Back from my 1st adult aspie support group

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Back from my first adult aspie support group meeting in Portland, Oregon. I liked it! Wow, a whole roomful of Aspies! I felt among kin, totally accepted, speaking the same language, instant understanding. The range of autism in this group was visibly dramatic. I saw and heard what I've been reading about.

Sat next to a very cool woman going to college who was diagnosed by her gastroenterologist. Severe gut problems in autism is that prevalent.

The aspie facilitator provided lots of textural toys on the tables. I haven't played with toys for decades and really enjoyed the tactile stimming which was 100% acceptable in that group.

Aspies when with other aspies in a group are not shy. They all want to share, to be heard, to relate. Starving to be understood and interact and connect. It's totally different than being in a neurotypical social group. The transcendental direct radiant honesty is like bathing in cool soothing refreshing ocean pools. It's like the interaction with dying persons, stripped of all extraneous garbage and down to the core essence. I can't believe I'm 48 and today was the first time I've ever felt this blessing. Thank God for the internet and the means and freedom and ability and miracle of finding one's own kind!

It's like being kidnapped as an infant and taken to another planet and forced to be a slave to alien creatures and then suddenly being returned home to family, brothers and sisters, the same species, what an amazing experience!

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

i am really happy for you. it sounds like you had a very meaningful experience there.
yippee for you.

OMG is this the Roger Meyers group you're talking about?

I was just there today.

Oh frabjous day, calloo callay!

Spokane Girl, yes! I'm the new one with scraggly long curly white hair, came with my aspie domestic partner. I'm just so relieved and amazed

I assume you sat at the table across from the table I sat at. (I was the one with glasses and sat with a movie script and had Saturn on my shirt and stars and wore a red shirt under it and black pants) Damn I wished I remembered what you look like. I'm horrible with remembering looks. I can't remember seeing a woman there with white hair.

Maybe you will come to the next meeting next month. Hopefully I will be there again.

I wish there was one in my area so I didn't feel alone with my issues IRL. Half of the people in my area don't even know what it is.

That's great you enjoyed it. Sounds like you found your planet.

I wonder what they talk about those aspies.

So, there wasn't any of the aloof types there (see: Autistic Disorder)?

I suppose I just answered my own question, i.e., they're called aloof for a reason.

We were all normal at the group and not many of us stimmed a whole lot. Even I didn't stim as much like I did last time because I felt more comfortable. Even one guy there made a comment to me about I am more relaxed there because I was talking more and I wasn't stimming as bad. I'm more normal when relaxed.

About three people left during the meeting. The one next to me left five minutes before it ended.

Spokane Girl, I came in late with my partner (we were walking all around the church trying to figure out how to get in, LOL). I'm rotund and my boss is exceptionally fat. Roger had us sit at the round table right in front of him.

What did you talk about? I didn't notice what ppl were wearing.

Yes, I want to come to the next meeting. I have some weird spatial maneuvering deficits so have not learned to drive but my aspie partner drives very well so we'll both be there.

I hope everybody gets this chance if they want it. It certainly dispelled my feeling of being alone with my issues. I'm in the process of getting a formal diagnosis and the psycho evaluator is being a totally condescending jerk, very prejudiced against autism and just dripping with disbelieving scorn. He won't let me say a word about Aspergers which is exceedingly frustrating because it fits like a glove. So it was oh so nice and validating to finally meet aspies today and for once feel what a comfort zone is like.

I am soooooo jealous! I have only known Roger through Emails and one phone call long ago when I first learned about AS.
But here I am stuck in Salem with no way to get to the meetings. . and no one here in Salem that I know of with AS but me.

pardon me, but I am going to have a pity party now.



Merle

So, there wasn't anyone who ignored people? People who couldn't talk (even if they do have speech)?

Roger seems like a very cool guy and wonderfully accomplished aspie to me. He is like a walking encyclopedia. I thought he was a good facilitator. I stumbled onto the group website and called him and he was very helpful!

Merle Sinsboldly, I hope you get to come to a meeting! My yard guy doesn't drive either but he comes up here by Amtrak from Salem. His wife drives him to the Amtrak station in Salem and he gets off at the Amtrak station in Oregon City which is very near my house, and my boss picks him up. It works out very well. He comes every once in a while, on a Sunday because he works full-time at a mill. The adult aspie support groups meets on Sundays so guess what? We might be able to arrange a ride for you!

You could ride the train up with Felipe my yard guy; we'd pick you up in Oregon City; you could hang out with us for the day; go to the meeting; take the train back with Felipe to Salem. Train leaves Oregon City at 6:36/p so we'd have to leave the adult aspie support group meeting a little early but hey you'd get a good taste!

I'm in Eugene and I would love to meet Roger Myers. About 3 years ago, I emailed with him and he helped me come to terms with my diagnosis. I would love to get a ride to the Portland group if anyone else from Eugene is going!

Daniel, I don't know about any ignoring or no speaking since I didn't swivel around to look at what everybody was doing. Probably won't be comfortable staring and openly checking ppl out until the 3rd meeting or so But everybody seemed very accommodating and welcoming and accepting. It was my 1st experience and a lot of my energy was just trying to be there without making some drastic mistake ...