Like their peers, many autistic students attend college. Of the 50,000 teens on the spectrum graduating from high school annually in the United States, at least a third of them pursue higher education (Shattuck, et al., 2012; Wei, et al., 2015). However, their graduation and subsequent employment rates are substantially lower than those of neurotypical…
In November 2020, OAR’s board of directors authorized funding for a one-year study of a telehealth parent training program that parents could access at home, Feasibility of Parent Training via Telepractice for Rural Families of Children with Autism. As the research proposal noted, between 50% and 70% of autistic children engage in problematic behavior with…
In the past three months, how many times have you had no choice but to use cash to make a purchase? Or tell time using an analog clock? Although you have undoubtedly made purchases, it is likely you used a card or smart device, especially if the purchases were made online. To check the time,…
Sexuality and gender are spectrums, as is autism. People’s sexuality and gender identities do not necessarily conform to specific guidelines. In fact, it is more common for autistic individuals to deviate from gender norms. Gender norms are set ideas that attempt to dictate the ways a person should act, look, and identify based on their…
Inclusion is not a new concept to society or education. The belief that all students, regardless of their background or abilities, should be included in the general education setting and in our communities has roots dating back over 50 years. Early efforts that laid the foundation for inclusion include the civil rights and disability rights…
With friends, sometimes you can go “home” again. Last August our autistic son Ian, along with his two parents, took a one-week vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It was unusual for a number of reasons. First, the vacation was with four of Ian’s neurotypical friends, whom he hadn’t seen in almost 10…
The 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, established by Congress in 2020, launched on Saturday, July 16. The lifeline number is a three-digit code that people can call to connect with mental health crisis counselors 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Both English and Spanish language callers can use the number and texting…
Has OAR made a positive impact on your experience as a member of the autism community? If so, please help us reach a wider audience and raise funds by reviewing OAR on the GreatNonprofits website. Once you add your review, spread the word to your friends and colleagues. Reviews can be as brief as a…
Hire Autism welcomed 12 volunteers at the end of July to its fourth navigator training in 2022. In the virtual training, volunteers from all over the United States logged on to learn what it means to be a Hire Autism navigator and their role in helping autistic job seekers navigate the job search. Please join…
OAR is delighted to announce the first winners of Synchrony Tech Career Scholarships. Unlike the existing OAR scholarships, which support autistic students pursuing college studies, these scholarships support autistic adults interested in obtaining technology-related certifications and pursuing a career in the tech sector with awards up to $5,000. Congratulations to these scholarship winners: Casey Gonzalez…
