Choosing the right ABA therapist for your child is a big decision for any parent. You need to feel comfortable that their style and personality will work well with your child’s specific needs and feel confident that they possess the right experience and expertise. However, knowing what to look for and how to assess therapists…
It is a grey autumn day in New York City in 2002. We are standing in the waiting room of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai Hospital waiting for the results of Josiah’s exploratory procedure. We are accustomed to seeing our son in a hospital setting. He was in the Neonatal Intensive…
In the Marine Corps, you may hear spouses talking about a motto similar to “Semper Fidelis.” “Semper Gumby” translates roughly to “always flexible,” thanks to the 1950s claymation character named Gumby. The ability to adapt and overcome adversity directly correlates with positive outcomes for military families. Executing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move is…
OAR is proud to announce we have joined forces with Partners in PROMISE (PiP). PiP’s mission is to protect the rights of military children in special education by partnering with military families, military service organizations, and legislators. As a PiP Resource Partner, OAR will offer its resources for military families through PiP to reach even…
Military families face all the emotions and challenges that accompany having a child diagnosed with autism, compounded by the realities of service: war, extended family separation, frequent moves, varying access to specialized healthcare, and other stressors that complicate and often work against effective treatment for children with autism. In response to these challenges, OAR created…
OAR is pleased to share the newly redesigned Operation Autism website in support of military families affected by autism. OAR is committed to supporting military families impacted by autism by providing this updated resource that addresses the many challenges they face: extended family separation, moves, varied access to specialized health care, and more. According to…
Orders and transfers to new duty stations are part of everyday life in the military. Rarely do military families establish roots anywhere before the next set of orders has them planning, packing, and executing a move to another duty station. While moving can be a difficult transition for anyone, it can be especially challenging for…
Change. Every military family will experience it at some point in time when they choose to serve. In fact, it seems to be the only thing a military family can count on as the service member changes positions and moves to another installation. When I sense the edginess and anxiety in the faces of our…
If you are a military family, we don’t need to tell you that military families that have children with disabilities are considered underserved. In fact, says Vicki Farnsworth, assistant director at The Branch, that’s why her organization was established in January 2015. The Branch Military Parent Technical Assistance Center builds the capacity of federal parent…
One of my all-time favorite military leaders is General Colin Powell whose lessons in leadership, selfless service, and diplomacy have helped me navigate our family journey and my own personal journey of work, advocacy, and leadership at our local, state, regional, and national level. Gen. Powell’s principles have resonated deeply with me as I work…
