Women with Autism Group is open to women — heterosexual, lesbian/gay, trans, and nonbinary — who are autistic or who think they may be autistic.
We assume we will have mostly women living in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, but since it is to be mainly an online group, we welcome women from much further away if they have a working computer and Zoom capabilities.
A formal diagnosis is not required.
The group was formerly known as the D.C. Area Autistic Women’s, Nonbinary, and Marginalized Genders Group.
If you would like to join the Women with Autism Group, please visit this link, where you can subscribe to receive e-mail updates or join the Discord server to chat with the group.
All our Zoom events are strictly confidential. There is to be no recording or transcribing, in part or in whole, of any Zoom event.
The Women with Autism Group will meet via Zoom at the following dates and times. Zoom meeting links will be shared in the AAGW e-mail group.
The Women with Autism Group meets on the 3rd Sunday of each month, from 4 p.m. thru 5:30 p.m.
The discussion topics listed below are subject to change:
- Sunday, November 19, 2023 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 8th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Disclosure and masking: When, how we do it, advantages and costs” - Sunday, December 17, 2023 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 9th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “How to cope with medical experiences: the OB/GYN, the dentist, non-invasive and invasive procedures, etc.” - Sunday, January 21, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 10th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Careers”- Working in corporate/salaried pay environments
- Working in service industry/hourly pay environments
- Entrepreneurship/solopreneurship experiences
- Changing careers to better suit our needs
- How to be in a workplace
- Sunday, February 18, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 11th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Families”- Being Mothers
- Being Sisters
- Being Daughters
- Parenting in General
- Sunday, March 17, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 12th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Friendship” (Part 1 of 2)- How to make friends
- How to sustain friendships
- Navigating differently structured friendships (ND/ND, ND/NT, mixed gender,
etc.) - Identity and Self-Expression in Friendships
- Code switching from allistic (people pleasing language) to autistic language use
in relationships with peers
- Sunday, April 21, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 13th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Friendship” (Part 2 of 2)- Community Building
- Support systems
- Sunday, May 19, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 14th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Entertainment and Hobbies”- Favorite books and podcasts
- Favorite Movies and TV
- What are your special interests and/or hobbies?
- Creative Arts & Expression
- Sunday, June 16, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 15th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Navigating, Traveling & Driving in Unfamiliar Places” - Sunday, July 21, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 16th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Daily Life” (Part 1 of 2)- Independent Living
- Routines
- Self-Care
- Sunday, August 18, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 17th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Daily Life” (Part 2 of 2)- Mental Health and Well-being
- Coping Strategies and Resilience
- Sensory Processing
- Sunday, September 22, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 18th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Complex Social Situations” (Part 1 of 2)- Facing push back when setting boundaries
- How to regulate and co-regulate
- Parties & Group Activities
- Disclosure of Autistic Diagnosis
- Sunday, October 20, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 19th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Complex Social Situations” (Part 2 of 2)- How the autistic community can support autistic women of color
- Neurodivergence/Autism in transgender and nonbinary communities
- Sunday, November 17, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 20th Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Romantic Relationships”- Boundaries, preferences, different approaches to relationships
- Managing negative emotions, or unwanted behavior from others
- Sunday, December 22, 2024 – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 21st Monthly Zoom Meeting
Discussion Topic: “Holidays”- Coping
- Food
- Pets & Companions