This year, OAR is updating the Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research guidebook with the generous support of the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. Last month, Linden Dixon, the alternate national executive committeeman for the Department of Virginia American Legion, and PDC George Lussier, past department commander for the Department of Virginia American Legion, presented OAR with the first half of the grant award.
OAR is incredibly thankful for the Foundation’s continued support of its programs. The Foundation has funded several of OAR’s programs, including the Kit for Kids and “What’s Up with Nick?” peer education programs and Life Journey Through Autism: A Military Guide for Families. Since its founding in 1955, the Foundation has awarded more than $15 million to assist other organizations that reach out to young people with physical, mental, or emotional challenges.
A Parent’s Guide to Research holds a special place in OAR history as the first of nine installments in the Life Journey through Autism series. Released back in 2003, the guide aims to help families newly diagnosed with autism navigate research to make better-informed treatment decisions for their child. To date, A Parent’s Guide to Research has reached the homes of more than 15,000 families. OAR provides this and all of its informational resources free of charge, both in paperback and as online downloads.
OAR is updating the guide to help parents better understand how to read online information critically. OAR is collaborating with Kara Hume, Ph.D., Nancy McIntyre, Ph.D., and Sallie Nowell, Ph.D., from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute to update the guide and ensure it contains the most relevant and current information for parents. In addition to covering information about online news and social media, the new resource will cover evidence-based research, current trends in autism research, and updated sources of autism research.
If you are interested in reviewing the guide and providing constructive feedback prior to publication, OAR is seeking volunteers who would like to serve as reviewers. Potential reviewers include:
The two-week community review period is expected to take place this month. OAR will make final changes to the guide based on community feedback and publish the guide over the summer. All reviewers who contribute meaningful suggestions will be acknowledged in the guide and will be notified once the publication is released and available to order. Those interested in serving as reviewers can sign up here.
For questions or comments, contact OAR at programs@researchautism.org.
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