Autistic Adults NYC - Opportunities

Volunteer & Contract Opportunities

AANYC is a volunteer-run organization, and we rely on our community to keep our programs going and our organization running.

Below are the volunteer & contractor roles and tasks where we currently need the most help. If you have other skills or ideas you'd like to contribute, you're still welcome to fill out the interest form. Just keep in mind that we're prioritizing the needs listed below as we recruit new volunteers.

Current open roles are listed below.

(Updated 07/03/26)

General Volunteer Roles

  • Join us in creating inclusive and vibrant social events for Autistic adults in the NYC area! As an In-Person Event Assistant, you'll play a crucial role in supporting In-Person Event Facilitators to ensure the smooth execution of plans and the cultivation of a safe, welcoming space for all attendees.

    Responsibilities:

    • Assist with setup/breakdown during events

    • Engage with attendees, fostering a comfortable atmosphere and ensuring adherence to group rules

    • Working with a group of Autistic adults of varying support needs 

    • Ensure a calm and accessible environment for attendees 

    Skills:

    • Observant and attentive

    • Positive and friendly with attendees during events

    • Comfortable working with a diverse group of people

    Experience: No prior experience is necessary, but previous work as a DSP/support professional or in-event support is a plus. We also prefer that volunteers have been involved in our non-profit (preferably as an attendee of our group) for at least 2 months.

    Commitment: Schedule is very flexible. Each event can require about a 2-4 hour commitment. Preference to volunteers who can assist at least 1 event per month. 

    Location: Our events are scheduled In-Person around NYC. The event assistant will be able to choose the event that works the best with their schedule. 

    We are an Autistic-run organization. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply. 

    If interested, please fill out our volunteer interest form here - https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6

  • We are looking for multiple volunteer in-person event facilitators to lead events for Autistic adults in locations around NYC.

    Responsibilities:

    • Planning and organizing events, including creating an event description and agenda, brainstorming activities for events, coordinating with staff to find a venue and acquiring event materials, and other event related tasks 

    • Host and facilitate events, guiding participants and leading engaging activities

    • Ensuring a calm and accessible environment for attendees 

    Skills:

    • Able to assume a leadership role

    • Able to multitasking and be flexible to situation changes

    • Positive and friendly with attendees during events

    • Organized

    • Comfortable working with a diverse group of people

    Event Categories: We are looking for hosts who can do one or multiple of the following below! - 

    • Events for BIPOC members

    • Events in Manhattan or the Bronx

    • PAUSE events (Events for non-speaking and ID members) in Brooklyn

    Experience: No previous experience required! Previous leadership experience (running social clubs or putting together events) is a plus. We also prefer that volunteers have been involved in our non-profit (preferably as a member of our group) for at least 2 months.

    Commitment: Schedule is very flexible. Each event can require about a 2-4 hour commitment. The position requires facilitating on a consistent basis (monthly, every 2 months, etc), at a time/location of the facilitator’s choosing. We are asking that volunteers can commit to at least 6 months of volunteering. 

    Location: In-Person around NYC

    We are an Autistic-run organization. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply. 

    If interested, please fill out our volunteer interest form here: https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6

    When completing the form, please specify which type(s) of events you’d be interested in leading from the event categories listed above.

  • We're looking for additional Discord Moderators to help support and shape our online community. If you've been an active member of our community and enjoy creating welcoming, inclusive spaces, we'd love to have you on our team.

    As a Discord Moderator, you'll help maintain a positive and supportive environment, welcome new members, answer questions, and help ensure our community guidelines are followed. We're also looking for people who are excited to help improve the server by suggesting new ideas, organizing channels, and supporting our virtual programming.

    Responsibilities

    • Help moderate the Discord server and enforce community guidelines.

    • Welcome new members and answer questions about the community.

    • Foster a friendly, respectful, and inclusive environment.

    • Respond to member concerns and alert staff to issues when needed.

    • Suggest improvements to the Discord server, channels, and community experience.

    • Assist with Discord and Zoom during virtual events when available.

    • Participate in moderator discussions and communicate with the moderation team.

    Who We're Looking For

    This is a virtual volunteer role. We're looking for community members who are active, dependable, patient, and communicate respectfully with others. Previous moderation experience is appreciated but not required.

    Ideal candidates should:

    • Have been involved in the Autistic Adults NYC community for a period of time.

