As OAR’s executive director, I have the honor of witnessing our community’s commitment to autistic individuals and their families each year. I see it in the students who receive scholarships, in the families who use our guidebooks, and in the researchers who take bold ideas forward. I also see it in advocates, educators, employers, and community members who stand alongside…
Autism is a complex, neurodevelopmental disability that affects many U.S. children and requires access to services and interventions to allow autistic children to thrive. Latinx, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native families with autistic children face unique challenges related to disparities in access to services. Those disparities, along with lack of health care access and poor clinical encounters, often…
Early intervention is critical for children with autism, yet many families face obstacles that delay diagnosis and access to support. Autism looks different in every child, no matter their age, background, or ethnicity. That can make early signs hard to spot, which can create barriers for families. Parents are often the first to notice differences in how…
Her words are always with me. “You can’t talk to me! You don’t know what it’s like to have to fight for your child’s life every single day! I’m always fighting. I’m exhausted.” I was conducting an autism workshop for community leaders in Brooklyn, New York, when Tamika* walked straight up to me at the front of the room. Her words, spoken through tears of…
Janel Miles’s motivation for taking on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon this fall with the RUN FOR AUTISM team was crystal clear. “I’m running to raise awareness and funds for everyone like my son, Maxton, who deserves to live in a world filled with acceptance, inclusion, and kindness.” Maxton, now a middle schooler,…
The Wrong Kind of Praise “You don’t look autistic.” I was in middle school when those words were first spoken to me, delivered with a smile as if they were the highest form of praise. I had just finished presenting on ableism for an “isms” project in my class, sharing my personal connection to the…
At the end of September, NIH awarded more than $50 million in funding to 13 projects that will examine how genetics and environmental factors determine a person’s risk of developing autism. Those projects, part of NIH’s Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI), will be housed at universities, including Drexel, Emory, Johns Hopkins, University of North Carolina, and University of California, and hospitals such as Children’s Hospital…
At summer’s end, five volunteers completed training to become Hire Autism’s newest navigators. Navigators prepare job seekers for their search, helping them to gain new confidence and skills. Beau Ramirez, Meena Bappudi, Dwight Garvin, Terri Swanson, and Jessica Lizardi come from various personal and professional backgrounds, with careers in sales, healthcare technology, project management, education,…
On September 25, OAR hosted OAR Impact Day: From Research to Reality to bring together autistic individuals, families, researchers, and direct service providers and celebrate the meaningful impact research has on the autism community. The virtual event showcased the many ways OAR’s funded research has translated into practical tools, interventions, and programs. The archived event materials are available to access for free on…
