What usually happens at an autism meeting?

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I've been given papers (which I lost) inviting me to a bookstore in the mall for an autism meeting? Anyone with autism can go. What usually goes on here? There's supposed to be a speaker, and I think I recall the paper saying he was a doctor, scientist or book writer.

Go to one and find out. I would assume others would be there too. Probably their first time or second time. I doubt much would be asked of you, but you turning up to it would be an achievement in itself

Depends. There are three typical categories of Autism groups:

1) Autistic-run

These meetings tend to be casual, for the purpose of meeting other autistics and having fun talking. They may or may not talk primarily about their autism. Or it will come and go with conversation. These tend to be fun, and the discussion isn't rigid at all.
It tends to only be high-functioning people at these meetings.

2) Parent-run

These meetings also tend to be casual, but the difference is the (sometimes overbearing) presence of NT parents. While an autistic-run meeting might only have one NT parent or so, it's not uncommon for NT parents to make up well over 50% of the membership of a parent-run group. Even in the meetings designed for autistic people, many NT parents decide to tag along, drag their child there, or just go alone.

I say "drag along" because many of the actual autistic people don't actually want to be there. Many of them are on the lower-functioning side, and would rather stay at home than go out. On the flip side, the general atmosphere of parent-run groups tends to turn off higher-functioning people. Many "free-range aspies" are looked at with disbelief by the parents, because they believe that people with AS/HFA aren't capable of being there without their parents.

3) Psychologist/Doctor-run

These tend to play more like group therapy sessions. There is a set facilitator, and a set topic to talk about. It generally goes like a round table, where people speak their mind about that specific topic. Functioning levels could vary. It depends on whether or not the autistic people are looking for help with anxiety, social skills, depression, employment, you name it.

Thanks for the reply. I figured that much. Still a bit nervous, though. I'll be going alone...

It's hard to tell if the one around here is autistic-run or parent-run. My guess is the former, as it's an adult group. At each meeting, they apparently break up into two subgroups: one for the autistic folk, and one for relatives/support folks.

I've been thinking about going. Though I've had great experiences here at WP talking with folks on the spectrum, I wonder if an in-person group would be as lucid, since many of us seem to prefer written to real-time in-person communication. I guess there's only one way to find out...

If you've got the stomach for it, a good group of adults can take over a parent-run group and turn the focus away from angst and biomed cure hype. I know; I've seen it done.

I am 43 and was diagnosed AS/ADHD a few months ago.

The first meeting I went to was run by teachers at a school for autistic kids and attended mostly by parents. I think there was one other adult Aspie there who came in late. I was accompanied by my boss (who is also my best friend). He said he learned a lot, but I found the experience distressing and I was on edge all the time, and felt like I was being judged -- something I am not accustomed to in that way, since I have never been considered to have a neurological problem before. There was one parent who was really very distressed about her teenage daughter and I felt sorry for the woman and I felt like the therapists/teachers were carrying on with their agenda instead of taking care of this woman's obviously great need.

The next meeting I went to was in another part of town and it was a social event for Aspies run by Aspies. I got to hear of it through someone I work with whose husband is an Aspie. This was much more relaxed, and I felt at home, especially since there were some people who had obvious stims or who didn't make eye contact and I felt like there was nothing I could possibly want to do could be considered abnormal. I can't wait to go to the next event, and I am thinking of starting a similar group in my own area.