News and Knowledge

Marie Kish and Maria Veve recently joined the OAR Board of Directors, Kish in January and Veve in March. They are both parents of children with autism and both eager to be involved with an organization that makes positive contributions to the autism community.

Kish, who lives in Tysons Corner, Va., is “particularly interested in practical solutions for neurodiverse people.” The mission of

OAR aligns with her values, she notes. She is a partner in the Ernst & Young LLP National Assurance Practice with more than 15 years of experience serving clients in a variety of industry sectors.

As her son gets older, she hopes he can reach his potential as a contributing member of society as a working adult. For that reason, she says, she wants to ensure that Hire Autism succeeds at its mission of providing job opportunities for people with autism. “I believe the Hire Autism mission is critical to maximize the contribution that people with autism can make to our society and the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that people with autism can derive from contributing to society through work,” she notes.

Veve was struck by the emphasis OAR places on using research to make a practical difference in the lives of people with autism and their families. She hopes to contribute to OAR by helping to take autism research to the next level. “I wanted to be part of the movement and momentum that would allow me to make a difference. OAR is committed to making a difference through research every day.” A resident of Tampa, Fla., Veve is a family care specialist with the Lifelink Tissue Bank, where she has worked in a variety of roles since 1990.

Her first experience with OAR was through the RUN FOR AUTISM. “I fell in love with the website, the articles, so warm, inviting, and very authentic. The people as well were outstanding. I called a lot. I was new at running a marathon. I was new at fundraising. It was an incredible experience.” Introduced to the staff through that experience, she was impressed by the teamwork that she saw. “Without the power of team, you cannot do all that OAR does for the autism community. It speaks volumes.”