OARacle Newsletter

As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, OAR is also looking ahead to the ambitious goals it has set for 2023, including goals for Autism Acceptance Month. Join us to promote autism awareness and acceptance across the autism community.

Goal 1: Support the autism community with information resources (autistics, families, educators, professionals).

OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism guidebooks offer comprehensive, high-quality, research-based information for parents, teachers, and autistic individuals. These resources cover essential topics such as the transition to adulthood, education, and safety.

By the end of April, OAR hopes to distribute 40,000 informational resources to families, individuals, schools, community organizations, police and fire stations, and libraries.

How you can help: OAR is a national organization, but you are an expert on your local community. Please spread the word about these informative resources to people in your community. Reach out to local support groups, families, schools, organizations, community centers, or first responders who might benefit from these resources. Or sign up as an autism materials distributor and spread the word about these resources in your local community and through social media.

Your efforts will help others learn more about autism and be better community members for autistic adults and children around them. Download any of our resources for free or order up to two paperback copies of our guides for free in our online store. For bulk orders, contact us.

Goal 2: Teach students in general education about autism using the Kit for Kids program.

Autistic individuals are essential to our communities, so teaching children about their peers on the spectrum is vitally important. OAR’s Kit for Kids helps educators, parents, friends, and classmates teach K-8 students about autism. Thanks to  Nick, the autistic character featured in the Kit, neurotypical children learn that autistic students are just like them, even if they may think differently or need some accommodations. Since 2014, more than 167,000 students have learned about autism through the Kit for Kids. Let’s reach an additional 15,000 students by the end of April.

How you can help: Use the Kit for Kids materials at your local schools to help start class discussions, enhance school campaign efforts, and help build friendships among classmates through a greater understanding of autism.

In addition to telling the “What’s Up with Nick?” story, teachers can also use:

• OAR’s Autism Tuned In website, which features animated videos and online games about Nick.
• Friendship Tip Sheets to encourage students to be good friends with their autistic classmates.
• The Kit for Kids Activity Workbooks to help students engage with the materials presented in the rest of the Kit for Kids.

For questions, comments, or bulk orders, please contact the Programs team at 571-977-5391 or via email.

Goal 3: Support autistic young adults through OAR’s Hire Autism initiative.

Hire Autism is OAR’s employment initiative and aims to improve employment opportunities for autistic individuals. Since 2017, Hire Autism has directly supported over 700 job seekers, partnered with 260 employers, and trained 102 volunteers.

This year, Hire Autism aims to register 1,000 job seekers and provide Hire Autism navigators to 25% of registered users, train 45 volunteers, and partner with 80 new employers.

How you can help: Whether you are a job seeker, employer, or community member, you can support Hire Autism’s goals this April and all year long.

Job seekers

• Work with a Hire Autism navigator for free assistance with the job search, including resumes, cover letters, and interview prep.

Employers

• Create an employer account and post an unlimited number of job listings to our job board free of charge.
• Learn more about autism in the workplace through our autism-friendly employer resources.

Community members

• Volunteer with our navigator or regional ambassador programs.
• Request a presentation for your students or organization.
• Submit an upcoming employment-related event to our events board.
• Share our free Hire Autism resources with your network.

To learn more about how you can get involved or contribute to Hire Autism’s mission, contact Courtney Carroll.

Goal 4: Raise money for OAR’s programs, resources, and new research.

RUN FOR AUTISM is OAR’s signature running and fundraising program. The RUN’s goals for April are to:

• Raise $80,000 in April to fund two new research studies through its Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash. Money raised beyond the $80,000 will be used to support OAR’s mission to apply research to the challenges of autism.
• Sign up 500 athletes to dedicate their 2023 miles to autism research by the end of April.

How you can help:

• Join us for the fifth annual Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash on April 16 in Alexandria, Va., for a fun, family-friendly event.
• Join us virtually for the Active for Autism 5k and Kids Dash between April 1 and April 15. Run, walk, cycle, swim at your own pace, at times convenient for you, from wherever you are.
• Sign up and be part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team at one of our signature events.
• Share these opportunities with someone you know who wants to dedicate their miles to autism research.

For more information, email the RUN staff at run@researchautism.org.