A thing I do every time my girls get a new teacher (or begin kindergarten) is write a letter, and explain autism and what it means and looks like for our family. I do this for a few reasons: So I don’t have to repeat myself constantly, and to open up the dialogue about autism.…
Sexuality is a central component of socialization for all people and can play a major role in an individual’s overall self-identity and quality of life. Unfortunately, the discussion and promotion of this area of adaptive and social functioning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often avoided. A number of myths regarding sexuality and…
These recommendations from OAR’s “A Guide to Safety” can help you steer your adolescent in a healthy and safe direction. Luke is a teen with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like any other teenager, dating and relationships are something he thinks about a lot. Like many of his peers with ASD, he doesn’t understand the unspoken…
In January 2015, OAR released “A Guide to Safety,” the newest installment of the “Life Journey Through Autism” series. Since then, OAR has distributed over 3,000 copies to homes, classrooms, fire and police departments, and resource libraries. Designed with families, educators, and first responders in mind, the goal is to give readers the tools and…
The Senate did not vote on a revised version of “Kevin and Avonte’s Law” before the close of its December session, meaning the bill will not become law. Named after two boys with autism who died after wandering away from a supervised environment, the bill would have expanded a program that funds tracking devices for…
In December 2016, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2017. These new grants, totaling $178,866, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.6 million since 2002. This is the second of six previews to be featured in “The OARacle” this year. Approximately 40 percent of youth with…
OAR is now accepting applications for its Applied Research Competition and Graduate Research Grant Program. Since 2002, OAR has funded 220 applied and graduate research studies totaling more than $3.6 million. OAR hopes to continue this success in 2017 by supporting research studies that provide practical and useful outcomes to individuals with autism and their…
I am not the perfect parent, but as the mother of a child with autism, there are things I’ve learned along the way. I’d say the biggest lesson I can take away from raising a child on the autism spectrum is to always stay positive and patient. I’m not saying I can do it all…
Just last month, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2017. These new grants, totaling $178,866, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.6 million since 2002. This is the first of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Four in every 10 youth with…
I recently heard from a parent who was in the process of moving to a new city. She was very concerned about helping her son, Andre, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adjust to all of the upcoming changes a move entails, including a new house and a new school. I assured her that there…
