Suicide is a leading cause of early death for autistic individuals. Researchers do not know whether an autistic adult is more likely to consider suicide than a non-autistic adult or if suicidal thoughts and behaviors are connected to a person’s social activity. Autistic adults seeking help for mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts, report feeling…
Research has shown that autistic adults have poorer quality-of-life outcomes than their neurotypical peers, including lower employment rates and educational achievements. A key way to improve outcomes for this growing population is to implement research-informed transition planning, which addresses core impairments in skills needed for autonomous and independent living, including self-knowledge, self-determination, and self-regulation. In…
In 2022, OAR awarded a graduate research grant to Faith Frost, who was pursuing her doctoral degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at James Madison University. Her study, “Interpretation of Indirect Requests by Autistic Adults,” examined how autistic adults determine whether a statement could or should be interpreted as an indirect request, depending on context.…
Behavioral intervention for autistic children focuses on building many skills in a short amount of time through individualized programming. That goal requires effective and efficient teaching strategies, such as prompting, which promotes the acquisition and independence of skills. However, not all prompts are effective for all learners. In her OAR-funded 2021 study, “Stimulus Prompts in…
As the number of autistic students attending college has increased, more colleges have created programs to support them. However, mental health support is often not included as a component of those programs. This is a critical lack since autistic adults face more anxiety than their non-autistic peers. A 2020 study found that 20% of autistic…
Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) provides special education services to eligible infants and toddlers from birth until their third birthday. Part C services are mandated to take place within the natural environment, meaning interventions must take place in settings where an infant or toddler naturally spends their time such…
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…
In 2019, OAR awarded a $2,000 Graduate Research Grant to Stephanie Joseph, a doctoral student at the University of Oregon studying special education. Her study examined the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce anxiety in elementary school-aged autistic children. Anxiety disorders are one of the most commonly re-occurring comorbid diagnoses of children with autism, affecting…
In 2020, OAR awarded graduate researcher Chelsea Anderson a grant of $2,000 for her investigation into the role of auditory attention in speech-in-noise processing in young autistic adults. Her research study examined how auditory attention skills affect the ability of the brain to process sounds, particularly being able to hear speech in noise. Auditory attention…
Recent data suggests that 40% of autistic children under the age of 7 have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can exacerbate autism symptoms, such as worsening sensory over-reactivity and difficulty tolerating change, and contribute to social withdrawal and avoidance. Further, anxiety in young children is associated with a 3.5 times higher risk of anxiety and depression…
