Networking stinks. Yes, I said it. Why? The Oxford English Dictionary defines networking as “the action or process of making use of a network of people for the exchange of information, etc., or for professional or other advantage.” That definition doesn’t help very much. Et cetera is an indication of continued similar things. “Other advantage”…
Does the mere mention of networking make your heart race? If so, you’re in good company. Autistic job seekers often find networking even more stressful than others do. But with the right skills, tools, and a deliberate approach, you can create a productive and successful networking campaign. Why network? In today’s competitive job market, it’s…
OAR has awarded scholarships to 64 students for 2024, bringing the scholarship total to $1,909,500 provided to 622 autistic students since 2007. That is the highest number of scholarships OAR has ever awarded in a single year. This year, the Schwallie Family Scholarships, Hussman Scholarships, and Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color attracted 1,096 applicants,…
OAR’s fall 2023 webinar series, Autism in the Workplace, focused on practical strategies, tools, and accommodations for supporting autistic employees. If you weren’t able to make it to the live events, you can access the archived webinars on OAR’s website: Autism, Disclosure, and Workplace Accommodations: Melanie Whetzel from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) discussed workplace…
OAR has awarded 55 students with scholarships for 2023, bringing the scholarship total to $1,717,500 provided to 558 autistic students since 2007. This year, 1,112 students applied for one of three OAR scholarships: the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, the Schwallie Family Scholarship, and the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color. All three scholarships provide one-time $3,000 awards…
Maybe you’re looking for experience in your desired career field. Or maybe your parents said it’s time for you to pay for some things on your own. Or maybe you just want to make some money over the summer to open a savings account. Whatever the reason, searching for a job or internship can be…
OAR is excited to announce that Synchrony has pledged $200,000 over the next two years to support the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color and the Synchrony Tech Careers Scholarship. These two new scholarships will receive $50,000 each for their initial scholarships to be awarded in 2022. The Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of…
Due to the changes COVID-19 has wrought on the employment market, OAR has extended our Jobtimize pilot through the end of the 2020 in order to continue supporting job seekers during this challenging time. Job seekers can use the Jobtimize interest and skills assessment for free through Hire Autism. The Jobtimize assessment highlights a job…
Adults with autism often face high levels of unemployment because of their social and communication challenges. OAR created a new program that aims to help close the gap with virtual support from trained volunteers. C. Murphy, a college student from southeastern Virginia, recently landed the perfect part-time job thanks to the help of a Hire…
Many people with autism find comfort in structure, lists, and routines. Not me. I’m one of those people who absolutely cannot operate within such constraints. It’s one of the reasons I became a self-employed artist to begin with. However, some degree of goal setting and measurement is necessary to turn a talent into a successful…
