News and Knowledge

Scott Lillard recently joined the staff for a two and a half month internship that will conclude at the end of October. He came to OAR from Memphis, Tenn., after graduating with a master’s degree in history from Case Western Reserve University in the spring of 2013 and working abroad as a civilian for the U.S. Army in the interim.

He chose OAR for his internship as a way of giving back. He explains, “When I was just

diagnosed, resource centers, like OAR, helped my parents gain insight into what was goingon. I wanted to do my part to make sure that help continues. I also wanted a firsthand experience of the positive impact research-based initiatives, like those sponsored by OAR, can have for someone on the spectrum.”

His day-to-day work at OAR is centered on communications and outreach, including working on the newsletter, social media, and OAR’s blog. “It helps me understand the diverse perspectives of the people we’re trying to reach,” he notes. Scott will also be connecting with military families through the Operation Autism Web site and contributing to OAR’s forthcoming Life Journey through Autism guide that helps parents understand and address safety concerns across the lifespan.

“Working on the rollout of the sibling outreach resources” has been his most rewarding experience, he says. “It hit home for me because I have a little sister. There were a lot of things in those resources that I wished she had had growing up like how to deal with the embarrassment she felt because of her brother’s odd behavior.”

“OAR allows professionals just starting out to make some of their first contributions serving people on the spectrum and their families. That’s what I came here hoping to find,” notes Lillard, who plans a career in autism services. “During my interview, I remember asking what previous interns had gone on to accomplish, and they told me about the group of 2009 interns that helped get A Guide for Military Families and the Operation Autism Web site off the ground. And they cited the number of interns who had gone on to work in fields like speech pathology. It was very clear that working here has had an effect on a number of people’s careers.”