace: 3 Practices for Employers to Implement

Autism. The workplace. Most people have experience with at least one of these, but there are growing numbers of people who encounter both, either from the employee or the employer side of workplaces. Sometimes autistic employees disclose and request accommodations, but even if they don’t, how can an employer support them?   Being autistic in the…

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Autism Within the Criminal Justice System

For this issue looking at safety and the criminal justice system, OAR sat down with Haley Moss to get her perspective on safety, criminal justice, and autism. Haley Moss is an attorney, author, advocate, artist, and consultant. Diagnosed with autism when she was 3 years old, Moss now uses her personal and professional experience to…

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