    • Be familiar with Discord.

    • Be comfortable interacting with community members and helping resolve issues calmly and fairly.

    • Be able to volunteer approximately 1-3 hours per week, with flexibility based on availability.

    Location: Online

    We are an Autistic-run organization. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply. 

    If interested, please fill out our volunteer interest form here: https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6

Board & Development Roles

  • About Us
    Autistic Adults NYC is an Autistic-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Autistic community of NYC. Committed to inclusivity and accessibility, we strive to provide accessible programs that foster an inclusive environment where every Autistic person can thrive.

    Summary

    We have experienced remarkable growth since our inception in 2022. As we continue to expand, we are seeking passionate individuals who can bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds to our board. The board meets virtually 4 times a year and the individuals on the board oversee governing, financial and legal decisions, while also providing strategic support to advance our programs.

    Who We Are Looking For

    This is a volunteer virtual role, with the expectation to attend at minimum 4 in-person events a year. Ideal candidates will share our commitment to supporting the Autistic community and possess the time and expertise to contribute meaningfully. Our board meetings are conducted virtually. While our nonprofit events take place in NYC, we welcome qualified and motivated applicants from outside the area who can attend in-person events a few times a year. We also prefer candidates who have been involved in the Autistic Adults NYC community for a period of time.

    General Responsibilities

    • Participating in quarterly board meetings and taking meeting minutes

    • Answering emails from our community

    • Attending a minimum of four in-person events annually

    • Can dedicate at least 1-5 hours per week to asynchronous tasks outside of board meetings

    • Providing guidance and feedback on current and future initiatives

    • Supporting fundraising efforts

    We are an Autistic-run organization. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply. 

    If interested, please fill out our volunteer interest form here: https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6

  • About Us

    Autistic Adults NYC is an Autistic-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Autistic community of NYC. Committed to inclusivity and accessibility, we strive to provide accessible programs that foster an inclusive environment where every Autistic person can thrive.

    Position Overview

    We are seeking a Development Volunteer to help strengthen our fundraising and organizational sustainability efforts. This volunteer will work closely with our leadership team to identify funding opportunities, support donor engagement, and assist with fundraising initiatives that help us expand our programs and services.

    Responsibilities

    • Research grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and/or other sources; depending on the candidate's strengths, specialties, or preferences

    • Draft grant applications and reports

    • Initiate and support donor outreach efforts

    • Initiate, and assist with planning and promoting fundraising campaigns

    • Track fundraising deadlines and reporting requirements

    • Attend once every two-weeks virtual meetings with the leadership team

    Qualifications

    • Comfortable working independently and managing deadlines

    • Interest in nonprofit fundraising, development, or community organizing

    • Demonstrated experience with grant writing, fundraising, and at least some categories of donor relations

    • Commitment to disability inclusion and neurodiversity-affirming values

    Time Commitment

    • On average, approximately 1-2-hours per week (we anticipate some weeks that might need 5 hours while others 0)

    • Fully remote

    We are an Autistic-run organization. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply. 

    If interested, please fill out our volunteer interest form here - https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6 

Contact Roles

  • We’re looking for professionals and instructors to lead educational workshops for our 2026 series. Each workshop is 1.5 - 2 hours and designed for Autistic adults in our community. Workshops are held once a month on Saturday afternoons in the Chelsea area. Instructors will be responsible for creating the workshop curriculum and will be supported by our staff or group leaders to assist participants during the session.

    We’re seeking individuals who can lead either a single session or multiple workshops. Below are the topics our members have most requested, but we’re also open to additional ideas that would make a strong fit for our educational series.

    Skills & Personal Development

    • Nutrition

    • ASL / Other language learning

    Advocacy, Safety & Social Issues

    • Bystander Intervention

    • Sexism & Misogyny

    • Intersectionality (Particularly autism and its intersections with race, sexuality, and gender)

    Applicants should have a background in the topic of their choosing, and experience with the Autistic community is a plus. This is a paid contract role. Compensation is flexible and depends on whether the instructor can teach in-person in Chelsea or online, as well as the scope of the workshop and the number of sessions.

    If interested, please fill out our interest form here:https://forms.gle/frgCUK9dX8P4PJJL6

    Autistic Adults NYC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, veteran, age, disability, marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation. Autistic people are especially encouraged to apply.