As a new college student, it’s normal to feel both excited and nervous for life on campus. After all, you’re surrounded by new people, and you likely don’t know most of them. This is a great opportunity to start fresh, try new things, and make friends. Making connections can make your new college campus feel…
OAR interviewed Samantha Harker, a 2020 Schwallie Family Scholarship recipient and member of OAR’s Scholars’ Society, to ask her how she made the transition from high school to college and what advice she has for autistic students pursuing postsecondary education. The Scholars’ Society offers long-term engagement and support for students who have received awards through…
In April 2021, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized a board-designated grant to fund a two-year project implementing that program at Empire. Led by Noor Syed, PhD, BCBA-D, assistant professor of applied behavior analysis and director of the Center for Autism Inclusivity, “Creating an Inclusive Institution through Multitiered Systems of Support” seeks to expand inclusivity and…
“Transitions are not about what is probable but about what is possible.” This quote, slightly tweaked, comes from OAR’s Guide for Transition to Adulthood. It perfectly suits this August Perspective in which a small group of Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship winners and their parents describe how the post-secondary programs they attended are preparing them for…
This blog post has been adapted from “Chapter 5: Postsecondary Education” of OAR’s resource “A Guide for Transition to Adulthood”. Although times are still uncertain, many students are making the decision this month to start college next year. Whether classes will be held online, delayed for a later start date, or resume as usual on…
College. The word conjures up so many images and experiences. For incoming freshmen, those experiences are likely to include adjusting to independence, exciting opportunities to grow, and keeping up with a rigorous academic schedule. These resources help students with autism know what to expect and how to adapt to college life and academics: OAR’s Finding…
Deciding when and how to disclose autism is complex and personal for each individual with autism and for their parents, particularly when making decisions about school and in the workplace. For this Perspective column, OAR asked three people with autism, Peyton Berardi, Laura Guerro, and Ben VanHook, and three parents, Susan Berardi, Lee Guerro, and…
Louis Scarantino is an autism self-advocate. In this post, Louis discusses his experience in college, and what he would change if he had the opportunity to return. Louis’ story provides excellent insight on what it is like to attend college as someone on the spectrum. Every child goes to school from kindergarten through their senior year…
Michael John Carley is a self-advocate who frequently visits companies to discuss topics related to autism. In this post, Carley writes about how we, as a society, fail individuals with autism by not creating a comprehensive sex-education guide. This is the second post in a series about sex-education; this was originally posted on Sinkhole. The politics…
Michael John Carley is a self-advocate who frequently visits companies to discuss topics related to autism. In this post, Carley writes about how we, as a society, fail individuals with autism by not creating a comprehensive sex-education guide. This was originally posted on Sinkhole. In 2003, I founded the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership…
