OAR’s new Self-Advocate Advisory Council (SAAC) will help OAR identify specific needs and quality-of-life factors for the autistic community that OAR can address. This addition of lived experiences is critical to supporting the autistic community. “OAR’s challenge, and that of the autism community as a whole, is learning how best to engage and support autistic individuals themselves through their quality-of-life prism, not ours,” noted Peter Gerhardt, OAR’s Scientific Council chair. “So we need to engage, listen, and communicate if we are to understand what the important things are in their lives. Then we need to apply the OAR evaluation and creative process to deliver resources that are timely, effective, and supportive of those quality-of-life factors.”
Current members include Deborah Hammer, SAAC chair, and Lyric Rivera, Shea Belsky, and Justin Boatner. To learn more about each member, visit the SAAC page on OAR’s website. “The creation of the SAAC demonstrates OAR’s commitment to including the perspectives of all stakeholders when creating guides, webinars, educational materials, and other resources,” said Hammer. “Having the voices of actual autistics supports OAR’s efforts to be neuro-affirming and address the needs of a diverse community.”
Since its September 2024 inception, SAAC has already held two engaging and productive meetings, which involved in-depth discussions on the current needs of the autistic community and how OAR can help address those needs. Council members also discussed ways they can support OAR with OAR’s current programs and initiatives. As a direct result of these initial meetings, SAAC members are planning to create an accessibility toolkit to provide guidance on how to improve universal accessibility and inclusion.
SAAC’s 2025 goals include:
As OAR looks to the future, SAAC members will be tasked with providing guidance and consultation on OAR’s upcoming resources, supporting OAR’s continued understanding of the dynamic needs of the autistic community, and sharing insights and lived experiences to proactively help OAR with resource and program development.
If you have any questions about SAAC, please contact Ben VanHook.
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