Should we concentrate ourselves in particular locations?

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Many demographic groups have selected, either purposefully or by natural social forces, areas to congregate. In those areas, they find others of their group for company and interpersonal networking and they use the clout of a large population to promote awareness and acceptance. In my travels, I've found some locations are much more hospitable to me as an autistic, as opposed to others that are harsh and forbidding. Yes, we would hope the world would progress to the point that all places were equal. However, as a very practical matter, that is a stretch goal. So, what about picking a few metro areas per region where we can concentrate ourselves, socialize, form local interpersonal networks, advocate awareness and acceptance, and thrive?

In the western United States, I would start that list with the Seattle, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona metro areas.

I'm in the UK. I don't know which spots to pick, I just know it would be nice to live in a world that didn't seem so alien and wrong.

Yeah, where are the best places to live for Aspie's combined in both acceptance, resources, and social groups? Then I will move there. lol.

We'll have to develop the locations. That said, I think it can be done. I think we should consider areas that are centers for creative design work and innovation. And, avoid areas that have cultures that are more pecking-order oriented nor where there is a very active and contentious demographic card game. Detroit, Michigan and San Francisco, California would not be on my list.

During World War II, the Nazis thought it was a good idea to keep different kinds of people in their "own spaces." The Jews had their own sections as well as the Polish. These were known as ghettoes. The separation didn't work and, in some cases, uprisings occurred. When people are roped off, so to speak, they're more easily controlled and vilified. When the gays built their own communities (Castro, Stonewall) they became easy targets of oppression and they, too, had uprisings. In theory, it sounds like Xanadu, but in reality it doesn't work out as planned.

There is plenty of research that suggests that persons of the same personality traits tend to live near each other. I posted on another thread a map that charted concentrations of five factor personality traits in North America (neurotic people in the Northeast and Midwest, agreeable people in the South and Midwest, etc).

As for persons with AS, I don't know how wise it is to self segregate on the basis of AS. AS is not a personality trait as much as governing modes of expression. That said, I hear time and again how the Bay Area has a very high proportion of those with AS.

These places already exist, IMO.

As has been discussed in other threads, tech centres like Silicon Valley have attracted a lot of people like us. I think Seattle would be quite similar.

I know that where I live, a few hours North in the suburbs of Vancouver, it's quite a diverse and Aspie friendly place. There are a lot of us here. There are also a lot of immigrants from many different countries, so fitting in is easier and easier amongst the various foreign cultures we can insert ourselves into. It's also a great environment for us, IMO, with the ocean, forests, mountains, city, country & everything imaginable in between - plenty of beautiful natural features to escape to and enjoy. High tech, low tech, hippies, scientists, engineers, labourors, service industry - whatever - it's an anything goes kind of city with a lot of universal acceptance to others' differences thanks to a full 1/3rd of residents having been born outside the country. We don't need to announce our presence or educate others on being tolerant to our quirks, as this place has naturally evolved to be absolutely ideal for us to get along in & thrive. No, my life isn't perfect and I wouldn't consider myself as thriving at the moment, but I do feel that the opportunities for me to do so are so much greater here than in a homogeneous city filled with NT's from a single racial, religious, cultural, and language background.

"Imagine a coffee shop with a reading room that has open areas, plus nooks for those people who need more visual privacy."

We have those, too. There are some with more private areas where people can sit with their laptop and read/type w/o others being able to glance over at them or their screen, you just have to find a shop that has a layout like that with an open seat in one of the few more solo corners of the cafe. They might not be aaaas isolated as you'd like, but I'm sure there are many that would suit you just fine.

_________________
No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

I'm not sure about other cities, but Seattle is a pretty good place for spectrumites. To wit:
1. The Academy for Precision Learning is a K-9 school dedicated to the success of all students – including typically developing and those across the autism spectrum – learning within an academically challenging and socially vibrant environment. Also, APL is Opening a High School! Starting with grades 9 and 10 in 2013-2014.
2. Seattle Children's Autism Center provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for autism spectrum disorders. We offer a range of medical and mental health services for babies, children and young adults.
3. The Adult Autism Clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the UW Medical Center - Roosevelt Building at 4225 Roosevelt Way, Suite 306, in the Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.
4. The Square Peg Social Club Adult Aspergers and Other Misfits The Square Pegs Social Club is a place for those of us who don't conform to get to know one another and make new friends without having to explain our eccentricities.
5. Autism therapists in Seattle. Link
6. Seattle Asperger's Support provides social thinking groups for children in 1st through 5th grade with Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS, High Functioning Autism,ADHD and neurotypical children who need social skills. [email protected] or 206-227-6294 for more information.
7. The UW Autism Center is a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders through exceptional clinical services, innovative scientific research and high-quality training.
8. Redmond-Eastside Asperger's. This group is for Adults that have Asperger's in Redmond or The Eastside.
9. ASAN Seattle. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism.
10. TACA - Talk About Curing Autism. Coffee Talk – Seattle. About: TACA Coffee Talk – it’s all about help and hope. So if you love someone with autism, please join us at Mosaic Coffee House. There are so many ways to help our kids with autism feel and function better, no matter how old (or young) they are! www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/
Date: TBA
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Mosaic Coffee House
4401 2nd Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98105
11. The Arc of King County - For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Link
12. Fircrest (Shoreline) is a residential facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Adult Training Program at Fircrest offers our residents vocational training and supported employment opportunities.

Cool! Let's call Vancouver and Seattle candidates.