I am so excited to be raising money for the Organization for Autism Research!   To celebrate turning 50, I am running the Big Sur Marathon and this year I get to run it with my daughter AND I get to raise money for a really important organization.  

I know many people whose lives are touched by autism and I am fortunate to have an amazing niece-in-law, Katie, who has dedicated her life to teaching autistic children.  She is more than just a teacher.  She is part of a large care team that includes parents, siblings, counselors, physicians, and friends of each student along with an extended team of people working to better understand autism through research.  There is still so much to learn about autism and the research done by OAR is unique because it is focused on what they call "applied" research.   The OAR defines this as "research that directly impacts the day-to-day quality of life of learners with autism. It entails the systematic investigation of variables associated with positive outcomes in such areas as education, communication, self care, social skills, employment, behavior, and adult and community living. In this context, it extends to issues related to family support, the efficacy of service delivery systems, and demographic analyses of the autism community." This is incredibly important research that will benefit people living with autism and their families today.  

I hope you will consider contributing to my fundraiser to support the research and outreach done by the Organization for Autism Research!