Since receiving my son’s diagnosis, I have dreaded the moment when I must explain what it means to be autistic. Some have said I am fortunate because I have an intimate understanding of autism—having received my own diagnosis. While it was not presented to me softly, I plan to give my children a gentler introduction…
The CDC recently revamped its developmental milestones checklists for the first time since they were created in 2004. The clearer benchmarks make it easier for parents and medical professionals to identify developmental delays, including those that may indicate autism. Part of the “Learn The Signs. Act Early.” program, the revisions are intended to ensure that…
With a new initiative recently introduced by the International Society on Autism Research (INSAR), autistic people and their family members can partner with autism researchers to assist with designing, conducting, and disseminating research studies. The goal is to facilitate working relationships between researchers and those who could benefit from the research being conducted. The INSAR…
Earlier this month Hire Autism trained our second navigator cohort of 2022. We are thrilled to welcome eight new navigators to our volunteer team! These navigators come from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds and hold titles such as executive recruiter, project manager, speech-language pathologist, people operations partner, assistant professor, and much more. Although…
OAR is once again hosting a three-part webinar series in celebration of autism acceptance month. Join us this spring as we learn about community-based participatory research (CBPR). What is it, and why is it so important? What are some ways we can meaningfully engage autistic stakeholders as we design, implement, and disseminate our own work?…
College. The word conjures up so many images and experiences. For students in their freshmen year, those experiences are likely to include adjusting to independence, exciting opportunities to grow, and keeping up with a rigorous academic schedule. These resources help students with autism know what to expect and how to adapt to college life and…
It’s tricky to be a parent advocate in the autism community, especially if, like me, you are not autistic yourself. Autism is about autistic people, and that’s who should be leading autism advocacy efforts. But in the nearly two decades since my son was diagnosed, I’ve learned that I do have a role as an…
According to a 2013 study, approximately 17% of autistic adults ages 21 to 25 live independently compared to 34% of their non-autistic peers. Yet, only 5% of autism-related research focuses on transition and adult outcomes, despite the fact that autistic adults have less favorable outcomes with respect to quality of life, employment, and education than…
All children with special needs who succeed in school have at least one thing in common: parents who are passionate and effective advocates. As parents, we have the ability to advocate for our children by asking questions and speaking up for them. At times, this can be uncomfortable or even difficult to do; however, no…
Autism is a matter of perception, and what’s beautiful about that perception is its ability to change. Childhood My parents told me I was on cloud nine when they brought their second bundle of joy home – my baby brother. I have no recollection of this memory, nor the memory of him being diagnosed with…
