On November 2, OAR’s Scientific Council met in Washington, D.C., to select the best studies from the 2019 Applied Research Competition. OAR received 148 pre-proposals and invited 45 applicants to submit full proposals. Only 16 full proposals were selected to move on to the final round. After much deliberation, the Scientific Council recommended seven research…
OAR will release an updated Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research with the generous support of the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation on December 13. A Parent’s Guide to Research holds a special place in OAR history as the first of nine installments in the Life Journey through Autism series. Released back in 2003, the guide aims to help families…
The pronounced challenges that young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face in seeking and maintaining employment often stand in stark contrast to their abilities. Programs like the successful nonprofit Tech Kids Unlimited, which provides technological instruction for New York City students with ASD in one-week summer camp workshops, are needed to address this gap…
OAR aims to stimulate autism research through the Applied Research Competition. We encourage aspiring and experienced autism researchers alike to submit applications. If you are interested in submitting a proposal in 2020 for a grant starting in 2021, OAR has the tools you need. We recently produced a new video with an accompanying preparation tip…
This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter 2: Childhood” of OAR’s resource “Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety”. While your neighborhood can (and should) feel like a safe and familiar space, consider the potential threats posed by physical elements outside your home: roads, parking lots, traffic, etc. Bodies of water (e.g., pools,…
Helping adults with ASD find meaningful employment requires the support of exceptional people like Diane and Rusty Lingenfelter. They were among the first supporters of Hire Autism, OAR’s employment initiative, and took their commitment to the next level last month by becoming our first Hire Autism Navigators. The Navigator program was created by OAR to…
Growing up, I always knew I was different. The struggle to figure out why was more so for my family than for myself. I was in my own little world. I had a few friends that came and went, but I was just as happy doing my own thing. Nothing could hurt me in my happy little…
Sports arenas have well-deserved reputations for being extremely loud, crowded, and over-stimulating, as anyone who has ever been to a game knows. Now NFL franchises are finding ways to accommodate individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, recently opened the first NFL sensory-inclusive room at Lincoln Financial Field,…
OAR invites graduate students to submit proposals for new research studies that will commence July 1, 2020, or later for the 2020 Graduate Research Grant Program. Since the program was established in 2004, OAR has awarded over $269,970 in grants to fund 149 graduate research studies. Last year, OAR made grants to 11 students with grant…
Military families face all the emotions and challenges that accompany having a child diagnosed with autism, compounded by the realities of service: war, extended family separation, frequent moves, varying access to specialized healthcare, and other stressors that complicate and often work against effective treatment for children with autism. In response to these challenges, OAR created…
