Substance use disorder is a widespread problem that affects one in 10 Americans, including autistic adults. While there is evidence-based programming for adults who engage in unhealthy substance use, those programs are not designed for autistic people. In their 2023 OAR-funded study, ADAPT: Development of a Substance Use Disorder Prevention Class for Autistic Adults, Laura…
A new patient walks into my office, looking like a lot of my patients do: exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure whether I’m going to be just another doctor who doesn’t believe them. They’ve already seen a dozen specialists. Some have said “it’s just anxiety.” Others didn’t even say that much. They’ve been told their test results…
A huge industry exists to address the needs, activities, and preferences of older adults (65+) and those approaching older age (50+), a rapidly growing segment of our population. Autistic adults are among this growing population and, like everyone else, have emerging needs as they enter their 50s, 60s, and above. Some needs are like those…
Arlington, VA, October 3, 2025 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is proud to share the winners of the Fall 2025 Peer Education Grant Competition. This cycle, OAR awarded $36,687 to 10 programs that support autism education for over 7,000 students in grades K-8. Since 2012, OAR has helped educate more than 257,000 students…
Arlington, VA, September 29, 2025 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) announced the recipients of the 2025 Community Grant Competition today. These grants support the development of practical tools intended to positively impact the health of autistic individuals. Each of the Community Grant recipients will receive a one-time grant ranging between $1,000-$15,000. This year,…
When I joined the RUN FOR AUTISM team for the 2023 Bank of America Chicago marathon, I did not expect to be able to raise nearly $4,000 in less than three weeks, exceeding my initial fundraising goal by $2,500. This was only made possible by sharing my fundraising page with friends and family members and sharing…
There is no standard autistic child. Some feel loud noises to be painful, while others find eye contact unbearable. Diverse symptoms indicate diverse perspectives on processing the world and its information. Because of this, a standard education system does not always serve them effectively. Especially reading – the cornerstone of traditional academic instruction – which…
A recent analysis of 338,415 health records found that males are being diagnosed with autism earlier in life while the age for females has remained static, and many are not diagnosed until adulthood. In 2024, 44% of boys were diagnosed before age 5 while only 34% of girls were diagnosed before age 5. Epic Research—the…
