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Rant about lack of autism support and social groups

Wib

Honestly just felt like a bit of a vent. I have recently moved to a new area and because it’s a more central location I wanted to try and look for some social groups. I struggle quite a bit with loneliness and making friends. 

So, I did a bit of googling and searched apps like meetup to see if there were any support groups/social groups aimed at autistic adults. Basically just a safe space for neurodivergent folk to socialise and potentially make friends. 

However, I can’t find anything apart that fits this category. This really surprised me as I live in a city now so you would think there would be at least one group like this. I found a group that was for autistic people to socialise every week at a different pub. I loved the sound of this but it looks like there hasn’t been any meetings in at least a year.

What frustrated me even more is that there was lots of organisations offering support groups and workshops for parents of autistic children an carers. I agree that these groups are needed and are a great sense of community for carers and parents. But, I find it disappointing that these organisations aren’t able to offer the same for autistic adults.

I have even considered if I could start my own. However, I would have no idea how to go about this but I could do some research as I think a group like this in such a big city would be great.

For now I’m going to look at other social groups like book club or maybe even give crafting a go despite my lack of skill in this area.

Rant over it just really annoyed me lol 

Parents

  • I agree, I wonder what all these parents and carers do with their autistic people whilst they're in meetings? I think theres some sort of strange idea that ASC ceases to exist when you hit your 18th birthday or certainly by the time you leave uni. Adult services aren't set up for people like us and don't know what to do anyway. Our local support group meets during the day and seems more about making sure you have the right benefits, they don't seem able to help with anything else, apart from cheap plastic sunglasses. To be honest I think they're a waste of public money, the result of a bunch of NT's stting around brain storming about "what ASC people really want and need", I didn't feel heard there at all, or particulalry welcome, they say they're there for adults but what I think they really mean is under 30's.

    There used to be a group that met in a restaurant, but I didn't want to go to that as there was no safe parking and nothing I could eat, I was told it was mostly young men too, which put me off.

    I don't think that anyone knows what to do with ASC adults, and nobody ever will because nobody ever asks and if they do ask they never listen.

Reply

  • I agree, I wonder what all these parents and carers do with their autistic people whilst they're in meetings? I think theres some sort of strange idea that ASC ceases to exist when you hit your 18th birthday or certainly by the time you leave uni. Adult services aren't set up for people like us and don't know what to do anyway. Our local support group meets during the day and seems more about making sure you have the right benefits, they don't seem able to help with anything else, apart from cheap plastic sunglasses. To be honest I think they're a waste of public money, the result of a bunch of NT's stting around brain storming about "what ASC people really want and need", I didn't feel heard there at all, or particulalry welcome, they say they're there for adults but what I think they really mean is under 30's.

    There used to be a group that met in a restaurant, but I didn't want to go to that as there was no safe parking and nothing I could eat, I was told it was mostly young men too, which put me off.

    I don't think that anyone knows what to do with ASC adults, and nobody ever will because nobody ever asks and if they do ask they never listen.

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    Our local support group meets during the day and seems more about making sure you have the right benefits, they don't seem able to help with anything else, apart from cheap plastic sunglasses. To be honest I think they're a waste of public money,

    Have you tried pushing them to provide what you think is needed?

    Without input they will keep doing the same thing, thinking it is filling the need so why not propose something specific that you think would benefit you and others?

    TheCatWoman said:
    Adult services aren't set up for people like us and don't know what to do anyway.

    With you life experiences would you say you now know what sort of services are needed for autistic people?

    It may be worth compiling a list of ideas for anyone thinking of starting their own group or for others to present to their group with recommendations on what would work for them.

    It could be a good way to change this from feeling like a victim of their lack of focus to being a part of the solution.