News and Knowledge

In 2014, OAR’s Board of Directors and Scientific Council decided to make every effort to schedule their annual meetings in conjunction with autism conferences around the country whenever possible. This led to meetings in Boston and sponsorship of the Current Trends in Autism conference in November 2015, followed by meeting in Columbus, Ohio, and a partnership with Ohio’s Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) in 2016.

These successful partnerships fueled OAR’s desire to strengthen relationships with other organizations within its network in order to increase learning opportunities for both its board of directors and the hosting organization’s participants. It was for this reason that OAR looked to collaborate with the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SAARC) in Phoenix, Ariz., for the annual board and Scientific Council meetings, which took place on October 11-13.

The Phoenix venue gave OAR’s leaders the chance to witness firsthand why a PBS series described Phoenix as “the most autism-friendly city in the world.” As the series highlighted, First Place AZ and SARRC played huge roles in earning that compliment.

The day before OAR’s meetings, members of OAR’s board, Scientific Council, and staff toured First Place Transition Academy, an intensive community-based program designed to teach young adults on the spectrum the life skills they need to lead independent lives. Students in the program regularly patronize community businesses that are both familiar with ASD and welcoming. Program founders specifically designed the First Place program to be easily replicated by other organizations, notes Denise Resnik, co-founder, president, and CEO of First Place.

SAARC is a long-time partner of OAR and an internationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to autism research, education, evidence-based treatment, and community outreach. Its mission is to advance research and provide a lifetime of support for individuals with autism and their families. Members of the board and staff toured SARRC on Friday, October 13. Christopher Smith, Ph.D., SAARC vice president and research director, and Nicole Matthews, Ph.D., both recipients of OAR research grants, welcomed the group into their research center to learn more about their operations and cutting-edge research. Research efforts focus primarily on improving early identification and behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments. Additionally, the research center tracks longitudinal data on its clients to better inform autism services across the lifespan.

That afternoon, SAARC leveraged OAR’s expertise by hosting a symposium for SAARC staff featuring Scientific Council members Peter Gerhardt, Ph.D., Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., and Patricia Wright, Ph.D. “It was truly our pleasure to host and support OAR. And our team certainly received plenty in return,” says Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D, president and CEO of SAARC and a member of OAR’s Scientific Council.

By visiting SAARC’s various sites, OAR learned how the organization conducts autism research in early identification and intervention, applies evidence-based practice to support individuals on the spectrum across the lifespan, and strengthens employment and independent living skills among young adults on the spectrum. OAR plans to use the information it learned to strengthen its own fundraising and outreach programs.

In between the tours, OAR’s Scientific Council and board went to work completing the annual Applied Research Competition, awarding six new research grants for 2018, and approving the operating plan for the next year. OAR will announce the new grants and grantees in next month’s issue of “The OARacle.”

OAR regularly hosts its annual board and Scientific Council meetings between October and November. If you know of any organization that would be interested in partnering with OAR to host professional development opportunities or speaking engagements during that time of year, please contact info@researchautism.org.