Women constantly deal with inherent gender biases in everyday conversations, jobs, and social life; new research shows that this gender bias is seen in diagnosing women with autism. The Guardian reported on a new study found the ratio of women to men with autism to be 3:1; these results were based on active screening rather…
On the surface, a visit to the dentist can certainly seem scary to any child, especially a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. According to a 2011 study, nearly half of parents with children who have ASD describe their children’s oral health as either poor or fair. After…
Melanie Makovsky, a blogger, writes about how back to school for her family is different, because two of her children have autism. In this article, originally posted on The Mighty, Melanie goes in depth on how her back-to-school season is different from most families. Sometimes it seems like back-to-school season is an extended and complicated…
OAR takes great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and Schwallie Family Scholarship for 2018. The two scholarships attracted over 500 applicants and the 49 awards total $147,000. Through this program, OAR has now provided scholarships to 318 students with autism – a total financial contribution of $954,000 since the…
Frasier Cox, a boy with autism, recently won best overall bedtime story in the Our Bedtime Story Competition. The annual U.K. competition for children between the ages of 5 and 11 offers winners the opportunity to collaborate with an illustrator and have their book published. Based on the 2017 theme of friendship, Frasier’s story, “There’s…
Two years ago, I decided it was time to talk to my son’s classmates about autism. Matthew was at a school that included kindergarten through third grade. My goal was likely the same as yours or any parent of a child with autism: I wanted my child to be understood and liked by his classmates.…
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…
The next time you’re at the grocery store, spend a few extra minutes in the bread aisle and take note of the seemingly infinite selection. As kids some 50 years ago, our choices were pretty limited: white, cinnamon raisin, rye, and wheat. Each had its own special appeal. White smothered with peanut butter and jelly…
People often refer to executive function as the “CEO” of the brain because it is what helps us set goals, plan, and get things done. It is a term professionals and lay people have used for years and it’s likely you have used it or heard it used in reference to people with autism, who…
This article is a modified version of an article that was originally published in the May 2006 issue of The OARacle. Summer is the time of year when we kick back, take time to relax (or at least slow down), and enjoy outdoor activities. As I reflect back on my summers as a child, one…
