News and Knowledge

OAR is pleased to share the newly redesigned Operation Autism website in support of military families affected by autism. OAR is committed to supporting military families impacted by autism by providing this updated resource that addresses the many challenges they face: extended family separation, moves, varied access to specialized health care, and more.

According to CAPT Edward Simmer, Chief Clinical Officer and TRICARE Health Plan Officer in Charge, there are more than 28,000 TRICARE beneficiaries diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Of those, more than 15,000 take advantage of their medical benefits through the Autism Care Demonstration.

The redesigned features a more advanced resource directory that lists military bases, schools, and ABA-providers by location, as well as updated content critical to navigating the military health care system. More specifically, the website offers information on:

• Facts and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder
• Autism interventions and treatments
• Military healthcare coverage
• Strategies to ease transitions and PCS moves
• How to establish and maintain a record management system
• Additional resources relevant to autism and military families

More information about the website design and content changes can be found in this press release.

We are also excited to announce that the updated companion guide, Life Journey Through Autism: A Military Guide for Families, is available for pre-order and will be distributed within a few weeks. We encourage parents to order and use this free reference tool with their families. We also invite EFMP liaisons to share this valuable resource with service members and their families. For bulk orders or questions or comments on OAR’s military families initiative, please contact us at programs@researchautism.org.