Penpals group

Post Reply New Topic

Hello:

I am been asking around to see if a penpals group exists for young adults and adults on the autism spectrum. I have been unable to find such a group. If such a group exists, what is the name of the group that I could get information on the internet if I Googled it? A few adults from my Adults support group that I facilitate the other day. I am also an adult on the autism spectrum.

Thanks,
Scott

I don't know of anything like that, but I do know of a penpal group that I used to be part of a long time ago. I don't know if it's still around, but you could Google it. It's called the Letter Exchange. The way it worked back then in the early 90's before anybody had the internet, was every month you would get a little booklet in the mail from the company. In it, some people had listings with their name, age, address, interests and a little info about themselves. You could pick people to write to from that or you could put your own listing in so people could write to you. I did it for a few months but never really had much time for it so I just eventually quit and they stopped sending the booklets. I believe there was a subscription fee for the booklets, maybe five bucks back then. I don't know what it would be now or if they even charge for it considering that it may very well be listed on the internet but hopefully the letters are still done by snail mail.

There are all sorts of different people listed, although they don't have prisoners like some email groups have or just focus on. There may be other autistics listed or you may need to list yourself and look for others and they might find you. Not everyone who uses it has a listing. You can pick and choose how many people you write to and they also say how often they like to write, etc so you can match up to someone with your same amount of time to devote to it.

Either way, check it out and see what you think, if it's even still around. I hope it is. I might actually look back into it myself now that your post made me think of it. It would be fun.

Good luck and post and let me know what you find online about it and if you decide to do this.

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Thank you for your response, OOMom. I checked Letter Exchange (http://letter-exchange.com), and it's not what I had in mind. I see this as where folks on the autism spectrum (it will be that, starting out) can correspond with each other through emails or snail mails. This will be strictly for adults and young adults on the autism spectrum and their parents/caregivers. I have been on Facebook to one of the autism groups, and it seems as if many people in it like the idea as well. I wouldn't have prisoners, child abusers, etc. writing anyone in the penfriends group. I don't envision that the penfriends part of the new website will be up and going until sometime early next year. I am thinking of limiting people to Wrong Planet, the autism FB sites, national autism groups in various countries, and leave it at that. I could have it put in autism magazines, etc. But that would be the extent of it. I won't be promoting it otherwise, because I am not in it for a profit motive. I am just seeking to help fellow adults and others find new penfriends to write and make new friends. That's all.

Over time, I can see making the autism penfriends thing a subscription service and as cheap as possible.

Scott

Are you going to do background checks on the people? Otherwise you really won't have any way of knowing whether or not they are pedophiles or even really on the spectrum. We don't know that for a fact here even. You know if they are convicts or not because of the mailing address and jail mail is stamped with something on the envelope when it goes out saying it is from a jail. So you won't have inmates writing, but otherwise you just have to go on trust. There is no way to vette anyone because some people are still pedo's and haven't been caught yet.

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

It's definitely something to consider, because all the applications will be coming in to me. I will probably have a check mark that says "By checking this box, you are giving permission for Greater Chattanooga Aspies to perform a background criminal check to be performed on you."

This Penpals group is for adults and young adults on the autism
spectrum and their parents/caregivers. It will not be for children on the autism spectrum.

Scott