OAR News

OAR has received many compliments on the resources and informational materials it has produced over the years.  What often goes unnoticed are the people on OAR’s staff who take ideas and turn them into the practical, hands-on resources that have become OAR’s hallmark. One of those people is Saman Kamgar-Parsi, senior programs associate, who joined OAR in November 2016 and will leave in June to attend graduate school this fall.

In the eyes of Mike Maloney, OAR’s executive director, “Saman is simply one of the best we’ve ever had!”

Reflecting on her experience at OAR, Kamgar-Parsi said, “OAR is made up of individuals who really care about the work. They are devoted to constantly improving so that they can serve the autism community as effectively as possible, and that’s something I really admire.”

As one of those individuals, Kamgar-Parsi is glad she has had the opportunity to equip people with information they needed but had not been able to find until they came to OAR.

Her most important contribution to OAR, and the largest project she has taken on in her career to date, is Sex Ed. for Self-Advocates, which was released last month. Kim Ha, director, research and programs, says, “Saman possessed the knowledge, commitment, and skills that were essential to the project’s success. We couldn’t have done it without her. Saman’s contributions have left an indelible mark on OAR’s history and list of accomplishments.”

“It was a huge part of my time at OAR, spanning a full two years, with plenty of bumps along the way. The staff worked really hard to make sure the information was accurate and presented in a useful way for self-advocates. I hope it has a lasting impact and helps people navigate the tricky territory of relationships.”

Kamgar-Parsi’s last day at OAR will be June 7. She will begin graduate school in August pursuing a master’s degree in social work and plans to take on more direct service work.

She will leave OAR, she says, with the lesson that “kindness is in the details and those details matter. This is the case whether I was talking with an applicant for OAR’s scholarship program, writing content for a resource, or if I was answering an inquiry from a military family in need of supports.”

OAR salutes and thanks her for her kindness, professionalism, and many contributions and wishes her well in all her future endeavors.