I am thrilled to announce I will be a part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team (organized and offered by the Organization for Autism Research [OAR]) in the New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023! https://researchautism.org/
As many of you know, I work as the Clinical Director for an exceptional person-centered organization (Carousel Connections) that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and colloquially known as Autism. My clinical work with Self-Advocates with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) inspires my desire for more research and resources for these awe-inspiring individuals and their family systems.
As both a Clinician and Researcher, I recognize the value of research in helping to create opportunities for advances in practice. The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is an example of using research and the voices of self-advocates to offer enhancements in practice across many environments.
SOME BACKGROUND ON OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) was created in December 2001 – the product of the shared vision and unique life experiences of OAR’s seven founders. Led by these parents and grandparents of autistic children and adults, OAR set out to use applied science to answer questions that autistic individuals, their parents, families, teachers, and caregivers confront daily. No other autism organization has this singular focus.
WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO? OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team in specific ways toward their projects listed on their website and I will briefly list here (all this information is from the OAR website; anything with an * reflects Dr. Patty’s words):
$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers. Research indicates that many teachers in the general education classroom feel unprepared to serve the growing number of autistic students. The Curriculum in a Box is an autism resource for teachers that provides school districts, schools, and teachers with the foundational knowledge and effective classroom strategies they need to be better able to teach autistic students. Designed for flexibility, the program can be used by administrators for small staff meetings, facilitators for large professional development sessions, or individuals as a refresher. The Curriculum in a Box is a comprehensive professional development program designed to provide middle and high school teachers with the knowledge and evidence-based strategies needed to support their autistic students in the general education classroom. This curriculum for autism includes everything teachers need to host a professional development session: two 75-minute PowerPoint training presentations, to be used together or separately, with video clips, participant handouts, activity worksheets, and scripted facilitator notes. https://researchautism.org/educators/curriculum-in-a-box/
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders. OAR’s A Guide to Safety was written with help from parents, first responders, educators, and community members, who shared their strategies and resources to address safety threats that commonly arise during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This resource helps educate parents about how to prevent and mitigate emergency events, safety threats that may affect their child in the future, and how to teach safety habits that will build a foundation for safety in adulthood. A Guide to Safety covers a range of topics, including: Safety network development Prevention and management of wandering and elopement behaviors Relationship, physical, and sexual safety discussions Strategies to address bullying and online threats Tips on money and workplace safety Sample identification documents Advice from an adult self-advocate Evidence-based safety skills lesson plans https://researchautism.org/resources/a-guide-to-safety/
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school. OAR’s Kit for Kids program is designed to teach elementary and middle school students about their autistic peers. The kit is centered around an illustrated booklet entitled “What’s Up with Nick?” This colorful, kid-friendly booklet tells the story about a new student, an autistic boy named Nick, through the eyes of a typical peer. The story teaches children that autistic students may think differently or need some accommodations, but all students are of equal worth and should be treated as such. OAR’s Kit for Kids helps address these problems; educating children about autism will foster a greater understanding of the disability and its characteristics, as expressed in school settings. This improved knowledge will lead to a more compassionate and inclusive classroom environment. *This is extremely important to cultivate kindness, acceptance, and integration into non-siloed communities; to truly offer connections within communities not just specific to disabilities. https://researchautism.org/oaracle-newsletter/oars-kit-for-kids-promotes-friendship/
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation. Military sources indicate that more than 13,000 military dependents, the majority of them children, have some form of autism. Their families face all the emotions and challenges that accompany having a child diagnosed with autism, compounded by the realities of military service: war, extended family separation, frequent moves, varying access to specialized healthcare, and other stressors that complicate and often work against effective treatment for children with autism. These families need help navigating these uncharted and difficult waters. OAR created A Guide for Military Families and its companion website, Operation Autism, expressly for military families that have autistic children. Their purpose is to give each family the tools and access to information that it needs on its unique life journey through autism. https://operationautism.org/
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism. OAR announced eight new research grants from the 2022 Applied Research Competition. These new grants, which total $313,712, brings OAR’s all-time total research funding to more than $4.74 million since 2002. See link for current research projects supported by OAR. https://researchautism.org/oaracle-newsletter/congratulations-to-the-2022-applied-research-grantees/
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college. The Organization for Autism Research’s scholarship program awards $3,000 scholarships to students across the autism spectrum. We are pleased to invite applications from persons with an autism diagnosis (DSM-IV or later criteria) pursuing full-time, post-secondary, education in any of the following: four-year undergraduate college or university, two-year undergraduate college, trade school, technical school, vocational school, or cooperative life skills program. Since 2007, the OAR Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $1,552,500 to 503 highly deserving autistic students. https://researchautism.org/oaracle-newsletter/congratulations-to-the-2022-applied-research-grantees/
$40,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study. OAR’s annual Applied Research Competition is the most competitive line of funding we offer. Researchers can apply for 1-2 year grants of up to $40,000. Our Scientific Council, augmented by highly qualified professionals from the autism community, evaluates and recommends the most promising research proposals through three rounds of review: letters of intent, full proposals, and final selection. Our Board of Directors approves all grant awards based on the recommendations of the Scientific Council and established research priorities https://researchautism.org/researchers/applied-research/
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO RUN THE NYC MARATHON? I was born and raised in New York so running the NYC marathon has been a bucket-list item for a long time. I was hoping to do it before turning 40, so this is the perfect year to check this item off my list! I had the chance to run the Virtual NYC Marathon in 2020 but I am craving the in-person experience on the streets of NYC! As many of you know, I’ve been a runner for most of my life (see above picture from my High-School track days) and continue to use running as an outlet for self-care, relaxation, regulation, and both mental and physical strength. The last decade of running has included stroller running, double-stroller running, solo running, trail running, and long-distance training with the support of an exceptional running coach, Laura Norris. My goal for the NYC marathon is to finish feeling strong, confident, and proud.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about RUN FOR AUTISM, OAR, and my running journey. If possible, consider making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance the Organization for Autism Research's great cause!
*FYI: While I am professionally aligned with RUN FOR AUTISM’s mission and share my professional role at an organization doing outstanding work for adults with disabilities, all fundraising efforts will go towards OAR (Office of Autism Research). Just wanted to be very transparent about boundaries and roles! This fundraising effort will exclusively support the RUN FOR AUTISM team for the Office of Autism Research (OAR).
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