The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

This presentation is given by an adult on the autism spectrum who attended, facilitated, and helped organize adult support and social groups for the nearly two decades since his diagnosis on the autism spectrum. It provides a broad perspective on their history and development, on their importance and value in improving quality of life for people on the spectrum, and on their significance to the greater ASD community. It also examines the advantages and challenges of peer facilitation and organization. Parts of it feature personal experiences and anecdotes collected over the years, as well as reflections on the meaning of these groups to the life of the presenter.

For newly-diagnosed autistics, a support group is usually the first venue outside of a clinical setting where they can go. It can also be their first time in an environment dominated by people who are in many ways like themselves. They may immediately notice commonalities in speech patterns, eye contact, mannerisms, and other behaviors; this can be a very powerful experience in itself. Of greater practical importance is that the group serves as a space for sharing about unusual life experiences, challenges and interests; as such, they will often encounter stories similar to their own but never heard told by anyone else. These groups promote self-identity and provide a place for autistics where their difficulties are truly appreciated.

Adult social groups create an environment where autistics can socialize with people whose minds work in the same way as theirs. They provide an opportunity to talk about special interests with others who can appreciate even when they do not entirely share them. They also offer a venue for addressing social challenges with fellow autistics who can understand these better than anyone else. Socialization deficits involve getting along with others, being part of a group, meeting people, making friends, and finding and maintaining romantic relationships. These are a major source of many difficulties faced by autistics, especially where employment and relationships are concerned. The groups promote improved social connections.

Support groups were among the earliest resources for parents and caregivers of children with autism, usually with severe impairments. As the range of the spectrum expanded, groups proliferated in number and variety, with some catering to more specific populations. Eventually, they began to appear for adults who were on the spectrum themselves. At first, these were facilitated by family members or professionals with knowledge of autism. Peer-run groups, facilitated by people on the spectrum with even better understanding of the challenges faced by autistics, then arose throughout the U.S. Networks of support groups later emerged, along with a wider variety of support and social groups which catered to the ASD community as a whole and sometimes to specific segments. Looking to the future, these groups can serve as seeds from which larger autistic communities may eventually spring, which in turn will promote inclusion in society and acceptance. More groups will certainly be needed as growing numbers of autistics are identified and diagnosed.