Join Our Community!
Are you an Autistic adult in the NYC area? Are you looking to make friends, network, or do fun activities in an Autistic-friendly environment?
Become a Member of Autistic Adults NYC
Our events are hosted on meetup.com, and are open to all Autistic adults, diagnosed or self-diagnosed. To attend our events, simply make an account on meetup and RSVP!
There are no recurring fees to participate in our group. A “member” is loosely defined as someone who attends our events/Discord. There is no formal registration process.
Our PAUSE events, catered to non-speaking, intellectually disabled, and/or high-support needs Autistic adults, are open to family/friends/aides.
Our online group chat for text/voice/video chatting, playing games, member led interest groups, and unofficial hang-outs is on Discord.
We are a social group, and do not offer any day programs or psychological services. Please check our resources tab above to find different providers in NYC.
What to Expect
Autistic people are not a monolith! Some of our members are very social and outgoing, some are more on the quiet side. Our members cover a large range of interests and backgrounds. Please don’t worry about needing to “fit in”! Most people are nervous attending their first event. All of our regular members are very kind and excited to meet new people!
Different people are going to enjoy different types of events. If you prefer smaller group sizes, choose an event with a lower event cap. If you’re hesitant about jumping straight into an in-person event, join us for one of our online events first. If you dislike chit-chat, join an event where everyone is focused on an activity, like one of our art workshops. We try to host a variety of events to cater to everyone’s needs and interests!
If you can no longer attend an event, please change your RSVP! We have a capacity limit for our events, as too many attendees can become overwhelming and over-stimulating. We often have a waitlist for each event, and if you change your RSVP to “not going” it will allow the next person to get off the waitlist. Please be sure to respect the waitlist and only come to the event if you’re registered!
If you have any specific questions before attending your first event, please reach out!
FAQ’s
Who can come to an event?
Any post high-school Autistic adult (18+) can attend our events. We are a very open, diverse set of folks, young and old, and ranging from all ethnic backgrounds. LGBTQ+ friendly!
Can I come if I'm self-diagnosed?
Yes! Many of our members self-identify as Autistic. We understand the struggles of getting a diagnosis as an adult. If you would like to learn more and find some resources on the diagnosis process as an adult in NYC, go to our diagnosis page.
Can I come if the event is full/closed, or if I’m on the waitlist?
We have a capacity limit for our events, as too many attendees can become overwhelming and over-stimulating. If someone changes their RSVP to “not going” and you’re next on the waitlist, meetup will automatically add you to the event and alert you. If you’re unable to get off the waitlist, unfortunately you cannot attend, but please join us at a future event!
When will the events be posted?
Our events are posted on the last Tuesday of each month at 12:00PM, announcing activities for the upcoming month.
Does it cost money to attend any of the events or to be a member?
Nope! Some of the events might have a suggested donation or fee to cover expenses (like renting a space, getting food, etc). But there are no regular costs or membership fees to attend our events. If you’d like to attend an event with a fee and are financially unable to pay, fill out this form or reach out through email. Please consider donating to help us cover expenses!
Do I need to be an NYC resident to attend an In-Person Event?
Also no! Many of our members live outside the city in New Jersey or Long Island. Sometimes we have guests come from even further out in the US or Canada to attend our events! This is an NYC-based organization focused on NYC issues, but living in NYC is not a requirement to participate in our in-person events.
Can I attend if I'm not Autistic?
No, our programs are restricted to Autistic adults. If you’re neurodivergent (ADHD, Dyslexic, etc) but not Autistic, check out meetup.com for other meetup groups, as new ones are often popping up!
Can I come to an event if I'm a family member / aide / support professional?
Our PAUSE events are open to Autistic people as well as their aide/family member, and are more catered towards Autistics with high-support needs. Read more about PAUSE here!
For our general events, we try to keep them a safe space for Autistic adults, as many prefer to be in an Autistic-only environment. Non-Autistic aides are still welcome at our general events if the Autistic person has high-support needs, but advanced notice is required. Please contact us through email or Meetup DM.
PLEASE READ BEFORE ATTENDING: Neurotypical Support Guide