General Info

Autistic people are not all the same. Besides the unique profiles we have, most autistic people have one or more co-occurring conditions, and our varying ages ensure our ‘autistic lives’ have been quite different. These differences make it difficult to understand another’s inner experience accurately. Here are some guidelines to help us build a kinder and more inclusive community:

Anything shared within the group should remain within the group. You should NEVER gossip about a member’s experience or something they’ve shared with you.

Be open to perspectives that may differ from yours and appreciate each other’s differences and uniqueness. Accept that everyone owns their own experience. Engage in open discussions, critique ideas, not individuals, and, when needed, agree to disagree.

Listen and learn from each other respectfully, try to get along, see each other’s side, and be accommodating. Something that doesn’t bother you, could still be overwhelming to another autistic person.

Some autistic people are overwhelmed by sensory overload, social overwhelm, uncertainty and unexpected changes. Different things can trigger different people, and sometimes a combination of things can build up to create this feeling of overwhelm. Be considerate of someone experiencing overwhelm as this can be quite serious.

Many autistic people are naïve, too trusting, and easily taken advantage of. Due to our spikey profiles, we could be intelligent in one area while being almost childlike in another area. Please be considerate.

Try to understand and respect each other’s boundaries. If someone expresses a boundary, don’t take it personally. Everyone should be able to do whatever they need to feel safe and comfortable.

Whenever you’re able, try to be supportive. A peer-support group depends on support from other members.