BAY AREA AUTISM COLLECTIVE IS EMPOWERING THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY THROUGH AUTISM-AFFIRMING SUPPORT
“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.”
OUR FOUNDER, BIRD, WROTE A BOOK!
Facilitating Autistic Peer Support Groups: Creating Autism-Affirming Spaces to Build Support and Connection
Autistic adults experience extremely high rates of social isolation. I wrote Facilitating Autistic Peer Support Groups for anyone who wants to build spaces where autistic adults can find real support and connection. It draws on what I’ve learned through my private coaching practice and my work leading the Bay Area Autism Collective.
The book centers on four core values: emotional safety, openness, mutual respect, and autonomy. The book walks through the principles behind a group, how to structure and run meetings, trauma-informed ways to navigate challenges, and how facilitators can sustain themselves. Case studies, reflection prompts, and a quick-reference appendix make it something you can return to.
Purchase a copy by clicking on the book cover »»»»»»»»
Autistic-led
autistic engagement
for autistic solutions.
There is a shortage of autism-focused social support for autistic adults. Participation in support groups has been shown to enhance individuals' well-being, boost their social skills, improve satisfaction with available services and assistance, improve overall health, reduce hospital admissions and inpatient stays, and ultimately lower overall expenses associated with serving the population. However, autistic people do not experience these gains when non-autistic people dominate support groups.
BAAC is a public nonprofit 501(c)3 organization # 93-2060468
BAAC has built a deeply trusted safe space for the neurodivergent community. With over 1,000 members, our organization holds a 4.7-star satisfaction rating based on 220 independent participant reviews on MeetUp. We experience an exceptional participant engagement rate. While standard community groups receive minimal feedback, about 22% of our members have actively reviewed and rated our support groups, showing deep investment in the community and trust.
Our success exemplifies the strength of autistic-led projects that serve the autistic community.
Autistic culture is real, relevant, and valid.
Autistic culture is worth celebrating.
Land Acknowledgment
Bay Area Autism Collective is based in San Francisco and acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands we live and work on. The San Francisco peninsula and north Bay are located within the occupied territories of the Ramaytush Ohlone and the Coastal Miwok, who, along with the Southern Pomo, are organized as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. We pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging.