October has marked a celebration of disabled people in the workplace since 1945. Now known as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), this occasion invites all people to recognize the challenges and accomplishments of disabled workers and the importance of disability inclusion in the workplace. In honor of NDEAM, OAR is excited to present its…
The academic year has just begun and schools have begun re-opening for in-person learning, but the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant has prompted some districts to continue offering remote learning as an option. In collaboration with Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), a public cyber charter school, OAR has expanded its peer education program so that it can be…
As this issue’s Perspective notes, research has consistently shown that autistic people disproportionately experience eating disorders, with the prevalence ranging from 1.4% to 7.9% among autistic people compared to a range of 0.6% to 2.8% in the population overall. Despite this prevalence, few eating disorder recovery resources exist that specifically address the needs of autistic…
In July’s How To, Juliet Hiznay, special education advocate-attorney, writes about how to deal with trauma, both its causes and symptoms. She also provided this list of resources related to trauma. Research Articles About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, National Center for Injury Prevent and Control, Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and…
Many families expect an increased need for safety planning during the summer, when their autistic kids’ routines are disrupted, and they may encounter unfamiliar environments, people, and situations. Additionally, time off school gives kids an opportunity to learn and practice safety skills in their community. OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety helps…
Last month, OAR hosted a Health Webinar Series that examined critical health care issues faced by young autistic adults. If you missed these live events, don’t panic. All of OAR’s webinar events are available online. Stay tuned to The OARacle over the next few issues as we dive deeper into mental health challenges that disproportionately…
In celebration of April’s National Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, OAR is offering a three-part health webinar series. The series will highlight research and resources that address critical issues related to health and health care access, mental health, and suicide prevention. All three webinars are free and include a Q&A session. Those who attend the…
April Autism Awareness Month is the perfect time to foster peer acceptance and inclusion in schools. Widespread misunderstanding of autism is a common issue in schools across the country, which can, in turn, lead to a host of larger discriminatory issues like social isolation and even bullying. Level Up the Lesson Autism Tuned In is an…
As classrooms, organizations, and individuals around the country gear up for National Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in April, they now have access to a high-quality resource: OAR’s Friendship Tip Sheets, released in December. Available online or in hard copy through our store, the tip sheets can help typical kids be understanding, supportive friends to…
It’s fun for students to learn about their classmates using the Kit for Kids peer education program. Now that fun is more easily available! For the first time, OAR’s Kit for Kids activity workbooks can be ordered as paperbacks. First created as a digital download in 2013, the activity workbooks are organized by grade levels…
