Enhancing Self-Compassion and Decreasing Suicidal Ideation
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. These new research grants, totaling $338,844, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the fifth of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. In a 2014 study of newly diagnosed…
The Double Whammy of Food Selectivity
Across the lifespan, autistic people are more likely to have a diagnosis of obesity than non-autistic people. For this article, “obesity” refers to the medical diagnosis of an elevated body mass index. It is important to be mindful of variety in preferences related to term use (for example, a preference for “larger body size” instead…
CDC Looking into Potential Links Between Vaccines and Autism
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning a large study to look into potential connections between autism and vaccines, according to a March 10 Reuters article, even though extensive past studies have found no links. While the CDC has not provided details about the study, The Washington Post reported that the…
Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with Us
Happy Autism Acceptance Month! This year, OAR has set some ambitious and actionable goals for promoting autism awareness and acceptance across the country. Here’s how we can work together to make a difference. Goal 1: Provide informational resources to families of autistic individuals. OAR’s collection of Life Journey Through Autism guidebooks offers high-quality, research-based information…
Federal Commission Created to Investigate Children’s Health
On February 13, President Donald Trump established through executive order the Make America Healthy Again Commission with a charge to investigate and address “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases,” including autism. He selected Robert Kennedy Jr., who was recently confirmed by Congress as Secretary of…
New Data Show Global Prevalence of Autism
An estimated 61.8 million people, or one in 127, around the world were autistic in 2021, according to new data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 recently published in The Lancet. As noted on the Learning Disability Today website, this estimate is substantially higher than the 2019 estimate of one in 271. While…
Autism Acceptance Month Is Coming Up
As we celebrate the beginning of 2025, OAR is looking ahead to the ambitious goals it has set for this year, including goals for Autism Acceptance Month. Join us to promote autism awareness and acceptance in your community and across the country! Goal 1: Provide informational resources to families of autistic individuals. OAR’s collection of…
How Menopause Affects Autistic Women
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for five applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. These new research grants, totaling $288,930, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the second of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Menopause is a natural part of aging…
Improving Perioperative Care for Autistic Children
In October 2024, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for five applied autism research grants and one autism resource grant. These new grants, totaling $288,930, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.3 million since 2002. This article is the first of the previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Safe and compassionate anesthesia care for…
