In recent years, awareness of mental health concerns has grown, coinciding with an increased understanding of the co-occurrence of autism and mental health difficulties. New research by the University of British Columbia and the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University reported that nearly 78% of autistic children have at least one mental health condition,…
An estimated one-third of autistic people are minimally verbal, yet little research examines mental health treatment for this group. In 2019, OAR awarded a $2,000 Graduate Research Grant to Ashley Muskett, a doctoral student in psychology at Virginia Tech, to investigate the feasibility of implementing an observational anxiety assessment and concurrent physiological data collection for…
Most people recall some chapter in their lives that they would look back on and identify as burnout. This term usually refers to the amount of energy someone has for their job or that they have taken on too many activities in general. In the autistic community, however, the word has taken on a different…
In May, the Department of Education released a “question-and-answer” document providing guidance to help students, families, schools, and the public understand the rights students have that ensure their access to education as schools reopen this fall. As noted on JD Supra, a website for lawyers, the information, while not “groundbreaking,” does clearly explain what schools…
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…
It is estimated that as many as 70% of those on the autism spectrum experience co-occurring mental health issues. While some mental health concerns are being identified in individuals as early as preschool, many are more likely to manifest themselves during adolescence and into adulthood. The most common co-occurring mental health issues include anxiety and…
In November, OAR’s Board of Directors authorized funding for six new applied autism research studies in 2021. These new grants, totaling $240,000, bring OAR’s total research funding to more than $4.4 million since 2002. This study was entirely supported by funds raised by Team Robby. This is the last of the six previews to be…
Is your student fleeing the classroom, hiding under desks or in the bathroom, or becoming verbally or physically aggressive? This might be a trauma response known as “fight, flight, or freeze,” which is triggered by a sense of danger due to a current or past traumatic experience. That trauma may not be known to you…
In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month this April, OAR teamed up with several experts on autism and health to deliver our Health Webinar Series. The series covered the latest research on health and healthcare for autistic youth and adults, developments in autism-specific suicide prevention tools, and attempts to address accessibility barriers in healthcare for autistic…
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…
