My Nonprofit Reviews

My name is Meghana Shetty and I had the privilege of interning at OAR for 6 months- it was an incredibly fulfilling experience! I came to OAR hoping to learn how scientific research is translated into practical resources for real people- years of volunteer work with autism taught me how tricky it can be for families to find reliable resources for their loved ones. OAR's unique mission to “use applied science to answer the questions that parents, families, individuals with autism, teachers, and caregivers confront daily” immediately jumped out to me. In addition to funding applied research projects at top autism research institutions, OAR develops thoughtful, research-based resources catered to the diverse range of issues (and individuals!) in the autism community. The dedicated staff collaborates with influential autism professionals to ensure useful and credible information is available for those who need it. As an intern, I was allowed to contribute directly to several projects such as Schoolhouse Outreach, the college resource, and the research grant competition . In the process, I learned a great deal about nonprofit work, resource development, national outreach, and the current state of autism research. I also learned how highly regarded OAR is by the professionals, fundraisers, and families who work with them and benefit from their work. It was a pleasure working with OAR's caring and dedicated staff and I would proudly encourage anyone in the autism community to check them out!