School is not only the place children go to learn math and reading, among other subjects, it’s also a place where they make friends, often friends whose friendship spans a lifetime. That ability to make friends is a struggle for many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who find it difficult to master the necessary…
It’s not news to anyone in the autism community that, for many people with autism, finding a job after high school is stacked with obstacles. Project SEARCH is working to eliminate those obstacles. Project SEARCH is an innovative program that provides real-life work experience for people with disabilities. It originated at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical…
Lindsey Siff and Alyssa Grzesiak recently joined OAR for summer internships. Both will be working at OAR until mid-August. Siff was motivated to do her internship at OAR because several of her family members have been diagnosed with autism. Grzesiak looks forward to expanding her knowledge about autism generally and more specifically about the resources…
Next month, OAR will award an all-time high of 50 scholarships to students with autism pursuing higher education, an increase of 11 over last year. This year’s awards have been made possible through the continued generosity of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation, increased support from the Schwallie Family Foundation, and the amazing efforts of a…
There are a lot of new changes that come with starting college. You are in a different place, making new friends, and studying fresh subjects. A lot of students also seek out new activities, like joining a club or organization. However, going to a loud and crowded activities fair may be overstimulating to navigate while…
All colleges have a department along the lines of Student Accessibility Services, which strives to create a barrier-free and equivalent environment for students with disabilities. Students are able to demonstrate independence and self-advocacy by discussing their needs with this department. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), certain accommodations are mandatory if requested by students.…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2018 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Each offers one-time $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…
OAR is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 Graduate Research Grants. The program awards up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to those in doctoral programs to conduct research related to autism. This year, OAR awarded 11 grants totaling $21,000, including four grants to student researchers in Canada, Israel, and South Africa. These…
Dr. Gerhardt, OAR’s founding Scientific Council chairman, gave a 45-minute presentation on the topic of transition planning, including a review of current national autism indicators; the definitions of quality of life; and the advantages of community-based instruction for targeting key skills in areas such as employment, transportation, extracurriculars, and communication. Of the 700 plus registrants,…
Parents know the challenges that come with advocating for their children with autism. One of the most important ways to support them is for parents to communicate regularly and clearly with school administrators to ensure that their child’s academic and social needs are being met to the fullest extent possible in the least restrictive environment.…
