Mathematics skills are crucial to postsecondary success. Autistic secondary students need instruction that explicitly prepares them to apply the skills they learn in school to real-world settings. Simply knowing what to do without knowing when or why is insufficient. With generalization and independence as the ultimate goal, students need instruction that addresses the skills necessary…
OAR is pleased to announce the fall 2020 winners of the Autism Education Grant Program. Launched earlier this year, the Autism Education Grant Program supports projects that aim to promote autism awareness and acceptance among students in grades K-8 using OAR’s Kit for Kids Peer Education Program. OAR has helped educate more than 135,000 children…
Research shows that paraprofessionals can implement supports in the classroom that will enable them to address challenging behavior among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has also shown that functional communication training can be implemented in school settings among students with ASD. What research has not shown, however, is if paraprofessionals can deliver functional…
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many school districts to hold classes remotely this fall. While virtual learning can be difficult for students on the autism spectrum and their parents and teachers, it also provides the opportunity to take advantage of online resources. OAR’s online educational resources can supplement virtual learning for a range of audiences:…
For parents of students with special needs, including those with autism, the decision about returning to school is magnified. On the one hand, remote learning is the safest option in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. On the other, getting kids who need specialized services back into the classroom is critical in order to make…
OAR takes great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and Schwallie Family Scholarship for 2020. The two scholarships attracted over 600 applicants and the 33 awards total $103,000. With these additional scholarships, OAR has awarded a total financial contribution of more than $1,170,000 to 389 students with autism since the…
With a new school year drawing closer, school districts across the country are weighing difficult decisions about the best way to continue education for their students while keeping them safe and stopping the spread of COVID-19. From remote learning to in-person classes to some hybrid of the two, educators are weighing a variety of solutions…
The transition from adolescence to young adulthood can create both anxiety and excitement for young people. For students with autism, anxiety may outweigh excitement as they may face greater challenges than their typical peers in attending college, navigating social situations, or figuring out a potential career path. To help reduce the stress and anxiety that…
“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 Two: Individualized Education Programs” of OAR’s resource “Navigating the Special Education System”. If you have a child with autism who is currently in school, they might have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP provides a description and action plan for the services and supports necessary for…
