Local Autism Event Not ASD Friendly

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Local event people wanting to provide a science exploration day for ASD kids. Their is also a social skills module. The kicker is that NTs are allowed. The reason being the facilitators don't want the NT siblings to feel left out...At that point I just saw red. ASD people feel left out all the time. Why can't those kids have a safe day without NT kids? Or at the very least have some social events where the kids don't have to compete with NTs? This event was for preteen to 22.

I see what you are saying.

The goal, I believe, should be to not exclude ANYBODY.

My cousin (who's very much like a sibling) is as NT as it gets and he's my best friend. If he wasn't allowed to accompany me I would not go. The siblings of autistic kids tend to be pretty understanding of autism.

My cousin who is the same age as me was the only person who really understood me when we were little and I was severely autistic and acted as my voice telling what my needs were when I could not.

Your post is what made me see red because you're basically saying autistic kids aren't safe with him being around.

Last edited by EzraS on 30 May 2018, 8:43 am, edited 2 times in total.

They should have the autistic police at the doors checking medical records and if you don't have ASD you should be turned away.

How about anyone who wasn't diagnosed with classic autism when they were very little like I was, are all posers. I mean lets not play around here with gatekeeping.

Dimes to donuts it's not just leaving NT sibs out.

Are the parents staying during these sessions? My friend takes her all kids to events because her husband works, and there is no one home to watch the NT kids. She can't leave the ASD kid alone at something like a drop in event because he runs when stressed. So either all kids go or none go.

There is a big different between a sign up you child and leave them there event, and an all day come and go event. Even then, maybe parents and the kids with ASD would feel more comfortable if his/her sibling is around. Science Day sounds really cool, until you realize you are surrounded by people you don't know, smells, noise and the stress level sky rockets.

My library has problems with tailoring events for people with autism. Do you want it for more NT like level I kids, who need minimal supports? Do you want to include Level II and Level III who could enjoy the event, but need a support person and that might be a parent with siblings tagging along?

I have seen ASD only events. They are usually you pay to go. They have a criteria of who can attend because the people running them aren't SPED teachers and psychiatric social workers. Those exclude big chunks of the spectrum.

A gripe autism parent support groups have that events are geared to Level I or Level III. The Minecraft night at my library is really for people on the spectrum that can sit at a computer and not roam around. There is a non verbal person with ASD who goes with an NT sib. It's the ONLY way the person can go because the sibling is a calming factor. So NT people are allowed.

So, yes a truly ASD only event might be really cool for those at the very "mildest" end of the spectrum, but then you leave out the rest that could attend because the parents can't leave other siblings behind or the person with ASD who would enjoy the event better with people they know around.

Last edited by Tawaki on 30 May 2018, 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

You bugger , I'll just watch you from the outside , posing

Last edited by SaveFerris on 30 May 2018, 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

Just cater to both........I see nothing wrong with ASD kids wanting a safe place of their own.

I'm sorry you guys don't understand that.

Sorry don't understand some people on the spectrum feel safer when a sibling or NT friend is around. Just because you can function perfectly well at events doesn't mean everyone on the spectrum can. So you exclude people who might need a support person?

ETA: my husband used to help run an ASD adult support group. It was for anyone 18 on up. Everyone was probably Level I to just about a Level II.

Mind you this is a support group by ASDs for people with ASD.

Almost every single person had a supportive person with them. Whether it was a spouse, SO, parent or friend. Some had anxiety disorders, or couldn't drive well enough to get through rush hour traffic.

If the rule was absolutely no NTs allowed, one person would come. Sometimes the NT would go to the library to hang out. Most stayed in the meeting. The person with ASD wanted their supportive person THERE.

Last edited by Tawaki on 30 May 2018, 9:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

A support person is quite a different story than an NT peer. I was a one on one support person for an autistic male teen for recreational events at a Y.

Instead of hitting me with nasty memes, why not ask questions? Why not also use common sense. Nobody is suggesting you drop the kids off and leave. What I am continuing to suggest are my concerns that the ASD kids could face bullying or social exclusion by NT kids. Nobody suggested leaving out support providers.

I agree: cater to both.

There are some events which are more catered towards people with ASD and not NTs or the parents of autistic children

yeah , single me out , I'm the nasty one

My sarcastic meme was meant as a thought provoking question

I should have used the term supportive person. A sibling or spouse can be a supportive person. I'm not talking a health care worker or para pro.

The ASD only events (unless it's for the tippy top highest function young adults 18-20) don't have a good draw in my area. Parents won't come due to child care issues, and the adults don't want to be around people they don't know ASD or not. More fun to be with a friend.

A Minecraft event could be cool. Thanks for the person who mentioned that. Perhaps I can see if one can be set up at a local library. NTs that like Minecraft would naturally enjoy it. The event would just be adolescents who want to meet for this game.

There is nothing wrong with a parent going with the autistic child to the event. Many NT siblings probably wouldn't want to go the autism event. My NT brother definitely wouldn't want to and neither would my parents' NT siblings. My parents' siblings are not understanding of autism at all.


Historygal is right about the social exclusion that NT preteens and teens do to autistic peers. I was bullied relentlessly through out my childhood and my teen and preteen years were some of the worst years of my life.

I know autistic adolescents don't want to be patronized and spoken to in a condescending manner by their NT peers. I hated it when it was done to me.