Self advocate Jackie Parslow shares her experiences about being in a romantic relationship with someone who is also on the autism spectrum. This was originally posted on The Mighty. My fiance Peter and I are both autistic. While we love each other dearly, there are still obstacles with communication and other differences. As Dr. Stephen…
Self advocate Jordan Aukema shines some light on the often times overwhelming experience of sensory overload and strategies on how to cope by detailing his own encounters with this challenging phenomenon. This was originally published on The Mighty. When you hear “sensory overload,” what do you think? Most would think a loud room with lights and things rubbing against…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2018 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers one-time $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…
The $1.3 trillion spending package signed by President Trump in March provides funding to aid people with disabilities who wander, increase special education funding, tackle restraint and inclusion, and implement other measures as well, says a March 28 Disability Scoop article. Most notably, the article says, the legislation provides $2 million annually through 2022 to…
“Lucas is not getting along with others in the class room.” “We need to observe his behavior.” “Is everything okay at home?” These are words a mother does not want to hear. Lucas was only in kindergarten when I heard those words. I had my own question for teachers, school specialists, and administrators: “What is…
OAR is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 Graduate Research Grants. The program awards up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to those in doctoral programs to conduct research related to autism. This year, OAR awarded 11 grants totaling $21,000, including four grants to student researchers in Canada, Israel, and South Africa. These…
Dr. Gerhardt, OAR’s founding Scientific Council chairman, gave a 45-minute presentation on the topic of transition planning, including a review of current national autism indicators; the definitions of quality of life; and the advantages of community-based instruction for targeting key skills in areas such as employment, transportation, extracurriculars, and communication. Of the 700 plus registrants,…
Since October, Hire Autism has helped 17 individuals find meaningful work in a variety of positions. In addition to the registration processes for jobseekers and employers, the website features links to many autism-friendly employers and an average of 25 available jobs listed weekly. After wrapping up its demonstration phase this summer, Hire Autism will expand…
Parents know the challenges that come with advocating for their children with autism. One of the most important ways to support them is for parents to communicate regularly and clearly with school administrators to ensure that their child’s academic and social needs are being met to the fullest extent possible in the least restrictive environment.…
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 fifth of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Research suggests that many preschool children with…
