A.A.N.Y.C.
Autistic Adults NYC is an Autistic-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Autistic community of NYC.
Our mission is to serve the Autistic community of NYC and the Tri-state Area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) through community building, education, and advocacy. We aim to be an Autistic-run organization, prioritizing representation in leadership and decision-making roles. Committed to inclusivity and accessibility, we focus on reaching underserved and economically disadvantaged members, offering accessible programs to create an inclusive space where all Autistic individuals can thrive.
Autistic people in NYC face unique challenges. Being in such a loud, busy, and chaotic city makes it extremely difficult for Autistic people to connect and thrive. As a whole, our community faces large amounts of disconnection and isolation.
Autistic Adults NYC started on Meetup.com in July of 2022 with a simple picnic meetup at Central Park. We’ve grown substantially since then, introducing a variety of different programs and serving over a thousand Autistic individuals from around the Tri-State area and beyond. We remain an Autistic-run organization, and strongly believe in the importance of input from the community we serve in creating our programs, developing our resources, and informing our positions.
At the heart of our work are social events, both online and in-person in NYC, designed to foster community while respecting the sensory and social needs of our members. We additionally host educational programming that covers essential topics such as employment, independent living, and mental health. Lastly, our advocacy work centers on Autistic self-determination and public education. We organize events both for our members and the broader community focused on self-advocacy in the community, combating misinformation on autism, and more.
Our events and programs are open to any Autistic person, formally diagnosed or self-diagnosed. Learn how to join us here.
1,500+ Members
460+ Events Hosted
(as of April 2026)
Quotes from our members on AANYC’s impact on their lives, and the importance of Autistic-led community:
Autism is a diagnosis, but having a space for autistic people to build our own identity together has helped me understand myself and the people around me who I've come to relate to.
People with disabilities have only ever achieved things for themselves by working together. While there are lots of outsiders-doctors, educators, the government-trying to tell us what Autism is, AANYC is a space where we can work together to form an identity for ourselves.
- Evan
Thanks to this community, I’m [finding] other people who share my interests and who communicate about [them] in similar ways.
Groups like AANYC help create community in a city where it's easy to find ourselves isolated, especially with everything being constantly so overwhelming.
- Jules
The community is good and safe and travel is simple
- Sammy
I simply do not think that what [the founder of AANYC] has created could have been built by neurotypical people unless a neurodivergent person had already paved the way. Ideas can be shared, copied, and remixed, but not until they escape the mind through the hands. It is important to have groups like this because it saves lives. Human beings need each other. AANYC makes the expression of our basic humanity accessible to autistics.
- Manny Morales
I've finally gained a community where I belong as myself.
Autistic-led means you're never looked down on or treated different, you are among your peers and lead by your peers.
- A
This community gave me a sense of belonging, validation, and support during a difficult moment in my life. Navigating the process of a late diagnosis, I tried many different approaches to find my way forward, and this group was by far the most helpful. It’s been invaluable to talk to people who have overcome or developed strategies for challenges I’ve faced my whole life. More importantly, it’s a place where I finally felt comfortable exploring a side of myself that I’ve kept hidden for so long, and it’s given me the confidence to be more honest and stand up for myself in other parts of my life.
Because this is an autistic led and autistic-only space, it feels safe and welcoming. There’s no pressure to translate the way I think and communicate, and I can trust that I won’t be misinterpreted or judged. If I am misunderstood, I know that I will likely be able to respectfully resolve the situation. Having a space like this was a foreign concept for me, and allowed me learn to trust myself.
This group directly contradicts anyone who says that autistic people aren’t social; we’re just differently social. It let me fight back against ignorant voices and the voices in my own head that said autistic people are broken. Meeting these wonderful people as they are, realizing I am like them, and seeing what we’re capable of helped me to accept myself too.
- J
Board of Directors
Sy’Aire Russell - President, Executive Director
Sy’Aire currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, and was diagnosed as Autistic in August 2021, midway through pursuing their Master’s at New York University. After a long journey of adjusting to city life, a new diagnosis, and struggling to find community, they founded Autistic Adults NYC. A dedicated community builder, organizer, speaker, and consultant, Sy’Aire is committed to advocating for a more inclusive, equitable NYC for Autistics. Since starting the organization, they have continued to enjoy facilitating events and compiling resources for the community, along with director duties. Their special interests include disability advocacy, music, and animals. More about Sy’Aire
Lee Garza - Vice President
Lee Garza (he/they) lives in Queens with his husband and senior dog. Lee was diagnosed as Autistic in 2024. They work as an attorney, specializing in complex commercial transactions and outsourcing. Lee loves to watch/read horror media and uses movie theaters as his third space.
Eric Tran - Secretary
Eric Tran is a lifelong Brooklynite who holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and computer engineering. After eluding an autism diagnosis until the age of 25, he became a member of AANYC in 2023. In addition to serving with AANYC as a board member and meetup host, he has volunteered in a multitude of roles such as test prep tutor, farmers' market assistant, robotics competition referee, and street safety advocate. Eric spends his free time exploring New York City by foot, bike, train, bus, ferry, car passenger seat, camera, map, book, and Wikipedia rabbit hole.
