Separate forum/community for autistic adults ?

And thanks for your clarification, too.

I appreciate the "old timers" taking time out to explain this to "noobs" like me.  I must admit, many of the events have seemed very confusing without knowing the context.

I do get the impression, as you suggest. that the NAS treats the forum as an inconvenient afterthought.  The outdated technology and lack of trained counsellors is poor in my opinion for a charity that is the primary first contact point for people on the spectrum and their carers (at my diagnosis, NAS literature was the only thing I was offered!).  With it being so common that autistic people dislike the telephone, it isn't difficult to see why the forum would be a more comfortable place for people on the spectrum to come for help.

I don't begrudge offering what little help I can here - but only because people like you, CC and many others have done the same for me.  I certainly don't do it out of any loyalty to the NAS.  I have never even considered becoming a member of the organisation, as I realised very early on that adults, particularly those with a late daignosis, are largely invisible to them.

When I get the usual e-mails from the NAS, my usual response is to skim through it, then think "really, that's it?!", and in the bin it goes.  I don't want to hear about "autism aware" concerts at the other end of the country and that I can't afford - that really doesn't help to make my day dealing with an "autism unaware" society any easier.

And thanks for your clarification, too.

I appreciate the "old timers" taking time out to explain this to "noobs" like me.  I must admit, many of the events have seemed very confusing without knowing the context.

I do get the impression, as you suggest. that the NAS treats the forum as an inconvenient afterthought.  The outdated technology and lack of trained counsellors is poor in my opinion for a charity that is the primary first contact point for people on the spectrum and their carers (at my diagnosis, NAS literature was the only thing I was offered!).  With it being so common that autistic people dislike the telephone, it isn't difficult to see why the forum would be a more comfortable place for people on the spectrum to come for help.

I don't begrudge offering what little help I can here - but only because people like you, CC and many others have done the same for me.  I certainly don't do it out of any loyalty to the NAS.  I have never even considered becoming a member of the organisation, as I realised very early on that adults, particularly those with a late daignosis, are largely invisible to them.

When I get the usual e-mails from the NAS, my usual response is to skim through it, then think "really, that's it?!", and in the bin it goes.  I don't want to hear about "autism aware" concerts at the other end of the country and that I can't afford - that really doesn't help to make my day dealing with an "autism unaware" society any easier.