As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I work closely with adults, children, and families with Autism. I decided to run the Big Sur Marathon for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) to raise both awareness and funds for autism research. Through my work, I’ve gained firsthand experience with the communication and socialization challenges faced by individuals…
When raising children, many parents hope their kids will form close sibling bonds, sharing memories and experiences that will stay with them for life. But when one child is neurotypical and the other is autistic, parents may wonder how to foster this connection in ways that respect each child’s unique needs. The sibling dynamic in…
On February 13, President Donald Trump established through executive order the Make America Healthy Again Commission with a charge to investigate and address “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases,” including autism. He selected Robert Kennedy Jr., who was recently confirmed by Congress as Secretary of…
“I’m not a fast runner. I’m not an elite runner or a marathon maniac. I’m just a dad.” While humble about it, Dillon TenBrink is no stranger to marathons; he’s been running them for the past 15 years. This spring, he’ll run the 2025 TCS London Marathon as part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team.…
The transition to college is a difficult time for any student, but being an unidentified autistic person made this transition exponentially harder. I started uncovering my identity as an autistic person during my freshman year of college, a process that came with a lot of shame, confusion, grief, and unanswered questions. Transitioning to college comes…
RUN FOR AUTISM team member Mackenzie OConnell summed up one of the aims of the 2025 United Airlines New York City half team well: “Let’s run to celebrate neurodiversity.” It’ll be her first half marathon when she takes on the race with 42 teammates in March. “I am not much of a runner and never…
Many discussions about autistic adolescents and young adults focus on skill development. Caregivers and professionals play an important role in teaching skills like executive functioning and social interaction to promote independence. These skills, taught throughout childhood, are crucial for becoming a successful adult, so why is the transition to adulthood often so challenging? For autistic…
An estimated 61.8 million people, or one in 127, around the world were autistic in 2021, according to new data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 recently published in The Lancet. As noted on the Learning Disability Today website, this estimate is substantially higher than the 2019 estimate of one in 271. While…
OAR is thrilled to celebrate acceptance and creativity through our fifth annual Youth Art Contest. Autism is a spectrum, and so is creativity. So, young artists, dream big and let your creativity shine! We can’t wait to see the fantastic artwork you’ll create. This contest is open to autistic children and their siblings, classmates, and…
Join OAR to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with the seventh annual Active for Autism 5K and Kids Dash this April! This fitness and fundraising event spreads autism awareness and acceptance in our communities and raises money for OAR’s Changing Lives Fund, which directly supports research and programs. Your registration fee and money raised will directly…
