Raise money. Fund research. Change lives.

Our intent with every dollar we raise and spend pursuing knowledge through research or creating resources is to offer support to self-advocates, parents, siblings, teachers, military families, and more. Ultimately, we do that one study, one resource, one child, one family, one school, one teacher at a time.

Since 2002, we have:
  • Funded more than $4 million in autism research in the form of pilot studies ($4,037,251) and graduate research grants ($305,793)
  • Awarded $1,068,000 in scholarships to 356 persons with autism attending college or vocational-technical schools after high school
  • Money graphic iconPublished ten guides in the Life Journey through Autism series: A Parent’s Guide to Research, An Educator’s Guide to Autism, An Educator’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome, A Guide for Transition to Adulthood, A Parent’s Guide to Assessment, A Guide for Military Families, Navigating the Special Education System, and A Guide to Safety
  • Created Operation Autism, a website that provides military families impacted by autism with information 24/7
  • Introduced the “Autism in the School House” program built around the Kit for Kids Peer Education Initiative and Understanding Autism, a “Curriculum-in-a-Box” containing resource guides and a curriculum DVD that gives middle and high school teachers a basic understanding of autism and best practices for teaching students with autism
  • Taught more than 135,000 students in grades K-8 about their peers with autism through the Kit for Kids Peer Education Initiative
  • Created and delivered three new resources related to siblings of individuals with autism, one for parents, one for teen siblings, and a fun workbook for younger siblings
  • Started the “Autism Sibling Support” initiative to help typically-developing children and teens develop positive relationships with their brothers and sisters on the spectrum
  • Created Hire Autism, a unique jobs portal that allows adults with autism to meet prospective employers in an autism-friendly online meeting space
  • Launched Hire Autism, an adult employment initiative that has helped 56 individuals with autism find jobs in the test program in Northern Virginia
  • Created Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Self-Advocates along with its microsite, College Central
  • Created Sex Ed. for Self-Advocates, an online sexuality and sex education resource written specifically for people on the autism spectrum age 15 and up
  • Launched the Autism Education Grant to expand peer awareness and acceptance of autism

Behind the numbers.

You just read the numbers, but what do they really mean? Get a glimpse of our day-to-day operations through the stories told by OAR friends. Together, we can make a difference.

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Pearl uses Kit for Kids to teach son's classmates about autism

Over the past two years, Fessenden has introduced the peer education program to more than 40 classrooms. Click here to read her story.

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Kara uses applied research to effect change

Meet Kara, OAR Scientific Council member and research scientist. “My biggest goal in research is to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism.“

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Aaron secures job through OAR's Hire Autism employment initiative

As a young man with autism and speech challenges, Aaron struggled to obtain work. That is until he connected with OAR's Hire Autism team.

Read All Stories

As an individual with Aspergers Syndrome, it is refreshing to have an organization committed to hearing the voices of individuals with Autism and genuinely caring about their life outcomes…The work they are doing is helping individuals with Autism break down barriers to success and shape a better world!

–Self-Advocate

As the [former] Executive Director of Autism Speaks, the National Capital Area Chapter, I am proud to say that we have and continue to partner with Organization for Autism Research on a number of initiatives. They have created quality resources that are practical and valuable for schools in the area. I would recommend any family, individual or organization connected to autism to navigate their site and browse through the great materials they have to offer.

–Marley Rave

I work with a state department of education. I have utilized the OAR resources since coming into my role at the state level. It has been fantastic to be able to refer families and educators to common resources which are high quality, evidence based, come in multiple formats and are FREE! It is very hard to find quality national non-profit resources which are free and transfer to both families and educators. I am glad OAR is there to help fulfill this need.

–Daniel Parker, Autism consultant

I have never seen so many individuals care so much about people! This is a top rated organization, run by top rated professionals. I will always be a part of OAR no matter what! OAR has helped so many children, families, adults and educators. I am so happy to be a part of the OAR Team as an iRun participant.

–OAR Runner

Everyone benefits from the work that OAR does. The awareness and acceptance of autism in our communities is spreading far and wide, and creating a more positive community for my son TJ, 15 with autism, to live in. As a mom of this amazing boy, I am so grateful to this organization. Every day.

–Autism mother

As a stay at home mom, OAR provided me with the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion of advocating for those with autism. I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects all which fueled my passion, allowed me to interact with amazing professionals, and help me grow professionally! The organization is professional and family friendly!

–Volunteer

I run an organization dedicated to the interests of [people] who have siblings with special needs. More than half of the participants in our youth programs have siblings with autism. So we were very excited to find OAR’s great sibling materials and have been distributing them throughout Wisconsin. Great resource for parents and professionals. Thank you for your work and continuing to research the needs of people with autism, their siblings and families.

–Autism professional, Wisconsin

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