The Blue Envelope Program, an initiative designed to improve communication between autistic drivers and law enforcement officers, has been adopted statewide or locally in 30 states, as of February 2026. The program, which began in Connecticut in 2020, aims to reduce anxiety for autistic drivers while promoting understanding in police officers, instructing law enforcement about common behaviors…
I have collected Pokémon cards since I was about five years old. It felt like the most natural thing in the world until high school, when suddenly it didn’t. When I noticed other students had different interests, I tucked that part of myself away, convinced that my interests were something to be ashamed of rather than celebrated. …
“Do autistic children really want friendships?” As parents and practitioners, we may have asked ourselves this question. If a child prefers solitary activities, struggles with conversation, or interacts differently than peers, we may wonder whether relationships are important to them. The answer emerging from decades of psychological and developmental research is both simple and profound: human beings…
Most parents spend years teaching their children how to stay safe. Look both ways before crossing the street. Don’t talk to strangers. Call home if plans change. But many autism families eventually realize there’s another conversation we need to have. One that most parents never imagine having at all. What happens if your autistic child or loved one interacts with police? …
When we talk about supporting autistic individuals, we often rely on models and strategies developed in cultural contexts very different from our Arab reality. While these tools may be scientifically sound and effective, their true success emerges only when they are understood and applied in the child’s language, within the family’s culture, and in harmony…
Each year, OAR lays out ambitious goals for engaging community members in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. Throughout the beginning of this year, OAR staff worked with parents, educators, autism professionals, autistic individuals, and employers to support their local initiatives and promote autism acceptance. Thanks to the dedication of community partners like you, OAR helped foster…
“We are people of color, we’re Black, that’s part of our culture…the experience as a Black caregiver, it’s very, very layered.” The caregiver went on to say that the experiences of Black caregivers of autistic children are layered due to intersecting identities led by how they perceive themselves and how they are perceived and treated…
For Latinx families in the United States, healthcare services are not always easy to navigate for reasons beyond mere language barriers. The challenges encountered while pursuing health services for their autistic loved one can escape even the most culturally competent healthcare settings. Susana, the mother of an autistic nonspeaking 6-year-old boy says it best: “When…
In October 2025, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for eight applied autism research grants. These new research grants, totaling $397,372, bring OAR’s total research funding to $5.8 million since 2002. This article is the fourth of the previews in The OARacle this year. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a widely-used, evidence-based, cost-effective therapy for…
Diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, are trendy topics in today’s world. So, what do they mean? Diversity, equity, and inclusion are interconnected concepts that aim to ensure fair treatment, representation, and a sense of belonging for all individuals, particularly those historically marginalized. The concept of DEI has roots in social justice movements of the…
