Autism Acceptance Month Is Around the Corner
February 09, 2023
By: Organization for Autism Research
Categories: Education, Employment, Families, OAR News, RUN FOR AUTISM
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.
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.
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:
For questions, comments, or bulk orders, please contact the Programs team at 571-977-5391 or via email.
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
Employers
Community members
To learn more about how you can get involved or contribute to Hire Autism’s mission, contact Courtney Carroll.
RUN FOR AUTISM is OAR’s signature running and fundraising program. The RUN’s goals for April are to:
For more information, email the RUN staff at run@researchautism.org.