Exploring Your Autistic Identity: October Meet-Up for Autistic Adults

Join Our Thriving Autistic Community Monthly Meet-up

Come join our relaxed and inclusive monthly meet-up for recently self- or formally identified Autistic adults. Facilitated by Autistic professionals (psychologists, therapists, and coaches), this is a space where you can connect, share, and learn.

Every month, we shape our discussions based on community feedback, focusing on the topics that matter most to you. Breakout rooms provide smaller, focused spaces to explore different topics, and you’re free to move between rooms during the event. Previous discussions have included friendships, pet and animal appreciation, coping with holidays and change, disclosing your diagnosis, adapting your environment for sensory needs, managing burnout, sensory joys, intense passions, parenting and exploring Autistic communication styles. Share your ideas to help guide future meet-ups!

This meetup is open to Autistic adults over 18 who can communicate in English. You’re welcome to actively participate—using your voice, text chat, or AAC—or simply listen in. Bring your pets, stim toys, or other comfort items to make yourself at ease.

BREAKOUT ROOMS:

💠 FEELINGS (John Pendal - he/him)

This is a room for discussion our experiences of feelings. We might be told our feelings are too big, too small, the wrong ones or inappropriate for the occasion. We might feel excluded when everyone else seems to be having a feeling that we don’t share. We might not know what are feelings are – or they might be on a delay and we only know days or weeks later. This is a room to share and have your experiences validated, as well as tips and strategies that may help.

🏡 Family Room (Helen Edgar - she/her)

You are warmly invited to a reflective discussion on the Double Empathy Problem, a concept that can help us understand why communication between Autistic and non-autistic people can sometimes feel so difficult.

Together, we will explore:

• How misattunement and misunderstanding can happen on both sides.
• The unique challenges of advocating for yourself as an Autistic person or advocating for your child or young person
• Ways to build mutual understanding, empathy, and connection.

This will be a safe and supportive space for sharing experiences, tips and reflecting together to explore ways of building bridges of understanding.

🤝 Peer Connection Room (Unfacilitated)

Sometimes the best conversations happen when there’s no set topic—just a chance to be yourself and connect. This is a quiet, unfacilitated space where you can chat with others, share thoughts, or simply sit in companionable silence. There’s no agenda, just room for spontaneous connection and mutual understanding.

Important Notes for Attendees

This meetup is not suitable if you are in severe distress or at risk, as topics may be triggering. Please seek professional support before attending. For immediate help, text 50808 (Ireland), 85258 (UK), or 741741 (USA/Canada), or contact a trusted person or emergency services.

Donations

This event is offered on a donation basis, with contributions between €1 to €20 appreciated to help cover costs and support those who are financially disadvantaged. If you are unable to contribute, please select the free ticket option.

We warmly invite you to become a member of Thriving Autistic to access more resources, have a voice in our community, and stay informed about future events. You can also click “Follow” on our Eventbrite page to receive updates.

For additional details, please see the FAQ section.