Updated 10/03/24

Group Rules and Guidelines

Here is our list of group rules for members to follow when attending our events, participating in our Discord, and interacting with other members of our group. Our members are laid back, and our goal is to create a relaxed space for all members to feel comfortable in.

1.This group is restricted to Autistic adults.

You must be a post-high school Autistic adult (18+), either diagnosed or self-diagnosed, to participate in our space in any capacity, including attending our events and joining our Discord Server. Some of our events (including public events like Autistic Pride Day, or our PAUSE events) are open to all, which will be noted in the event description. 

2. Be respectful to your fellow members.

Being intentionally hurtful, rude, or disrespectful to other members is prohibited.

We are a group of individuals with different backgrounds, political beliefs, and religions. With such a diverse group, there will be some disagreements on different topics. Advocating for your/others opinions is encouraged, but being disrespectful when disagreements arise is prohibited. 

It's encouraged to be transparent in our space: Use /s in text conversation to indicate sarcasm. Communicate your feelings with group members when issues arise. Occasionally other members might be unaware if they’re saying something offensive, being over-talkative and overwhelming, or hurting your feelings. It’s also okay to distance yourself from that group member and find someone else to talk to. 

If you have issues with a group member discussing any prohibited ideologies/topics (listed below) or making you/others uncomfortable, please reach out. 

3. The following list of ideologies are prohibited:

Here is a list of ideologies that are not allowed to be held/promoted in our community. We prioritize the safety of marginalized groups in our space. It is okay to discuss these topics, but promoting any of these or any other hateful/prejudiced views is not tolerated.  Read: Civil Rights are Disability Rights.

  • Homophobia/Transphobia

  • Misogyny, Incel ideology/terminology, any “manosphere” ideologies

  • Sexism

  • Racism, xenophobia, islamophobia & antisemitism

  • Ableism, eugenics, supremacy (Including towards neurotypicals and those with different support needs)

  • Gatekeeping autism, self-diagnosis shaming

  • Broad generalizations about genders, neurotypes, or any other groups of people 

4. Be mindful of adult content & conversations.

It’s important to be mindful when talking about adult content. Autistics are statistically more likely to have experienced sexual abuse. Additionally, dark/inappropriate jokes might not be well received or understood. Please be respectful if others share they are uncomfortable with your statements or if moderators/group facilitators ask you to move on. 

Topics/discussion revolving around sex are okay. Talking about your personal sex life in detail, or making other members uncomfortable with sexual conversations or questions, is prohibited. 

Swearing is fine, slurs/pornographic content are not. Sexual jokes about your or another person's body are discouraged.

If you’re chatting with someone one-on-one: remember consent is important, and make sure your jokes/comments are welcome. A good rule of thumb; if you don’t know that person, keep it clean.

5. Aggressive, inappropriate, or repeated unwanted advances towards group members are prohibited.

Making aggressive, inappropriate, or repeated unwanted advances (DM’s, asking for someone’s phone number, asking to see each other outside of an event) towards one or multiple group members is prohibited. 

Communication outside of meetups is allowed and encouraged - Our goal is to encourage genuine friendships and bonds with others in the Autistic community. But a goal just as important as making genuine connections, is making a space for everyone to feel comfortable.

If you’re unsure the best conduct for asking others to hang out outside of events, or want some tips for staying safe, please read: “Tips for Communicating Outside of Meetups” 

Discord Rules

All of the former rules apply, but here are additional rules specific to our discord:

  • All heavy/serious/potentially triggering subjects must be posted in discussion. If you’re unsure about a specific topic, post it in discussion. 

  • Intentional spam in an attempt to annoy or bug other members is not allowed. 

  • Joining the server and only messaging to solely promote is not allowed. Occasionally promoting something you made, your business, a performance, etc. is fine. 

  • Encouraging group members to harass/target other individuals, groups or organizations, is prohibited.

  • Discussing/Conducting any illegal activity is prohibited.

Our discord server is connected to our in-person community. Our server is not an online form for promotion, solicitation, or heated discussion. Our intent is to keep our server a relaxed & communal environment. Everyone in the group has different levels of comfort around controversial topics, and may find certain discussions triggering. A good rule of thumb - Don't ask questions or make comments you wouldn't say to someone's face in person. If you’re unsure if it’s an appropriate question/discussion topic for our discord, it might be best to find another form/platform to ask.

Removal

After breaking a group rule, the individual will be pulled aside for a one-on-one conversation with leadership. After two strikes, leadership will discuss what further action needs to be taken, including possible removal. The following behaviors will result in immediate removal from our group: Stalking, harassing, threatening, or violent behavior towards group members and non group members, intentionally disrespecting a group members boundaries, making unwanted sexual comments about or towards group members, revealing personal information about people without their permission (“doxxing”). Removal from our group prohibits individuals from attending our in-person events, online events, and joining our discord.

Photo Policy

Event hosts will occasionally take group photographs at our events. Event hosts will get verbal consent from our members to be photographed, and members who don’t want to be photographed remain outside of frame. Photographs may be included on our website photo gallery, discord, meetup, or circle, and will not be used for promotional content unless otherwise stated. No one is required to be photographed to participate in our group. Occasionally, some members may take photos during events and share in our group discord - these photos will NOT be included in our gallery or used for any promotional content.

Animal Policy

Support and service animals are welcome at our events. Pets are not welcome at our events, regardless of the venue location or activity. For ESA’s: Your animal must remain with you at all times.

Contact Us

If anyone ever makes you uncomfortable, crosses your boundaries, or even if something just gives you a weird vibe, PLEASE let us know. If someone is making you uncomfortable, they might be bothering other people too. We will definitely look into it and determine what action needs to be taken.

Anonymous Contact Form 
(or reach out through email)