Mission

The Organization for Autism Research's (OAR) mission is to apply research to the challenges of autism. OAR funds pilot studies and targeted research, primarily for studies whose outcomes offer new insights into the behavioral and social development of individuals with autism with an emphasis on communications, education, and vocational challenges. OAR's programs revolve around funding new research and disseminating evidence-based information.

What We Do

OAR has awarded just over $3 million in grants to support 85 autism pilot studies and 84 research projects by graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in fields related to autism. A summary of each funded study can be found on the OAR website.

In addition to funding research, OAR believes that providing evidence-based information drawn from research is integral to its mission. Thus, OAR seeks to serve as an “Information Bridge” from the scientific arena to the every day world of parents and families with loved ones with autism. OAR does this through its Conference-on-the-Road program and the three components of its Autism Information Program:

1. The Life Journey through Autism series of resource guides
2. The OARacle, OAR’s monthly e-newsletter
3. OAR’s Web site

To date, OAR has published seven Life Journey Through Autism guidebooks that cover a range of topics from A Parent's Guide to Assessment and Navigating the Special Education System to A Guide for Transition to Adulthood and A Guide for Military Families. Each guidebook can be downloaded for free from the OAR website. OAR also mails out copies of the guides free of charge to interested families and school districts.