Skip to main content

The OARacle Newsletter

2023 OAR Scholarship Applications Open

The application period for the 2023 OAR Scholarship Program opened on Monday, December 5, 2022, and remain open until Monday, April 24, 2023. Applicants may apply to only one of OAR’s scholarship programs, which include the Schwallie Family Scholarship, the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, and the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color. Each program…

Read More

2023 Applied Research Competition Now Open

OAR invites researchers to submit a letter of intent for the 2023 Applied Research Competition. The maximum award is $40,000 for pilot studies beginning in 2024 with a duration of one to two years. International researchers are eligible to apply. Letters of intent will be accepted through Monday, March 20, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.…

Read More

Targeting Anxiety Treatment for Young Autistic Children

Recent data suggests that 40% of autistic children under the age of 7 have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can exacerbate autism symptoms, such as worsening sensory over-reactivity and difficulty tolerating change, and contribute to social withdrawal and avoidance. Further, anxiety in young children is associated with a 3.5 times higher risk of anxiety and depression…

Read More

Making the Transition to Adulthood

“Where do I see my adult child after they leave school?” This may seem like a daunting question, explains Courtney Gebura, transition coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Autism, but it is one parents of autistic children must ask themselves. Gebura adds, “It’s important for parents to think about how and to what…

Read More

Stimming on Stage: My Experience as an Autistic Entertainer

Being an entertainer on the spectrum is nuts, y’all. When I was a kid, I was practically addicted to spinning. I’d spin and pace in circles just about everywhere – at home, the churchyard at Sunday School, and the playground at recess to the chagrin of many teasing classmates. A couple of decades later, I’d…

Read More

Workplace-Specific Social Skills for Autistic Individuals

Although social skills may not be necessary for your young adult to perform the actual job, they may be needed to help them keep the job or be more socially included at work. The social skills demanded vary from place to place, but there are basic skills that every employee should know. This blog post…

Read More

Meet Our Fall Navigator Cohort

On November 2, the Hire Autism team trained 9 new navigators as a part of our fall cohort. Congratulations to our newest navigators: Jeffrey Crawford Frank Haynes Brooke Kacala Angeline Loaiza Mariel Loughlin Juan Martinez Briana Oliver Misha Sharma Claudia Zacharias Hire Autism navigators play a vital role in equipping job seekers with the tools…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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…

Read More