Our positive, accepting group exists so that adults on the autism spectrum, including those with Asperger's Syndrome (Aspies) can socialize with other Aspie adults 18 and up, officially diagnosed or self diagnosed.

Our meetings give us a wonderful, precious respite from having to monitor, edit, and adapt ourselves to suit norms that don't mesh with our natural tendencies. We have open discussions about ideas, experiences, and whatever else comes to our minds -- our strengths, our challenges, the serious, the hilarious, and much more. In the process, we learn about each other and ourselves. Although some of us choose to join in the discussions, others simply choose to listen and enjoy the comfort of being with fellow Aspies, and that's just fine.

Above all, meetings of Austin Aspie Adults have no overtones of anyone fixing or changing anyone or anyone needing to be fixed or changed. We do not seek a "cure" for that which is part of who we are. Some of us do avail ourselves of therapy, medication, and other modalities that we find useful just as non-Aspies do. However, the goal, is never to become "normal," to remove the autism from ourselves. As adults, we have come to realize that Asperger's also has its benefits -- to us and to society. We are not tragic creatures to be pitied, "treated" beyond recognition, or (gasp!) eradicated.

Out of consideration for the comfort of our members, we ask new members not to bring visitors or support people if at all possible. However, new members may invite someone to accompany them temporarily in the beginning, but only for the first two meetings and no more. The privacy and feelings of members are important, and we must be able to meet and freely discuss topics of our choosing without distraction or concern for being misunderstood, judged, interrogated, analyzed, compared and contrasted, poked and prodded, etc. Beyond the occasional temporary support person, these meetings are for us to relax and enjoy being exclusively in the company of other Aspies.

We discourage anyone from registering on our site on behalf of an adult Aspie who is not interested in joining or not ready to join. It is folly to presume to know what's best for another and try to coerce that person to join any group. This group is for Aspie adults who join of their own free will.

Solicitors of autism "services" are NOT welcome: no group therapy sessions, no presenters, no advertisers, no "members" seeking to encourage us (however subtly it may be) to attend another group.  We are capable of choosing, individually, to avail ourselves of various services that we seek outside of the group on our own, but we are exclusively a social group.  For opinions and perspectives on our group expressed by some of our members, see http://www.meetup.com/aspergers-348/about/comments/?op=all.