Back from my 1st adult aspie support group

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Whitetiger, an Aspie Express that runs the length of the PacNW is obviously needed. Just think of all the marooned Aspies that don't drive that would enjoy gathering and listening and being in a group of like kind, no pressure and actually interesting relevant inclusive useful discussion! There must be a way to make this happen.

Today the topic was conflict resolution in communication. We discussed freely at our tables and as a larger group. We could ask questions and bounce off each other's experiences. We could be silent. We could space out or participate or just play with the toys. Roger did a good job keeping the flow on track.

I met some very interesting ppl whose stories resonated on my wavelength. I learned, found it engaging, personable, want to hear more. Cannot begin to express the relief at actually meeting normal ppl!

Yep, that was us, and I think I might remember who you are ... at least I remember somebody putting their head on the table and somebody blurting rather enthusiastically ... so you're the "Blurter Zonker" ... and naturally we chose a table with nobody there but Roger herded us right in front. *grin* so we've figured out who we all are by the quirks Looking forward to seeing you in a month!

Roger is pretty picky about his group, only wants people on the spectrum there and wants upcoming newbies to call him first before they come. He also doesn't allow people to come in and observe us like we are animals. He has gotten calls from college students asking if they can come and observe our behavior and he says "no." But luckily he doesn't restrict where you have to live to be there. He told us about a new group that was found in our area but you have to live in Washington County unfortunately. Luckily he doesn't have us prove our AS to join and he welcomes self diagnosers. He isn't too concerned about people coming in claiming to be AS. He said it hasn't happened yet and another lady asked me why would people want to have AS and I said I don't know and then I said people might fake having it so they can come to the gathering. I wasn't accusing anyone there faking it, I was asking if he was afraid of fakers coming. Everyone at the table laughed when I asked him "Are you afraid of fake aspies coming in?"

But he is also open. He lets us leave anytime we want and we can come anytime we want during the hours. We can get up and walk around, we can do our own thing. I notice he is scattered mind. He told me one thing last time and then said the other this time.

That sounds like a good meeting. There are none anywhere near where I live, but I'd go if there were.

I had a very hard time talking at the AS meeting I went to.
It seemed to be for adults and teens.
Kids were in a separate area.

I'm glad you had a good time, I'm kinda jealous, I never hear about anything like that in Michigan!

There seemed to be quite a number of older adults there last night. The facilitator said nobody had to speak if they didn't want to. Perhaps the older one gets the more one finally wants to bust through and express him/herself. At my table we could have talked all night. We hit a groove we were all jiving on. We were talking about how ppl around us don't like to follow directions or instructions, don't want to see a map or read a simple manual to do a procedure correctly or follow verbal cueing. It was extraordinarily validating. Get us together and gee, it's the NTs that are the freaks

There was one lady who talked about how her son was in the hospital and he needed his pills so she stopped at the pharmacy on the way and dropped off the prescriptions and told them her son was in the hospital and he needs them. An hour and a half later, they still weren't ready so she cut in line and said she had been waiting for over an hour and complained to them. I thought it was ridiculous of the pharmacy but Roger had an excellent TOM about what could have happened and explained how the pharmacy works. He talked about what "being in the hospital" could have meant to them and all the other people who were in line needed just as urgent attention for their medicine and if her son needs the medicine, they have it right there in the hospital and will give it to him. Then he talked about how we think about our own problems when something comes up and we don't think about other people and what could their problems be. Seems like a everyone problem to me.

I honestly don't always know what is the AS and what isn't.

I was surprised that nobody else at my table had heard of Wrong Planet except of course my housemate. They were all glad to hear there was a lively forum. They wrote it down. Maybe they'll lurk and then post. The folks at my table seem to have very busy lives so I don't know how much time they have for research. Student, business owner, worker, healthcare manager, etc.

That's awesome that you guys (Cascadians and Spokane_Girl) almost met! Lol
I want to meet someone from here! I am curious to see how I would get along with an autistic person.

i really wish i could find a similar group in my area....this part of ontario is surprisingly and disappointingly behind when it comes to aspie support groups. i haven't been able to find any within a couple hundred kilometres of here. seems there are groups for everything but aspergers here

Yes, I too was curious to see if other auties / aspies would like me better than NTs, or there would be more of a connection, or some recognition, or getting along easier. I was so relieved to find instant rapport and commonality.

It's not that I don't get along with ppl but just that they sense something "different" and avoid me, unless they're bullies and mistake my kindness for weakness and try to target or attack. I'm learning to disallow those bullying behaviors and put a stop to the cruelty.

I think of Aspergers as "Ass-Purgers" because my mere presence brings out the ass behavior of jackasses and exposes them quickly for the jerks they are.