My name is Ariel Coburn and I am a self-advocate. I have been drawing for as long as I have been able to hold a pencil. In October 2018, at a Halloween Party for my social group, Mrs. Deborah Hammer, the facilitator, informed me that her father needed an illustrator for a children’s book he…
“Transitions are not about what is probable but about what is possible.” This quote, slightly tweaked, comes from OAR’s Guide for Transition to Adulthood. It perfectly suits this August Perspective in which a small group of Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship winners and their parents describe how the post-secondary programs they attended are preparing them for…
Healthy dating relationships are an important part of development. However, a significant number of high school students say that they have experienced dating violence. While there are not national statistics on how many young people with autism have had similar experiences, the fact that many people with autism have trouble with social skills is a…
Being aware of something means “the quality or state of being aware.” It is not active and takes little to no effort. Acceptance, in contrast, requires action—making an effort to understand and approve of another. As noted by Kassiane S., a blog post writer on the ASAN website, “Acceptance of autistic people, like acceptance of…
In celebration of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in April, OAR delivered two free webinar events on the topics of safety and self-determination. For those who missed the live events, the archived video presentation and resources can be accessed on OAR’s webinar page. Next Webinar: Transportation Options Join OAR’s next webinar on September 17 at…
My younger daughter and I were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the same day; she was 2 and I was 39. I didn’t suspect that she was autistic until she started having intense crying fits around 18 months old. I knew that these fits, often lasting 45 minutes, were not simply toddler tantrums.…
OAR is hosting two free webinar events in the coming months on the topics of self-determination and travel training. Those who attend the live events will receive a certificate of attendance. Self-Determination: Tips for Including Students in Their Education and Transition Planning Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. ET Presenter Deborah Hammer will introduce the fundamental…
At 17 years old, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice, has been named TIME Magazine’s youngest ever Person of the Year, and has addressed world leaders in a now viral speech given at the UN Climate Action Summit. Thunberg is also on the autism spectrum and vocal…
The definitions of friendships are as unique and varied as each of us are. For this month’s Perspective, we asked two recipients of OAR scholarships to describe their experience of friendship as new college students. Connor McNally: Taking an Asocial Stance I haven’t really made any friends in college, but since I’m asocial, that’s…
In this original blog post, autism self-advocate Carrie Falcone describes her experiences with bullying and overcoming adversity. When I was three years old, my family learned that I was on the autism spectrum. My parents had taken me to a neurologist because they were concerned. I was their shy and creative daughter who not only…
