Rhi, a self-advocate, discusses being on the spectrum, especially how she differs from other people with autism. Rhi astutely states that the stereotype society has for people with autism is ill-defined and incorrect; she writes this post to illustrate that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and suggests ways to embrace one’s talents. This was…
James Taniguchi is a 2016 OAR Scholarship recipient. This is the second post in his series for OAR’s blog. In my last post, I explained some of the social and communication challenges that people on the spectrum experience in unstructured conversations. Many of the social approaches I mentioned rely on speaking fluently and understanding what others…
The transition from high school to college can be a complicated one. You become a lot more responsible for handling your academic life. Take this quiz to find out if you know everything you need to know about college academics!
There are a lot of new changes that come with starting college. You are in a different place, making new friends, and studying fresh subjects. A lot of students also seek out new activities, like joining a club or organization. However, going to a loud and crowded activities fair may be overstimulating to navigate while…
Knowing what to do and say can be hard, inside and outside of the office. Take this quiz to see how you handle some of the tricky situation you can run into on the job!
All colleges have a department along the lines of Student Accessibility Services, which strives to create a barrier-free and equivalent environment for students with disabilities. Students are able to demonstrate independence and self-advocacy by discussing their needs with this department. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), certain accommodations are mandatory if requested by students.…
Take this quiz to see how much you know about being a self-advocate!
In October, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2018. These new grants, totaling $176,090, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.6 million since 2002. This is the sixth of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. In South Africa, more than 7,500 children…
This article is a modified version of an article that was originally published in the May 2006 issue of The OARacle. Summer is the time of year when we kick back, take time to relax (or at least slow down), and enjoy outdoor activities. As I reflect back on my summers as a child, one…
Change is scary. To embrace the unknown goes against every fiber of our animalistic instincts. As humans, we tend to fear change because we find comfort in our expectations and certainty of routine. For individuals on the spectrum, this fear is intensified. The well-being of those living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) depends on knowing…
