I have a unique position as both an autism researcher and a member of the Autistic community. I co-founded and co-direct the Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) along with my colleague, Christina Nicolaidis. AASPIRE is a long running — 14 years now! — community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership between academic researchers…
When parents first learn of their child’s autism diagnosis, they may feel overwhelmed with the need to learn about the details and complexities of autism spectrum disorder. They have to not only educate themselves about the medical details, but also the range of treatment options available. Understanding a complex disorder such as autism can be…
On November 4 and 5, OAR’s Scientific Council met virtually to select the winners of the 2020 Applied Research Competition. OAR received a record-breaking 195 pre-proposals and invited 44 applicants to submit full proposals. Eighteen full proposals were selected to move on to the final round. After much deliberation, the Scientific Council recommended six research…
Since 2002, OAR has funded more than 125 studies through its Applied Research Competition, totaling more than $4.4 million total in research funding. OAR hopes to build on this success in 2021 and continue to support research studies that offer meaningful outcomes to individuals with autism and their families. 2021 Applied Research Competition Beginning…
OAR will soon open applications for the 2021 OAR Scholarship Program. The application period will begin on Monday, December 7, 2020, and applications will be accepted until Monday, May 3, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to…
Looking to make a difference in 2021? Interested in helping autistic adults enter the workforce? Apply today to join our January 2021 Hire Autism navigator cohort. Online applications will be accepted until December 18, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. As a Hire Autism navigator, volunteers work directly with job seekers to review their resumes or…
Three recent studies highlighted in the news have focused on healthcare and autism, with implications for autistic adults, young adults, and children. Chronic Physical Health Conditions A study by researchers at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, found that adults with autism are more likely than others to have chronic physical health conditions that…
Everyone likes to have friends. For autistic kids, making friends often is not easy. Conversely, for their typical peers, getting to know autistic kids can be hard. In an effort to reduce those barriers, OAR is releasing a series of one-page friendship tip sheets is geared towards helping non-autistic kids be understanding, supportive friends to…
My mom once told me a story about a doctor’s visit, a check-up that I had when I was a young child, in maybe 2001 or 2002. One thing you should know about me as a kid – I was deathly afraid of everyone and everything. I could not look at anything, nor could I…
This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter Two: Individualized Education Programs” of OAR’s resource “Navigating the Special Education System”. One of the first phrases to come to mind when talking about special education is the Individualized Education Program, whose abbreviation, IEP, instantly becomes one of those acronyms that parents remember for life. The IEP…
