A group for all adult (18+) self-defined women/LGBTQI+ with high-functioning autism and related neurodiversity - or women who’ve maybe taken the AQ test for adult autism (https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient), wondered, and want to explore possible female autism free from medicalisation and ‘male brain’ theories.
There’s really not much known and even less support for women with autism so one of the points of this group is to explore gender and autism and the other is to create our own community networks and critical definitions. So every month someone will introduce a topic and we can enjoy a discussion in any form that works for us. Topics will be posted in advance in case people want to research around it themselves - also bring any games, devices, spinners etc that you’d like to play with, stim at will, make breakouts, make friends.
This isn’t a mental health support group, it’s about neurodiversity, building confidence and networks outside of medicalised provision and a place to be ourselves. We’re interested in self-definition, critical theories of neurodiversity, fluid identities, alternative therapies, and in what is needed for more high functioning autistic people to develop their unique contribution to society. We’re also interested in making better use of digital tools to collaborate and reduce isolation.
We don’t have any time for rules and regs but everyone does need to be respectful of sensory issues and we can’t always accommodate mental health co-(or other)diagnoses - there’ll be a ‘newbie’ sheet at every meeting. Everyone talking at once through to lurking in the background are absolutely fine as long the space stays constructive and bearable for auties.
