Receiving a child’s autism diagnosis can be one of those moments in life when a raft of old notions shatters, and you are swept away by a tumultuous new reality. It can be hard to get your bearings and find a way to move forward after your world is turned upside down. You may need…
In 2018, OAR gave a $2,000 Graduate Research Grant to Sara Spong, who was then a doctoral student at Regent University pursuing a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. Her study examined stress and resiliency factors in caregivers of autistic children. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting…
Employment is one of the most significant structural challenges individuals with autism and those who love them face. According to the 2015 National Autism Indicators Report, issued by Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 58% of young people with autism have never worked during their early 20s. In contrast, over 90% of young adults with…
These resources offer information related to money management and financial preparation for self-advocates and families of autistic individuals and others with disabilities. The ABLE National Resource Center The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 (S. 313/H.R.647) was introduced in the 113th Congress and became law on December 19, 2014. In 2015, the…
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How to Dance in Ohio, a new musical, will open on Broadway on December 10, 2023, at the Belasco Theatre, with previews beginning November 15. The show follows seven autistic adults in Columbus, Ohio, as they prepare for their first dance. They spend 12 weeks practicing their social skills as they get ready for the…
“Did you talk to them about Kelsey?” That always became a common refrain around the house when either myself or my brother were potentially going to start dating someone. To be fair, we both married women that we met during our high school years, so it’s not like this was a regular occurrence. But, because…
Bullying is defined as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Bullying peaks in the middle school years and can take many different forms: physical, verbal, psychological, and even cyber. Given that adolescents with autism have difficulty understanding social rules…
Adulthood brings increasing levels of independence, choice, and personal control. For students in special education, adulthood begins with what is known in the special education system as “transition” — when an individual leaves the K-12 education system. As it is for everyone beginning their adult lives, the transition period is marked by great potential —…
Our 32-year-old son, Matt, has what I call “classic” autism. With limited communication and social skills — and generally unaware of danger — he struggles to let us know when something isn’t quite right. Occasionally, he suffers from tonic-clonic seizures that are unpredictable and can result in a medical emergency. But Matt also has a…
