Self-Advocate Resources

Resources for Self-Advocates

The Organization for Autism Research knows how important having information is for self-advocates. We publish and provide comprehensive guidebooks, manuals, online resources, and booklets for self-advocates that are written by experts in the field and backed by research. Topics include navigating relationships and sexuality to finding meaningful employment.

Books for Self-Advocates Available on Libby

You can borrow OAR resources, popular novels, autie-biographies, and more using the Libby app, by Overdrive. Read books about wellbeing, advocacy, and identity formation, and discover insights from autistic authors, all for free in OAR’s digital library.

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A Guide for Transition to Adulthood
Price range: $0.00 through $2.50
Adulthood represents a time in one’s life where there are increased levels of independence, choice, and personal control. These are all qualities that can and should be part of any autistic adult’s life. For many young autistic people and their families, the transition to adulthood is a daunting one, marked by significant changes in available services. Proper planning can ease this difficult transition, however, and ensure that all autistic individuals build the skills and establish the supports that will allow them to take advantage of all that adulthood has to offer.
$0.00 SelectFirst two resources are free. This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Students on the Spectrum
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Everyone deserves a fulfilling college experience, including students on the autism spectrum. OAR’s Finding Your Way: A College Guide for Students on the Spectrum is intended to help autistic students become better prepared for college life and academics. This guide addresses challenges that are both universal and unique to students on the autism spectrum by providing helpful information, guidance, and resources. Finding Your Way offers practical advice from autism experts, powerful narratives from self-advocates, and relevant resource tools. It is intended to help readers anticipate and improve their academic and social situations by advocating for themselves.
$0.00 SelectFirst two resources are free. This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
A Mental Health Guide for Autistic College Students
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Every student experiences stress at some point during college. Created by a team led by Vanessa Bal, Ph.D. and Evan Kleiman, Ph.D. at Rutgers University, OAR’s Mental Health Guide for Autistic College Students is intended to help autistic students promote their own well-being and know when and where to seek mental health services during college. The Mental Health Guide addresses challenges that may come up, as well as tips to promote well-being and cope with feeling overwhelmed. The guide also offers practical advice for navigating access to mental health care for autistic college students and their parents.
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College Central
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College Central is OAR's resource hub for autistic college students. Explore our collection of resources navigating topics such as self-advocacy, academics, campus life, and career and money.
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Sex Ed for Self-Advocates
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This guide is a sexuality and sex education resource written specifically for autistic people age 15 and up. Autistic people sometimes don’t have the chance to learn about sexuality and sex in ways that work for them, so OAR created this guide as a starting point to change that. In each of the nine sections of the guide, self-advocates will be able to read articles and watch brief videos before testing their knowledge about a given topic and practicing new skills.
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AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit
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The AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit is a comprehensive online tool designed to improve healthcare experiences for autistic adults. Focusing on care with a primary doctor, the toolkit offers practical information, worksheets, and the ability to create a personalized healthcare accommodations report to help to make healthcare visits smoother—before, during, and after appointments.
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Appointment Mentor VR
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Appointment Mentor VR is an immersive, interactive virtual reality experience designed to help individuals on the autism spectrum build confidence and skills for navigating medical appointments. Created with adults on the autism spectrum at nonPareil Institute, this game simulates a doctor’s visit experience in a calm, repeatable environment. From scheduling an appointment by phone to checking in with the receptionist, speaking with a nurse, and talking with the doctor, users can explore and practice each step at their own pace.
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Brain Club® Digital Resource Library for Healthcare
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The Brain Club® Digital Resource Library for Healthcare helps people understand autistic health through the stories, experiences, and expertise of autistic people. This free online collection offers recorded webinars, plain language summaries, graphics, and integrated key term explanations to make complex information accessible. Topics include autistic health outcomes and barriers to care, autistic burnout, personal stories from autistic patients, the impact of social connection and employment, systemic ableism in the medical model, and practical strategies for delivering neuroinclusive healthcare.
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A Parent’s Guide to Research
Price range: $0.00 through $2.50
Understanding a complex spectrum disorder like autism is difficult enough in a purely academic setting. Yet when parents learn of their child’s autism diagnosis, they are tasked with educating themselves about autism and the wide range of treatment options available. Research can play a critical role in that education. That is why we created A Parent’s Guide to Research, a basic primer on autism research.
Price range: $0.00 through $2.50Add to CART
Neuroinclusive Healthcare Education Hub
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This OAR-funded resource was created by All Brains Belong VT as a collection of online resources to educate medical professionals and empower patients to get the healthcare they need.
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CAHELP Social Skills Training Videos
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Unlock the power of connection with our engaging social skills role-play videos! Designed to help individuals navigate the complexities of making and keeping friends, our collection features five dynamic playlists focusing on essential themes.
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Georgia Autism Hub
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This online resource hub helps families of young autistic children find useful tools, reliable information, and ways to connect with others. The website includes a tool for selecting local Georgia organizations based on support type sought and educational content for families seeking information about autism and evaluations.
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Stride for Autism: A Bilingual Toolkit for Autism Support
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The Arc of Harris County created this online toolkit to support autistic young adults, parents, and professionals during the transition to adulthood. The rack cards and videos cover topics such as social skills, educational rights, entering the workforce, and more. English and Spanish versions are available for each topic.
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Hire Autism
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Hire Autism has resources for job seekers, employers, and those who might be supporting a friend, student, or loved one with their job search. So whether you’re looking for information on how to write a stellar resume or ideas on how to become a more autism-friendly employer, there is something for you!
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Resources for Self-Advocates

Books for Self-Advocates Available on Libby

A Parent’s Guide to Research

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