News and Knowledge

Kimberly Ha and Wendy McKinnon recently joined OAR as programs and outreach associates. Both have backgrounds in education. Ha has a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and came to OAR from a teaching job with Teach for America in Philadelphia. She was a high school special education teacher, and taught some students who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She also did case management work, which involved handling student IEPs and progress monitoring.

McKinnon came to OAR after two years as an English language teacher in Japanese public schools. Her undergraduate degree, from the University of Delaware, is in English and political science. After graduation, she says, she “developed a strong commitment to public interest work. I have previously worked for organizations that advocate for education, labor, employment, and women’s rights. The common thread among all these places is an emphasis on parity, access, and opportunity. These goals align perfectly with OAR’s mission.”

 When she was in Japan, McKinnon worked at a special needs school where she taught students who were on the spectrum. “The strongest relationships I made as a teacher were with the kids I met there. The experience was rewarding, but certainly not without its challenges. My time teaching at that school motivated me to explore special needs advocacy opportunities when I returned to the States.”

As an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh studying cognitive psychology and neuroscience, Ha worked in research labs. During an internship with the Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders (ABOARD), she realized that there was a strong need to connect researchers with the rest of the community. Coming to OAR gives her an opportunity to make use of that experience and her teaching experience. ”While I was applying for the job, a friend of mine looked at me and said,

‘I have never seen you so excited about a job before,’” says Ha. “I am excited about having the opportunity to advocate for people on the spectrum. I wanted to be part of OAR’s mission because I truly believe in it. That in turn makes me wake up every morning with a strong sense of purpose.”

Ha is enjoying her OAR colleagues, noting that her favorite part of the job is “working with a competent and collaborative team, and being able to operate independently on major projects at the same time.” McKinnon also appreciates the team spirit she has found at OAR. “Not only are the people at OAR kind and welcoming, but they do amazing, inspiring work with real results. It is an honor to work alongside the OAR team.”

McKinnon and Ha share a common goal for the upcoming year: designing, implementing, and sharing OAR resources and programs that will help the autism community.