I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when I was a freshman at an arts-based school for students with learning differences, but I was not told about that diagnosis until I was a junior. The same year that I was diagnosed, my mom died of melanoma. She was only in her 50s. It was challenging to…
In October, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight new applied autism research studies in 2019. These new grants, totaling $228,036, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.7 million since 2002. This is the fourth of eight previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. For most adults, including those with autism, sexuality…
In a crowded hall filled with laughing and chatting teenagers devouring pizza, one girl approached me shyly. “You know, I really didn’t want to come to this, but I’ve had so much fun today.” “This” was a self-determination conference, organized by and for students with disabilities in my school system. Starting a club about self-determination…
This piece by Amanda Van Slyke, a self-advocate, was originally posted on The Mighty and is re-posted here with permission. Since before I can remember, I’ve lived with traits I now know are from being neurodiverse: Trouble understanding sarcasm, having a hard time communicating verbally, panicking at a change in plans and becoming irritable from too much…
Guest blogger Jessica uses a metaphor about her son’s ability to ride a bike as a way to explain her thoughts on his transition to middle school. This post originally appeared on Jessica’s blog Changed For Good. It’s Monday morning, the last day of winter break. We are blessed with beautiful weather in Florida. This is truly the best time of…
This post originally appeared on the Drexel Autism Institute blog page. It is reposted here with permission from its author Anne Roux. Vocational services are essential for transition-age youth on the autism spectrum who often have difficulty finding and keeping employment. These youths may experience a dramatic decline in supports and services after high school. Vocational…
Rhi, a self-advocate, discusses how people on the autism spectrum are represented in the media and some of the issues with that representation. This piece was originally posted on Rhi’s website in early February. It is re-posted here with permission. There’s been a lot of talk lately about good representation of autistic people in the arts,…
At the beginning of February, two members of Congress introduced the Autism CARES Act of 2019 (HR 1058). The bill would reauthorize federal research; expand funding for critical research, education, housing, and other programs; and ensure that people with autism who age out of critical assistance programs and enter adulthood are supported, according to an…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2019 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the…
OAR invites researchers to submit pre-proposal applications for its annual Applied Research Competition. Since the program was established in 2002, OAR has awarded more than $3.7 million in grants to fund over 115 applied research studies. OAR hopes to build on this success in 2019, continuing its support of research studies that offer meaningful outcomes…
