About Us

We're here to help our members convert uncertainty into confidence, inactivity into advance, isolation into friendships, and public unfamiliarity into understanding and support.

The Asperger Adults of Greater Washington was founded by six "Aspies" on February 20, 2005. We now have more than 150 members, and have 25 to 40 members at meetings. Our community meets on the 4th Saturday evening of every month at Teaism, located at 8th & D Streets NW, in downtown Washington. (Our November and December meetings are not held on the 4th Saturday of the month due to Thanksgiving and Christmas, respectively.)

Our annual social activities include a Hot Dog and Chili Fest, a picnic at the National Zoo, a Potomac River cruise, a Holiday Party and a Hans Asperger Memorial Dinner. We sometimes have guest speakers at our monthly meetings. Members attend movies and festivals together from time to time. We also have a lending library of books on Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA).

Our meetings and the identities of our members remain strictly confidential. Membership, meetings and participation in our e-mail group are limited to people 18 and over who have AS, HFA and similar high functioning conditions. However, we do permit new members to bring a family member or friend to their first meeting.

If they wish, members may participate in the national Asperger community. For example, one of our members, Kate Goldfield, is a conference presenter and newspaper op-ed contributor. However, almost all our members choose to remain anonymous. We are also proud of the work of another member: Stan P.'s Autism Spectrum Index is a wonderful series of articles on living with autism.

We do whatever it takes to help our members -- connecting them with the right services; inspiring confidence, organizing social activities; reducing isolation, and advancing our policy interests. We also work with parents of Asperger children, social-services agencies, treatment professionals and others, to achieve mutual objectives.