OAR is hosting two free webinars in April on crisis safety planning and self-determination. Seminar in Crisis Safety Planning for the ASD Population Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m., ET Presenter Scott Fowler will discuss wandering and elopement, working with first responders, seclusions and restraints, and bullying in the school environment. Both professionals and parents…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2020. These new grants, totaling $275,000, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4 million since 2002. This is the third of seven previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Children, teens, and young adults with…
Our ongoing research at Towson University focuses on the transition to adulthood for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through interviews with 12 young adults with ASD, 35 parents, and 19 teachers, we have gained a sense of some of the issues that matter most. One thing that surprised us was how often people linked…
In this blog post, Eddie Grabill discusses his experience growing up with a brother on the spectrum and offers advice to the parents of other autism siblings. I was very fortunate to grow up with hardworking parents that made life great for both my little brother Tommy and myself. My family made a lot of…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2020 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 4, 2020 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 students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV or V criteria) pursuing full-time, post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…
OAR is currently accepting applications for the Graduate Research Grant Program and Applied Research Competition. Since 2002, OAR has funded over 265 research studies, bringing its funding total to more than $4 million. OAR expects to build on this success in 2020, continuing its support of research studies that offer meaningful outcomes to individuals with…
Sexuality education is an important subject in terms of personal growth, development, and safety, but it can also be a daunting one. OAR’s online resource focused on sexuality education, Sex Ed. for Self-Advocates, helps teens and emerging adults on the autism spectrum begin to tackle these important issues. This resource is specific to the needs of…
Many students with an educational label of autism do well academically in school and therefore receive minimal supports from special education teachers or therapists. However, these students may be slipping through the cracks when it comes to addressing their real area of need: social-emotional skills. For these students, passing their exams and classes may mask…
The definitions of friendships are as unique and varied as each of us are. For this month’s Perspective, we asked two recipients of OAR scholarships to describe their experience of friendship as new college students. Connor McNally: Taking an Asocial Stance I haven’t really made any friends in college, but since I’m asocial, that’s…
In this original blog post, autism self-advocate Carrie Falcone describes her experiences with bullying and overcoming adversity. When I was three years old, my family learned that I was on the autism spectrum. My parents had taken me to a neurologist because they were concerned. I was their shy and creative daughter who not only…
