Groups for autistic women NOT about late diagnosis

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I'm an autistic woman and was diagnosed when I was 7. When I've been to groups for autistic women most of them were diagnosed later so the groups seemed to focus on late diagnosis and I felt as though I didn't really fit in. Are there any groups or organizations for autistic women that aren't so focused on late diagnosis?

I've never come across any groups, so I don't have anything helpful for you. But I was diagnosed at age 9 and totally understand what you mean. I never had that...moment? The one where they figure out their diagnosis and suddenly everything clicks into place that late diagnosed people like to talk about? Because I've known for basically as long as I can remember. So I completely understand where you're coming from, I can't really relate to the experience of a late diagnosis either, and I feel a little bit left out of those discussions too. But I'm really happy those people got the answers they were looking for.

Given how rare it used to be for women to be diagnosed at all, let alone early enough it's not a big moment of their life, I can't imagine most areas would have enough of a population to manage to get a group like that together? I live near a fairly large metropolitan area and the only autism groups are parent support groups. Assuming you mean groups irl and not online. This is the nicest online autism community I've ever come across.

I would look for the same thing, more or less.

Though, I'm not sure how much is getting diagnosed as an young teenager, with the entire school and family being very involved in the process as opposed to self reported counted as 'late diagnosed'.

Or undiagnosed but deemed unofficially autistic by professional impressions at age 10 counts as early diagnosed, all because an official assessment is so expensive that it took years.

Because my household is too poor to have me professionally assessed, while seeing lots and lots of signs throughout childhood that I'm not neurotypical to begin with.

So I just survived mainstream school, while unmasked in a violent way.
Because I don't have issues with academics -- it's the students I'm having issues with.

But I cannot relate with going invisible or feeling like a freak.
I cannot relate to masking and all that fear and judgment.
I cannot relate longing for help; whether it's self help or academics because I developed hyperindependence.
I cannot relate to the shame of needing help because I genuinely do not see the point -- more like I want to do things my own out of sheer pride and control.

I cannot relate the whole 'slipping through the cracks' and all that imposter syndrome experience.

Can't also relate to the experience of going to hospitals and therapies as a kid on top of daycare.
Can't relate to the early diagnosed experiences of having series of clinic visits and multiple doctors -- back then, that's for the privileged.
Can't relate needing a nanny or an aide or the idea that I cannot be left alone because that's really against the trait of hyperindependence.

I cannot relate being talked over by anyone because of my diagnosis, I cannot relate to people using my diagnosis against me...


I'm in a limbo in more ways than one.

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^^^ That's unfortunate. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. Hopefully it gets better for future autistic kids!

Well, that's the thing; that's still being fought here.
And when it's passed, there's no implementation yet (like most well-written laws here).


The prospect of having free diagnostic assessment is one of the things being pushed by and for autistics at the moment.

But I'm sure proposing and implementing laws can take... Decades to ever come true.


To go back to the topic...

Where exactly do I count?
Am I early-enough diagnosed or late-enough diagnosed?


10 years old is too young for a self diagnosis and early enough to pass off as a childhood diagnosis.

But 14 is old enough to be able to self diagnose through the internet and late enough that it's deemed to be passing the cracks.


All that, despite none of the masking and fear.
I never lived in an anxiously socially conscious life, I don't understand imposter syndrome...

... And I'm also not the type who says "people like me" referring to the more disabled counterparts implying to check less disabled counterparts' privileges, which I've seen a few times, wanting to take part of discussions.

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I'd like to find a group like this, too. It's kind of defined me my whole life and has basically been inescapable, sort of in the background the whole time.