My daughter, Anna, is the youngest of three children and the one who helped me to understand how important community and support are for the siblings of people with autism. As the sister of an older brother on the spectrum, Anna has always identified with autism. What she lacked was a community of peers who…
This post originally appeared on It’s A Tink Thing and is re-posted with permission. A little girl, somewhere around Tink’s age, came up to us in the soft play centre. She asked why Tink has a dummy. I told her, “because she likes it. It makes her feel safe when she’s feeling a bit worried.”…
A thing I do every time my girls get a new teacher (or begin kindergarten) is write a letter, and explain autism and what it means and looks like for our family. I do this for a few reasons: So I don’t have to repeat myself constantly, and to open up the dialogue about autism.…
Sexuality is a central component of socialization for all people and can play a major role in an individual’s overall self-identity and quality of life. Unfortunately, the discussion and promotion of this area of adaptive and social functioning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often avoided. A number of myths regarding sexuality and…
In January 2015, OAR released “A Guide to Safety,” the newest installment of the “Life Journey Through Autism” series. Since then, OAR has distributed over 3,000 copies to homes, classrooms, fire and police departments, and resource libraries. Designed with families, educators, and first responders in mind, the goal is to give readers the tools and…
I am not the perfect parent, but as the mother of a child with autism, there are things I’ve learned along the way. I’d say the biggest lesson I can take away from raising a child on the autism spectrum is to always stay positive and patient. I’m not saying I can do it all…
I recently heard from a parent who was in the process of moving to a new city. She was very concerned about helping her son, Andre, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adjust to all of the upcoming changes a move entails, including a new house and a new school. I assured her that there…
Shanell Mouland, mother of a daughter on the spectrum, shares advice for preparing for the holiday season. It’s that time of year again. When the fragrant smells of holiday baking, the flickering lights of zealous holiday decorators and the anticipation of the big guy’s visit all come together to make for seriously painful sensory reactions…
Toys R Us stores are typically known for their aisles packed with excited noisy children and busy parents. Unfortunately, it is not an environment that welcomes a child with autism who is sensitive to sensory stimulation and chaotic environments, posing a dilemma for busy parents. Toys R Us stores across the United Kingdom came up…
OAR developed the Kit for Kids program to help teach elementary and middle school students to better understand and learn to accept their peers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The kit consists of a lesson plan, peer education booklet, classroom poster, and how-to tips for parents and teachers. We sat down with Dr. Jonathan Campbell…
