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…
“Not until we are lost, do we begin to understand ourselves” – Henry David Thoreau When I moved to my first college to major in pre-veterinary studies, I had lots of hopes for the future. Less than one semester later, I was at rock bottom, in the middle of a thyroid- and trauma-induced major depressive…
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 article is the fifth of six previews to be featured in The OARacle this year. Since 2007, rates of suicide…
“I don’t know where to turn for help.” I have heard this exact sentence from countless autistic individuals and their family members across the country, and it breaks my heart every time. Many autistic children, adolescents, and adults have mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression. Unfortunately, finding appropriate supports or resources is often…
For autistic kids, everyday safety risks are often magnified. Staying safe requires your child to develop an important set of skills and to apply them to a variety of situations. As you think about how best to ensure the safety of your autistic child, there are some guiding principles that you should keep in mind.…
As we prepare to close the books on what likely has been the most unusual school year in decades, it’s safe to say things will probably continue to look different next year. Some students will return to the classroom full time with social distancing measures in place, while others will begin the year with remote…
