News and Knowledge

Record-breaking Year

It was a record-setting year for OAR.  We moved past the $3.7 million mark in total research funded with our grants in October.  Our RUN FOR AUTISM program is just dollars short of $800,000, almost $70,000 better than our previous record. We exceeded our goals for distributing resources and outreach in April, and we introduced a webinar series that exceeded our best expectations in terms of quality and response from the community. Thanks to the generosity of the Schwallie family and Board member, Lisa Hussman, we increased the number of scholarships awarded to young people with autism from 40 to 50, a 25 percent increase. Finally, the Hire Autism program in Northern Virginia has helped 29 individuals with autism find jobs in the last year, and 49 employers have registered as Hire Autism Business Partners. Congratulations again to our research grantees, scholarship winners, and successful job seekers on your accomplishments.  Thank you to the staff, runners, donors, volunteers, and friends who make all this happen.

Hire Autism

Over the last year and a half, Hire Autism has succeeded in finding meaningful employment for individuals with autism ranging from internships to full-time work. Aaron Lagunoff, one of our successful seasonal hires, exemplifies how Hire Autism can open doors for job seekers who have the determination to enter the workforce. Despite a speech disfluency issue, Aaron was able to excel in his work at a local country club and endeavored to build his skills in the hospitality industry. At the conclusion of his seasonal position, Aaron was offered a spot in the Disney College Program, an on-the-job training experience.

We are also elated to share that our first successful hire transitioned from part-time employment to full-time work this year. Hire Autism wholeheartedly believes in the abilities of our job seekers to impress employers and grow within their roles. We are committed to helping individuals with autism through their employment journey.

In 2019, we will host a job workshop to introduce Northern Virginia high school students with autism to the future world of employment. Entitled “Level Up: Tips and Tricks to Get Your First Job”, it will feature three sessions that will equip young jobseekers to launch a job search, create a resume and complete job applications. Hire Autism plans to host similar events in other locations throughout the area during the year.

Additionally, we will begin recruiting our first cohort of five Hire Autism advocates, volunteers with extensive job experience, who will help our jobseekers navigate their job search. Those job seekers, and other self-advocates, will be able to take advantage of an online employment center that will be launched later next year.

Research and Programs

This time last year, we released the much-anticipated Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Students on the Spectrum guidebook and its companion microsite, College Central. The guidebook has found its way into the hands of more than 2,200 young adults with autism seeking guidance on the transition to independent living and college life. College Central provides unlimited space for self-advocates to share their experiences with the hope of teaching others in similar situations a few tips on the topics of self-advocacy, academics, social and campus life, jobs, and money.

Looking to 2019, we have a running start by carrying three near-complete projects forward into this year:  the new Operation Autism website, an updated Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide for Military Families, and the much anticipated Sexuality on the Spectrum, an online sex education resource for self-advocates. Each would be “the” major accomplishment in any other year. Look for them in the next three months. Once they are completed, we will start updating our very first resource, Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research and publish that updated edition by the end of the year in addition to our hallmark programs, the Applied Research Competition, Graduate Research Grants Program, and OAR Scholarship program.

RUN FOR AUTISM

On April 14, 2019, the Organization for Autism Research will be hosting the first annual Active For Autism 5K!  This 5K will help spread autism awareness while raising money to fund life changing research, provide free resources to families and educators, help award scholarships to students on the spectrum.   Friends and families are invited out to this fun race along the Potomac Yard Trail in Alexandria, Virginia. This family friendly race will feature a safe, flat, and fast out and back course, kids dash, and post-race party.

This first year event is a great opportunity for OAR to engage with our local community and supporters in Virginia and DC.  While this years’ event will primarily focus on the 5K and kid’s fun run, in the future the goal is to incorporate other fitness and educational opportunities in to the event.

Anyone interested in being a part of the first annual Active For Autism 5K, registration will open on January 1st.  For those who are not able to make the event can either donate or participate as a virtual runner and receive race perks.

Best wishes for the holidays.  On behalf of OAR’s Board of Directors and staff, here is wishing your family, friends and you all the peace and joy of the holidays and good health and happiness in the New Year.