“It takes a village to raise a child” describes the importance of having many people interact with children to help them grow and achieve their full potential. As the mother of a son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I know what it takes to “build a village” for a child with ASD. It takes hard…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched the Milestone Tracker, a free app that enables parents and health care providers to monitor children’s attainment of developmental milestones. Part of the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” program, the new app aims to educate families and encourages them to seek the help of…
This blog was originally published on Milestones Autism Resources Blog and is re-posted with permission. You can check out the original blog here. As families look to the year ahead, it is natural to ask yourself how you can better ensure a more productive and positive year for your loved one on the spectrum. Teen…
Like every summer, we went on a vacation. Like most summers, it was a beach vacation. Like most vacations, my son’s autism made the trip more challenging. Would I still go for a vacation next year ? Yes, of course ! I can’t let meltdowns and anxieties come in the way of a new adventure.…
Just last month, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies that will begin in 2018. These new grants, totaling $176,090, bring OAR’s total research funding to over $3.6 million since 2002. This is the first of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Though research…
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) necessitates that all school districts in the country make available transition services for individuals with disabilities once they reach age 16. Yet, according to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, research that addresses lifespan issues, including transitions to adulthood, physical and mental health conditions, and community integration, consistently remained the…
Adjusting to the unstructured freedom that comes with attending college can be difficult for anyone, but for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the college experience can be especially challenging. In addition to learning to lead independent lives juggling social and academic demands, students with ASD have limited services and accommodations to support their…
The transition from school-age years to adulthood is a stressful period for families of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Under the best of circumstances, the shift from school to life after graduation can be difficult. These challenges are amplified when individuals with ASD present with significant support needs (e.g., behavioral problems). Most experts agree…
OAR is accepting applications for the 2018 OAR Scholarship Program through Monday, May 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers one-time $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United…
This post originally appeared on The Mighty. It is re-posted here with permission. I am raising three unique individual humans. I have a 6-year-old boy who is not a morning person, is smart but “lazy” and has a huge heart. My 4-year-old daughter loves all things creepy, is so sassy and is a mother hen. My…
