People with autism are significantly more likely to interact with law enforcement officials than those without disabilities. These encounters can become tense, even dangerous, when the police officers on the scene fail to recognize the signs of autism and mishandle the situation. It happens more often than you might think. When a police officer encountered…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for seven new applied autism research studies in 2020. These new grants, totaling $275,000, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4 million since 2002. This is the final of seven previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)…
In celebration of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in April, OAR delivered two free webinar events on the topics of safety and self-determination. For those who missed the live events, the archived video presentation and resources can be accessed on OAR’s webinar page. Next Webinar: Transportation Options Join OAR’s next webinar on September 17 at…
This month we are featuring a How To that was originally published in The OARacle in September, 2015. As an autistic self-advocate, I consider myself fairly lucky to have been relatively unaffected by bullying for most of my life. However, it is an unfortunate fact that many other autistics are very likely to be affected…
OAR is hosting two free webinar events in the coming months on the topics of self-determination and travel training. Those who attend the live events will receive a certificate of attendance. Self-Determination: Tips for Including Students in Their Education and Transition Planning Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. ET Presenter Deborah Hammer will introduce the fundamental…
My father died almost 40 years ago. Nonetheless, hardly a day goes by without something Dad taught me coming into play. Sometimes it’s a direct memory. Other times it’s a turn of phrase, a joke, or a pun. He loved the English language, the spoken word, and the gift of conversation. What would he be…
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are psychiatrically hospitalized at significantly higher rates than peers with other developmental or psychiatric conditions, according to several studies from the past few years. Not only that, but they are more likely to go to an emergency department due to a psychiatric or behavioral crisis, more likely to be…
The new year is a great time to update your family, school, and crisis safety plans. Don’t have them? OAR will help you build them from scratch by providing Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety. Autism presents a range of safety challenges across the lifespan, whether it’s wandering incidents in childhood, cyberbullying during…
This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter 2: Childhood” of OAR’s resource “Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety”. While your neighborhood can (and should) feel like a safe and familiar space, consider the potential threats posed by physical elements outside your home: roads, parking lots, traffic, etc. Bodies of water (e.g., pools,…
While the use of virtual reality in teaching and supporting people with autism is not new, educators and others are finding new ways to use the technology. A Massachusetts school district, for example, has turned to the technology to serve its students with disabilities. According to a DisabilityScoop article, the Holten Richmond Middle School of…
