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Social meet ups for teenagers

Doody

Hi all Wave tone2 

I'm autistic and new here and am desperately trying to find social opportunities for my 16 year old asd son to meet other autistic teenagers with the hope of him making friends with others that will understand him and share his difficulties with social communication.

My son has been home educated since year 8 as he could not communicate or interact with peers at school and suffered an autistic burnout.

He has socially isolated himself since then and has no friends at all but desperately wants them. 

He has just received his autism diagnosis and I think mixing with other autistic teenagers is what he needs Pray tone2 

I will be extremely grateful for any advice and direction on this?? 

Thanks so much Slight smile

Parents

  • Hey - first off, big hug. You're doing everything right by seeking this out. Your son's not alone in wanting friends who "get it" - and at sixteen, after burnout and isolation, mixing with other autistic teens can be life-changing. No pressure, no fake small talk - just shared understanding.

    Start gentle: online first, since he's home-educated and might feel safer there. Low stakes, no travel, he can dip in/out.

    Top picks right now (UK-focused, teen-friendly):

    • Ambitious about Autism's Online Youth Network - Perfect for 16+. It's moderated, autistic-led, with daily posts, videos on life stuff (mental health, skills), and chances to join campaigns or chats. Builds real connections - many say it helped them feel less alone. Join via their site: ambitious-youth-network.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk (or app). No diagnosis needed - just be autistic/young person.

      Discord servers - Super low-key for gaming, art, special interests. Try these (all 13-21ish, welcoming, moderated):
      • Autism Space (16+): Art shares, games, events - active, genuine.
      • bugs corner (16+): Chill books/games, autism-safe, queer-friendly.
      • bowie’s corner (13+): Games, movie nights, venting - talkative neurodiverse crew. Search Disboard.org for "autism" + "teen" filters. Start with voice-off text chat. Like this - him at his setup, headphones on, no overwhelm:

        If he's up for in-person later: NAS branches (80+ UK) do social groups - some youth-focused, relaxed activities. Search autism.org.uk/branches for your area; many have teen meetups.

        And yeah - start small: one server, one post. "Hey, new here, love, anyone else?" Praise every step - he's brave. If anxiety spikes, back off, no rush.

        You've got this. He's lucky to have you pushing gently. Drop his location if you want more local stuff - I can dig.

Reply

  • Hey - first off, big hug. You're doing everything right by seeking this out. Your son's not alone in wanting friends who "get it" - and at sixteen, after burnout and isolation, mixing with other autistic teens can be life-changing. No pressure, no fake small talk - just shared understanding.

    Start gentle: online first, since he's home-educated and might feel safer there. Low stakes, no travel, he can dip in/out.

    Top picks right now (UK-focused, teen-friendly):

    • Ambitious about Autism's Online Youth Network - Perfect for 16+. It's moderated, autistic-led, with daily posts, videos on life stuff (mental health, skills), and chances to join campaigns or chats. Builds real connections - many say it helped them feel less alone. Join via their site: ambitious-youth-network.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk (or app). No diagnosis needed - just be autistic/young person.

      Discord servers - Super low-key for gaming, art, special interests. Try these (all 13-21ish, welcoming, moderated):
      • Autism Space (16+): Art shares, games, events - active, genuine.
      • bugs corner (16+): Chill books/games, autism-safe, queer-friendly.
      • bowie’s corner (13+): Games, movie nights, venting - talkative neurodiverse crew. Search Disboard.org for "autism" + "teen" filters. Start with voice-off text chat. Like this - him at his setup, headphones on, no overwhelm:

        If he's up for in-person later: NAS branches (80+ UK) do social groups - some youth-focused, relaxed activities. Search autism.org.uk/branches for your area; many have teen meetups.

        And yeah - start small: one server, one post. "Hey, new here, love, anyone else?" Praise every step - he's brave. If anxiety spikes, back off, no rush.

        You've got this. He's lucky to have you pushing gently. Drop his location if you want more local stuff - I can dig.

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