Autism presents a range of safety challenges across the lifespan, including difficulty interacting with law enforcement, communicating with others, and unknowingly engaging in illegal activities. OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety helps parents prepare for these and many other safety issues. The guide offers practical strategies for caregivers and first responders to…
It is expected that the number of autistic youths transitioning from school-based services will increase by 123% in this decade. Current estimates indicate that about half of adults who receive services through developmental disability agencies spend their days in adult day programs, so it is important that those programs lead to positive outcomes for the…
Autistic individuals, like all of us, are likely to encounter law enforcement officers at some point in their lives, whether it is in the community, during a routine traffic stop, at a concert or large community event, or as the result of a suspicious person or aggressive behavior call to 911. Unfortunately, media reports consistently…
Many autistic people like keeping up with the latest research in the field. Whether you want to self-advocate or gather information for a loved one, you will likely encounter autism research studies as you engage with the autism community. But, the large number of studies published each year can make this space hard to navigate.…
For me, it was very apparent at an early age that there was something different about the way our son Fynn was developing. Fynn didn’t speak more than three words, he didn’t attempt to pull up or walk, and he didn’t interact with the people around him. All these delays signaled to me that he needed…
In June 2022, a group of researchers from the University of California Santa Cruz published a paper in Autism in Adulthood, updating a 2011 study published in Disability Studies Quarterly that found that autistic people were overwhelmingly represented as children by parents, charitable organizations, the popular media, and the news industry. 2011 Study The 2011…
Skills related to executive functioning, independent living, social communication, and self-advocacy are necessary for autistic students to succeed in college. These essential skills transfer to the workplace, where autistic employees must understand how to navigate discussions about disclosure, request accommodations, and adapt to new business environments. Join OAR this fall for three webinars that will…
The RUN FOR AUTISM Endurance Challenge is back for its third year! Join us for this 30-day exercise and fundraising challenge dedicated to autism research. Starting on November 1, we challenge participants to complete one, two, or all three endurance challenges by November 30. Walk, run, swim, and/or cycle for the 30 days in November while logging your mileage as you…
OAR is pleased to announce that 63 students received scholarships for 2022, bringing the scholarship total to $1,522,500 provided to 503 autistic students since 2007. This year, 783 students applied for one of three OAR scholarships, the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, the Schwallie Family Scholarship, and the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color. All…
Navigating academic responsibilities and a social life in college can be overwhelming, even more so for autistic students. Seeking help can also be challenging for autistic individuals. In an OAR “first,” two 2020 OAR applied research grantees used research from their most recent study to write a new OAR guide that provides advice about how…
