As this issue’s Perspective notes, research has consistently shown that autistic people disproportionately experience eating disorders, with the prevalence ranging from 1.4% to 7.9% among autistic people compared to a range of 0.6% to 2.8% in the population overall. Despite this prevalence, few eating disorder recovery resources exist that specifically address the needs of autistic…
Most people recall some chapter in their lives that they would look back on and identify as burnout. This term usually refers to the amount of energy someone has for their job or that they have taken on too many activities in general. In the autistic community, however, the word has taken on a different…
July is halfway over, and with the summer flying by, many students are starting to think about the fall semester. For autistic students, campus housing can present a number of unique challenges. From navigating shared spaces to dealing with sensory mismatches to understanding the social demands of dorm life, the experience of living on campus…
I wasn’t diagnosed with autism level 1 until later in life. I was 35 when my counselor and I figured it out. It still took a while to get an official medical diagnosis. But once I did, it was one of the most validating things I’ve ever experienced in my life. I finally had the…
This blog post has been adapted from “Self-Advocacy: Changes in Disability Supports” from OAR’s resource “Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Students on the Spectrum”. College may still seem far away for many students, even those who are starting this coming fall, but it’s never too early to learn about the opportunities and challenges…
At some point, it’s going to happen. A “normal-seeming” co-worker, friend, or relative will approach you in confidence and share that they are autistic. Since most of us have only been exposed to autism through freakish savant stereotypes via popular media, this co-worker, friend, or relative may look nothing like what you expect. Because of…
I was diagnosed with autism at age 15, shortly after, I enrolled in an honors college program full-time. From a young age, I felt as if I was missing something. I wasn’t like many of my peers. I analyzed ideas differently. It was as if I was created with a different processing unit. Similarly, my…
When reflecting on my transition to adulthood as an autistic adult, I see a roller coaster of experiences full of many different types of challenges, successes, and growth. In hindsight, there are things wish I would have known when I was a teenager preparing for adulthood, even things I wish I knew when a young…
When we think of the self-advocacy movement, we think of people with disabilities being in control of their lives, making decisions, and directing their life story. However, many self-advocates say that they don’t get the same support regarding sexuality and relationships as they do when they say they want to get a job or to…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2021. These new grants, totaling $240,000, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.4 million since 2002. This is the second of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Autistic college students report increased depression,…