Michael John Carley - Board Member
Michael John Carley (he/him) is the autistic author of “Asperger’s From the Inside-Out” (Penguin/Perigee 2008), “Unemployed on the Autism Spectrum” (JKP 2016), “The Book of Happy, Positive, and Confident Sex for Adults on the Autism Spectrum…and Beyond!” (Neurodiversity Press 2021), and over 70 articles—including the column, “Autism Without Fear,” which for four years ran in the Huffington Post and now runs in Autism Spectrum News. Currently, he runs New York University’s "Connections" Program for all global autistic students. On the side, he wears many other hats, including as the Chief Editor at Neurodiversity Press, and of course his work for AANYC. He was the founding Executive Director for two, still-standing disability non-profits in NYC, and prior to his diagnosis spent years in NYC in the theatre—work that he supported as a classical music radio host, and as a minor-league diplomat at the UN who orchestrated projects in Cuba, Bosnia, and (pre-invasion) Iraq. More info at www.michaeljohncarley.com.
Meet some of our other team members!
Alaina L
Alaina has been a member of the group since 2024 and assists with in person events. They love yoga, reading, learning new things, and being outside.
Anthony J. Piccione
Anthony J. Piccione is an award-winning autistic playwright, theatre producer, filmmaker & advocate in Brooklyn, NY. He is the founder of Neurodivergent Plays (www.neurodivergentplays.com) and the co-founder of Neurodivergent Socialists. (@ndsocialists) Learn more at www.anthonyjpiccione.substack.com/about.
Archie F
A gardener by vocation, Archie F (she/her) joined AANYC in 2023, and has since been an active member. She heads the monthly Plant ID Walks, as well as help out with the groups bigger events. During her free time, she's either moshing as local punk shows with her friends or drawing and writing in her room.
Emma Goldman-Sherman
Emma Goldman-Sherman (they/them) is an Audhd NeuroAffirming Coach, award-winning poet and playwright who runs BraveSpace.online to support writers and artists with generative sessions, salons and group and private coaching. They love their Aussie Labradoodle named Broccoli and run the monthly AANYC Craft Meeting.
Heidi M
Heidi M. is a licensed clinical social worker and certified yoga teacher who joined AANYC after her Autism diagnosis in 2023. She facilitates a monthly trauma-sensitive yoga class and mental health related workshops. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside, playing The Sims, and snuggling with her cats.
Joshua Flashman
Joshua is a cybersecurity engineer, husband, Upper West Sider, and rescue cat dad. Diagnosed with Autism/ADHD early in life, he has been always searching for and building accepting communities. Joshua is originally from Orlando, FL where he founded Spiffy Saturday, a vintage fashion meetup, before moving to NYC and discovering AANYC in 2025. As a Development Volunteer for AANYC, he is helping to build its corporate speaking engagement program focused on Autistic-led workplace education, while also assisting with grants and other fundraising opportunities. In his free time, Joshua enjoys immersive theater, Dungeons & Dragons, and Star Wars.
Juliette (Jules) Lê
Jules (ze/hir) is a disabled French translator, writer and artist living in Brooklyn. Ze loves animal-themed everything and enjoys creating visual content for the group’s upcoming events. Being part of Autistic Adults NYC has been incredibly helpful as ze continues learning to unmask and be hir true self.
Kat Y
Kat is a social work graduate student who joined the group in 2023 shortly after her diagnosis. As an operations volunteer, she helps with admin work and inventory organization. In her free time, she enjoys going to alt/emo events and runs a late-diagnosed autistic book club with other members of the group.
Leigh Blanchard
Leigh Blanchard is an artist and art professional living in Brooklyn with her husband and two corgis. Leigh was diagnosed as Autistic in 2024. She joined AANYC in 2025 and creates the weekly Instagram posts.
Liz C
Liz has been volunteering with AANYC since 2025, helping out with in-person meetups and events. She’s an illustrator and sketch artist with a fascination for the human body and anatomy, and can happily spend an unreasonable amount of time drawing tiny details. She loves exploring NYC, going to alternative music concerts, discovering unusual places around the city, and being part of the AANYC community.
Peter Linden
Peter Linden is a licensed clinical social worker, AuDHD Gestalt psychotherapist, and advocate within the neurodivergent community, especially among autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD adults. He facilitates two Men’s Groups each month for autistic men.
When not serving the community, Peter enjoys progressive rock, silliness, authentically relating, hiking, and taking steps toward creating a healing center.
Stephanie Lemieux
Stephanie Lemieux joined the group in 2022 and hosts monthly events focused on creativity and community building. She’s a big fan of local politics, dogs, and anything holographic!
Steven Doescher
Steven Doescher is a volunteer and active member of the group, and assists with in-person meetups and events. Having grown up in New York, he enjoys seeing positive things happening in the community.
