News and Knowledge

OAR is hosting two free webinars in April on crisis safety planning and self-determination.

Seminar in Crisis Safety Planning for the ASD Population

Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m., ET

Presenter Scott Fowler will discuss wandering and elopement, working with first responders, seclusions and restraints, and bullying in the school environment. Both professionals and parents will come away with best-practice tools to support children and teens with ASD.

Fowler is the co-founder of AutismOutreachNetwork and has worked in public education for over two decades, serving as a teacher, lead teacher, assistant principal, and principal and working in a central office capacity. His experience raising a child on the spectrum have led him to be a strong advocate and voice for families facing safety challenges. He has provided training for school systems, the hospitality industry, law enforcement, and other enterprises that benefit from a better understanding from autism awareness.

Register for Seminar in Crisis Safety Planning for the ASD Population, which includes a Q&A session.

Self-Determination: Tips for Including Students in their Education and Transition Planning

Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. ET

Presenter Deborah Hammer will introduce the fundamental concepts of self-determination for students with autism and related disabilities, with input from student members of the self-determination club she facilitates. Her presentation will cover how to teach these concepts, power-standards for IEP goals, how to include students in the IEP process, and other strategies for supporting students in developing self-determination skills. Self-advocates are encouraged to attend.

Hammer has worked professionally for over two decades on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families. As the autism specialist for Arlington Public Schools, she provides training and support to school staff, parents, and students. She is the founder and facilitator of a social club for young adults with autism and related disabilities, Cool Aspies, and advisor to a student self-determination club. She also frequently presents at national and international conferences, including Autism Society of America, Council for Exceptional Children, and the National Autism Conference. She was the recipient the Eileen Crawford Award for Educators in 2017 and has twice been a recipient of the Arc of Northern Virginia’s Educational Leadership Award.

Register for Self-Determination: Tips for Including Students in their Education and Transition Planning, which includes a Q&A session.

Questions? Comments?

Please contact programs@researchautism.org or call 703-243-9762. For more information on OAR’s webinar program, or to view archived presentations of past webinars, go to OAR’s website.