For as long as the autism and disability communities have existed, they have engaged in a robust conversation about labels. This ongoing conversation has been tied to deeper conversations about disabled people’s worth, needs, and rights. When OAR was founded in 2001, person-first language, which places the personhood of the individual before their disability, was…
Parenting is never easy, but parenting during a pandemic poses entirely new challenges. For many, if not all of us, school is going to look different this year. For parents of children with special needs, this burden is unique as we take on the role of teacher, paraprofessional, and therapist, all while juggling work, family,…
In July OAR held its second annual Active for Autism 5K, transforming it from an on-site 5K into a global virtual event that was a huge success. The event quickly surpassed our original fundraising goal of $40,000, raising more than $70,000. More than 500 runners, representing 34 different states and 6 different countries, participated. OAR…
My children are teaching me about how to approach the school year. My family learned many lessons over the last six months. We learned how much we valued each other, how much we could endure together, and how to help others. With four daughters at home ages 2, 4, 6, and 20, my school day…
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:…
Living in a rural area has made getting the right diagnosis and proper treatment for my son with autism a problem I didn’t anticipate. Like many children with autism, he requires many hours of a variety of therapies to thrive. But what happens when my son can’t receive the treatment he needs? In rural areas…
This blog post has been adapted from Chapter 5 of OAR’s resource “A Parent’s Guide to Research”. Research studies can be very good sources of information about autism, but they can also be difficult to read and interpret. However, most professional journals that publish research studies use a standard format for reporting research which consists…
Amidst all of the challenges that being in a pandemic brings, trying to replicate the routines that have been lost remains the top hurdle that many autism parents face. And it’s even more essential for your child, who may face additional challenges such as not keeping a mask on or having trouble staying motivated to…
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…
This column first ran in the July 2016 issue of The OARacle. We invite you to read its evergreen message and apply the writers’ suggestions to your situation. There are few virtues more important than independence. Universally, nations and their citizens strive for independence. Teenagers seek independence from their parents. Small children tell their parents,…
