Many people with autism find comfort in structure, lists, and routines. Not me. I’m one of those people who absolutely cannot operate within such constraints. It’s one of the reasons I became a self-employed artist to begin with. However, some degree of goal setting and measurement is necessary to turn a talent into a successful…
The number of individuals who are identified with autism currently presents at 1 in 59. Let’s consider semantics, altering this to 1 among 59. The first separates; the second includes. To be among or within a group is preferential to being tagged as a part of a prevalent trend apart from the general population. You…
Since 2002, OAR has funded more than 120 studies through its Applied Research Competition, totaling more than $4 million total in research funding. OAR hopes to build on this success in 2020 and continue to support research studies that offer meaningful outcomes to individuals with autism and their families. 2020 Applied Research Competition OAR invites…
On November 2, OAR’s Scientific Council met in Washington, D.C., to select the best studies from the 2019 Applied Research Competition. OAR received 148 pre-proposals and invited 45 applicants to submit full proposals. Only 16 full proposals were selected to move on to the final round. After much deliberation, the Scientific Council recommended seven research…
OAR will release an updated Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research with the generous support of the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation on December 13. A Parent’s Guide to Research holds a special place in OAR history as the first of nine installments in the Life Journey through Autism series. Released back in 2003, the guide aims to help families…
The pronounced challenges that young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face in seeking and maintaining employment often stand in stark contrast to their abilities. Programs like the successful nonprofit Tech Kids Unlimited, which provides technological instruction for New York City students with ASD in one-week summer camp workshops, are needed to address this gap…
OAR aims to stimulate autism research through the Applied Research Competition. We encourage aspiring and experienced autism researchers alike to submit applications. If you are interested in submitting a proposal in 2020 for a grant starting in 2021, OAR has the tools you need. We recently produced a new video with an accompanying preparation tip…
This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter 2: Childhood” of OAR’s resource “Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety”. While your neighborhood can (and should) feel like a safe and familiar space, consider the potential threats posed by physical elements outside your home: roads, parking lots, traffic, etc. Bodies of water (e.g., pools,…
Helping adults with ASD find meaningful employment requires the support of exceptional people like Diane and Rusty Lingenfelter. They were among the first supporters of Hire Autism, OAR’s employment initiative, and took their commitment to the next level last month by becoming our first Hire Autism Navigators. The Navigator program was created by OAR to…
Growing up, I always knew I was different. The struggle to figure out why was more so for my family than for myself. I was in my own little world. I had a few friends that came and went, but I was just as happy doing my own thing. Nothing could hurt me in my happy little…
