If you are an autistic job seeker, an employer, or the parent of a young adult interested in resources to assist with finding and applying for a job, OAR’s Hire Autism employment program has free, comprehensive resources for you, such as: A Guide to Job Searching: The guide explains how to navigate online job portals…
As a transition specialist, I had observed young adults falling off “the services cliff” — when legally mandated services are discontinued after they finish high school — and becoming disconnected from education, work, and other supportive services. When I learned of the work that the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, specifically the Life Course Outcomes Research…
Autistic people often have complex healthcare needs that increase their risk of poorer health outcomes. For the roughly one-quarter to one-third of transition-age autistic youth who are minimally verbal and who are living in a low-income household, the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare is often tumultuous. In order to improve that transition, a one-year…
I am often asked how we can prepare autistic youth to thrive in the workplace. My answer is that helping our youth develop strong communication and self-determination skills that instill confidence and purpose is one of the most important things we can do to support them as they prepare for their futures. The ability to…
By its very nature, Halloween is scary. Everything from the decorations, AMC’s listing of the top 100 horror films, the inflated price of candy, etc. But perhaps the scariest part of Halloween is trying to understand it through the eyes of our kids with autism. So how do we make this spooky night less of…
To develop an effective transition plan for their autistic young adults, parents need to do some “homework” of their own. This process starts before you begin the actual paperwork and planning with your young adult’s school and IEP team. By collaborating with and empowering your young adult to think about their future, you can lay…
I see it every year. Every April, scores of well-meaning booksellers, librarians, and other professionals compile lists of books about autism. They create “Autism Awareness” book displays and social media posts, and encourage everyone to read their recommendations to learn more about autism. Which is great! But many of those lists don’t include any autistic…
In late August, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) introduced a new version of its Think Autism mobile app. Formerly called Think Asperger’s, the app was developed for parents, educators, and medical professionals to use with children ages 8 to 13. Its main feature is the Social Challenges Screening Questionnaire, which parents and professionals…
OAR and the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) have partnered to create a Community Grant Competition, which supports the design, packaging, and distribution of informational resources that aim to enhance the physical and mental health and quality of life of autistic individuals. This competition recognizes the expertise of community members and aims…
