The OARacle Newsletter

It ain’t over until it’s over. – Yogi Berra

December 13 will be OAR’s 21^st birthday, and my final day as OAR’s executive director. Kristen Essex, our deputy executive director, will take over and become OAR’s day-to-day leader.

Last month I drew upon a quote from the late Yogi Berra in the annual letter to OAR’s supporters. The one I cited here seems more fitting for this occasion. While it clearly will be “over” for me in a matter of days, the most important aspect of the big change on December 13 is that OAR and OAR’s mission will continue full steam ahead on December 14. That’s not to say that my stepping aside after 21 years is routine. Hardly! In fact, it’s the first big leadership change in our history. We are ready.

First, a quick history. In November 2001, as OAR’s seven founders contemplated whether to form the Organization for Autism Research, they asked themselves, “Does the autism community really need another autism organization?” They weren’t sure, but decided to give it a try. They figured we would know within six months to a year if the fledgling organization would get off the ground. So, off we went!

By the end of 2002, OAR had engaged some of the leading researchers, practitioners, and autism professionals to form its Scientific Council, launched its first website, awarded its first two applied research grants, $30,000 each, and was just a month away from publishing its first resource, Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research. Clearly OAR had gotten off the ground.

Fast forward 21 years, the Scientific Council still provides the science-based foundation so vital to OAR or any research organization. OAR has its third-generation website and two more, Operation Autism, a unique resource for military families impacted by autism and Hire Autism, an employment hub and jobs portal that supports autistic jobseekers and employers seeking to hire them. With the new grants we approved last month, OAR has now funded 308 research studies totaling more than $4.7 million since those first grants in 2002. And the Parent’s Guide to Research, updated and republished in 2019, now is one of nine Life Journey Through Autism resources we developed and distribute to parents, teachers, and more for free.

Without dwelling more on our list of accomplishments, suffice to say that OAR has well exceeded our founders’ and my vision. Our efforts for the past two decades stand as testament to the quality of our work. More important, our body of work endures as the rock solid foundation for OAR going forward. As I said before, OAR is ready. Here’s why:

• Success builds success. Twenty-one years has given us a proven record of success. From the first guidebook to the latest research grant, each step we take builds on what we have done before.
• Mission and values. They have been consistent and unwavering throughout OAR’s 21 years and are just as relevant today as they were then.
• The Board of Directors lead and govern with generosity, passion, and integrity, and the Scientific Council takes OAR’s mission to heart and keeps OAR grounded in science.
• Supportive community. For 21 years we have drawn strength and support from the autism community. The breadth and scope of that support continues to grow every year.
• OAR staff. The secret sauce! From day one in 2001 to today, the people on our team have been the drivers of all the good things OAR has done.
• Homegrown talent. Of many things I’m proud of during my time at OAR, the team we have built is at the top of the list. They are people who have grown with OAR, earned positions as our managers and directors on staff, and now stand ready to support Kristen and lead OAR to even greater success.

Speaking of Kristen, OAR’s soon-to-be executive director, she has a record of excellence with OAR going back more than seven years. No one is more deserving, qualified, or ready to assume the mantle of leadership. With Kristen in charge, I guarantee that OAR will definitely be here on December 14 and won’t miss a beat after that. She and the team will take OAR to heights well beyond anything I envisioned.

So, while it will be “over” for me on December 13, it ain’t going to be over for OAR. I wish Kristen and her team every success and look forward to seeing how much higher OAR will fly. Finally, I thank you for your interest and support in our first 21 years.

Mike Maloney is OAR’s executive director, a position he has held since OAR was launched in 2001, a Marine Corps veteran of 23 years, and the proud grandfather of Maxon, Selah, and Cameron Maloney.