Ready…Set…Plan! by Crystal Sanford Ready or not…here comes summer! It’s almost time for family vacations, dipping our toes in the sand or pool, and savoring late-night sunsets. But for some, summer doesn’t bring excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, for some parents of autistic children, summer only brings more anxiety and fear of the unknown. Autistic individuals…
All parents worry about their children’s safety, especially when the family is out of the house for any reason, from a walk in the neighborhood to a 4th of July parade. Parents of children with autism may experience heightened anxiety and concerns due to their child’s lack of expressive and receptive language, focused interests, and…
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…
Sensory processing challenges are not uncommon for autistic kids. Common triggers can include anything from scratchy clothing to loud noises or bright lights. These triggers can create a sensory overload that makes your child feel overwhelmed or upset. They might avoid trying new things and consistently seek out quiet places to be alone. As a…
The internet connects billions of people around the world, providing information and opportunities to bond with others around shared interests. Just as in your school, place of worship, or with any community group, the internet connects many different kinds of people. For example, there are online communities of teens and adults on the autism spectrum…
With the holidays upon us, many of us are traveling – to get away for a vacation or to visit family members. For autistic people, as well as the parents of autistic children, travel has often been too stressful and overwhelming to consider. Recent news articles have highlighted progress in the travel industry, with airlines,…
Autism Training for Sexual Assault Counselors is designed for college sexual assault counselors to provide them with information about autism and guidance on working with autistic survivors of sexual assault. The 90-minute training includes three modules: Autism Sexual assault and autism Counseling sexual assault survivors who are autistic The modules are designed to provide learners…
Bullying is defined as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Bullying peaks in the middle school years and can take many different forms: physical, verbal, psychological, and even cyber. Given that adolescents with autism have difficulty understanding social rules…
It is summertime, and pools, beaches, lakes, and ponds are wonderful places to enjoy recreation. For autistic children, though, places near water can be dangerous because they have a tendency to wander. A 2018 study that surveyed parents reported that 40% of them said that their child had wandered or attempted to wander at least…
During the summer months, children will spend a lot of their free time outside. So, it’s important to have a plan in place to prevent wandering and elopement of children on the spectrum. OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety has useful tips on how to explain autism and your child’s tendency to…
