Our son, William, who is in the 8th grade, plans his Halloween costume a year in advance. Yes, officially our holiday season begins long before the fall. William is not concerned with what others think. He chooses his costume and takes to the festivities of the day. Maybe it is just the simple pleasure of…
It’s holiday season, a time of thanks, joy, and quality time spent with loved ones. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or attending one as a guest, there is a lot of preparation involved, from picking out which outfit to wear to deciding what dish to make. For your loved one with autism, there are…
How is it that my autistic son will be nineteen years old next month? How is he not still the cute little dude who used to fit on my lap; how is it that he is now so much bigger than me that I am now wearing his hand-me-downs? Time flies just as fast when…
While the use of virtual reality in teaching and supporting people with autism is not new, educators and others are finding new ways to use the technology. A Massachusetts school district, for example, has turned to the technology to serve its students with disabilities. According to a DisabilityScoop article, the Holten Richmond Middle School of…
OAR’s August 12 webinar about addressing problem behavior is available for viewing on our website. Led by Dr. Jane Barbin, the webinar covered critical topics such as: Reasons problem behaviors can occur Behavioral intervention plans Ways to collaboratively increase positive, replacement behaviors Of the 75 participants that provided feedback: 93 percent reported the content as…
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…
College students with autism have the same desire as other college students: to become independent and obtain a degree that will lead to a career. Many need support yet retreat from services that focus on remediating difficulties, to the exclusion of developing strengths. They view intervention focused on remediating difficulties as an obstacle to independence…
One of the scariest times for a parent is when their child goes to college. If you are the parent of a child with autism or other disability, this time becomes even scarier. Parents who have been advocating for their child for several years through events like IEP meetings and therapist appointments are suddenly told,…
In this piece, sibling Eddie Grabill describes his transition to college and separation from his younger brother, Tommy, who is on the autism spectrum. When I left for college, I was very nervous about how Tommy would act. Tommy has struggled with dealing with changes his entire life. It is hard for him to understand…
In this piece, sibling Eddie Grabill reflects on his experience growing up with his little brother, Tommy, who is on the autism spectrum. My little brother Tommy is two years younger than me, and he has autism. Growing up with Tommy was very difficult. We went to the same high school and he would always come home…
