Press Release

Arlington, VA, September 29, 2025 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) announced the recipients of the 2025 Community Grant Competition today. These grants support the development of practical tools intended to positively impact the health of autistic individuals. Each of the Community Grant recipients will receive a one-time grant ranging between $1,000-$15,000. This year, OAR awarded $79,374 to support seven winners identified out of 109 submissions.

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients!

Creciendo Juntos: Early Autism Support Program
Yovana Bustamante
Posibilidades Infinitas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Community-Based Inclusive Basketball Program Toolkit
Rosa Chang
Korean American Special Education Center, Anaheim, California

Universal Design for Neuroinclusive Onboarding: Healthcare, Work, Community
Melissa Houser
All Brains Belong VT, Montpelier, Vermont

Visual Cookbook for Autistic Children
Syed Mariam Hussain
The 7Q Foundation, Annadale, Virginia

A Guide to Good Hygiene During MPs
Teddy Kemirembe
Bella Smiles for Developmental Disabilities, Tacoma, Washington

Side by Side: A Children’s Book Series for Siblings of Autistic Children
Amy Stewart
Owl’s Nest Learning Hub, Salisbury, Maryland

ADJUSTING: Personally & Socially
Timika Wimberly
Easter Seals East Georgia, Augusta, Georgia

OAR thanks the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) for co-sponsoring this program. Recently published community grant resources from past grantees can be found here.

OAR will pause the Community Grant competition for the 2025–2026 cycle and will not be accepting applications during this period. Over the coming year, OAR will conduct a thorough evaluation of the program to strengthen its impact and ensure it continues to reflect the priorities and needs of our community stakeholders. The program is expected to resume in some form later next year, with updates posted in OAR’s monthly newsletter, The OARacle, as they become available.

For questions or comments, please contact Vivian Muhumuza, grants and programs associate, at (571) 977-5391 or e-mail vmuhumuza@researchautism.org.

About OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national non-profit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism. OAR is dedicated to promoting research that can be applied to help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions. Learn more at www.researchautism.org.