Full Spectrum Agency Autistic Adults Meetup

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

I'm planning a full day event for our group at Howell Nature Center on Sunday, June 11!

Details are still in the works, but we will have access to one of their lodges for the full eight hours. Everyone is encouraged to bring food to share. For those of you who remember our Independence Lake event last year, we have a pretty big feast and Brian grilled. I think it will be similar this year and I think they even have regular grills if folks want to grill again.

Activities may include Wild Wonders Tour to see the rehabilitated wildlife, swimming time in the lake, canoeing or kayaking, and possibly other activities.

Please let me know which activities you are interested in and if there is a preferred time frame for any scheduled activities.

We will have eight hours access to the lodge and folks are welcome to come for the full event or just part. You are welcome to bring friends and family, but be sure to add your +1 (or however many you are bringing) when you RSVP so we know how many people to expect.

More details will be coming soon, but I wanted to get this on the calendar so we can see how many folks will be able to make it. If it looks like low turnout for June 11, we can always find another date.

I'll continue updating this page as I have more details. In the meantime, feel free to mention in the chat what food you plan to bring!

 
 
 

The Loudest Girl in the World Podcast (Narrated by Lauren Ober)
Zoom Book Club - Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 6:00 P.M. EDT - 7:30 P.M. EDT

Podcast Synopsis from pushkin.fm: "For years, Lauren Ober wasn’t all that jazzed about herself. She was always getting in trouble, she had weird sensory issues and her anxiety felt off the charts. Plus, socially she kind of sucked. Life for Lauren just seemed harder than it should have been at 42. And then, in the middle of a global pandemic, she found out why — she was autistic. This show tells the story of Lauren’s journey to understand what the hell it means to be on the autism spectrum and how to live life as a newly diagnosed autistic person. It’s about finding yourself broken in a place you never expected to be and emerging from that place a mostly glued back together person."

We will be discussing all podcast episodes from season 1 - from 8/30/2022 - 12/13/2022 (15 Episodes - From the introduction to the last aired episode)

A link to the podcast may be found here: The Loudest Girl In The World Podcast - Lauren Ober Podcast - Pushkin Industries

————————————————————

Here is a link to our goodreads.com page:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1214214-full-spectrum-agency-book-club

Here is a link to the Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults Discord
Server:

https://discord.gg/WAUUgaKtNN

Please come prepared with a couple of discussion points if possible (not mandatory but it can make for an interesting and stimulating discussion!)

All autistic adults, whether professionally diagnosed, self-diagnosed/self-identified, or questioning/wondering/thinking you might be autistic are welcome to attend this event. Caregivers assisting members are also welcome to attend this event. Under special circumstances (such as a combined event from Katie Oswald's (the founder of Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults) group "Full Spectrum Agency Friends and Family Group" (Full Spectrum Agency Friends and Family Group (Ann Arbor, MI) | Meetup) or a neurotypical/allistic caregiver attends), neurotypical/allistic people may be invited to book club events.

No one is obligated to participate verbally or non-verbally in the chat or at all. Members may participate as much or as little as they would like. It is NOT required that podcasts be listened to or books be read in order to attend book club meetings. You may attend whether you read the book or listened to the podcasts or not. Cameras may be kept on or off. We just ask that mics be muted once the meeting is underway and muted unless you are speaking. We hope to see you there!

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

Look Me in the Eye - My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

Zoom Book Club - Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 6:00 P.M. EDT - 7:30 P.M. EDT

Book Description:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“As sweet and funny and sad and true and heartfelt a memoir as one could find.” —from the foreword by Augusten Burroughs

Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.

After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t communicate. It wasn’t worth the paycheck. It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself—and the world.

Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger’s at a time when the diagnosis simply didn’t exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as “defective,” who could not avail himself of KISS’s endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people’s given names (he calls his wife “Unit Two”). He also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents—the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs and write the bestselling memoir Running with Scissors.

Ultimately, this is the story of Robison’s journey from his world into ours, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner—repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

————————————————————

Here is a link to our goodreads.com page:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1214214-full-spectrum-agency-book-club

Here is a link to the Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults Discord
Server:
https://discord.gg/WAUUgaKtNN

Please come prepared with a couple of discussion points if possible (not mandatory but it can make for an interesting and stimulating discussion!)

All autistic adults, whether professionally diagnosed, self-diagnosed/self-identified, or questioning/wondering/thinking you might be autistic are welcome to attend this event. This includes Asperger’s Syndrome. Caregivers assisting members are also welcome to attend this event. Under special circumstances (such as a combined event from Katie Oswald's (the founder of Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults) group "Full Spectrum Agency Friends and Family Group" (Full Spectrum Agency Friends and Family Group (Ann Arbor, MI) | Meetup) or a neurotypical/allistic caregiver attends), neurotypical/allistic people may be invited to book club events.

No one is obligated to participate verbally or non-verbally in the chat or at all. Members may participate as much or as little as they would like. It is NOT required that podcasts be listened to or books be read in order to attend our book club meetings. You may attend whether you read the book or listened to the podcasts or not. Cameras may be kept on or off. We just ask that mics be muted once the meeting is underway and muted unless you are speaking. We hope to see you there!

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.

 
 
 

Join us for a facilitated peer support group. Each participant will have an opportunity to talk about what is going on in their life, if they wish to share. No one is obligated to participate verbally. We sometimes have a lot of participants and the time you have to share will depend on the number of participants.

After everyone has had a turn to share, if time allows, we will open it up for discussion. If you have a follow up question or an experience to share from your own life that might help one of our participants, you will have an opportunity to raise your hand and share.

If you struggle to remember what you want to say, it is a good idea to have pen and paper nearby to write down your thoughts. You may not get to say everything you want to say, but you can share your thoughts in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527207231874278.

Peer Support Group Agreements

1. All autistic people are welcome and accepted in this group.
2. What is discussed in the group will be kept in the group.
3. People within this group have different worldviews and beliefs. I commit to being kind, respectful, and constructive in my comments.
4. This group is not intended to help people find someone to date.
5. We are not licensed therapists or counselors. Thus, we cannot offer professional advice to your situation. If your situation requires you to get psychological help, we will help by guiding you in the right direction with those who might be able to help.
6. Remember to mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Computer mics are really sensitive and pick up a lot of background noise that can be distracting for others.
7. Please stay on topic in the chat. We want to have the chat available for those who prefer that to verbal discussion, but it can be a distraction if the topic is different than what is being discussed verbally.
8. No soliciting. Please refrain from trying to sell goods to our members or ask for money. We encourage all members to not give or borrow money to other members.