#AutisticElders are autistic adults ranging in age from 40 to 90+ volunteering to share our hard-earned wisdom, strategies, and advice on request.
🙏🏽 Need Advice?
If you’re struggling with adulting, are newly diagnosed, and/or are one of thousands of adults discovering that you’ve been autistic this ?? whole ?? time ??, you probably have questions.
A. LOT. OF. QUESTIONS.
Whoever you are and wherever you live, the #AutisticElders hashtag can connect you to someone who has walked a similar path.
Across all social media, send out your call by posting #AutisticElders.
Responses should follow. That’s it!
(Remember that we’re on autistic time so patience is a bonus.)
Try It On BlueSky🫶🏽 Want to be a mentor?
Want to offer a bit of kindness and support to strangers on the internet?
Whenever you’re feeling generous:
- Check the #AutisticElders hashtag for questions by pasting it into your social platform’s search area.
- Browse for questions that feels relatable.
- Comment on the person’s post or DM if they’re open to that.
Help out when you can. Take a break at any time, short or extended. This is mutual aid in action. You make it work by sharing yourself with those who could use a helping hand.
Remember the times you needed a little advice but didn’t know where to turn? Now you can lift that feeling away from someone else.
Tips for #AutisticElders
The only requirement for #AutisticElders is that you feel you’ve acquired some life experience that may be applicable to middle-aged and younger autistic people. Usually that translates to age 40 or so and above. Elders of all ages over 40 are welcome. (Younger than 40? Your perspective will be super valuable as part of YAAS. Come on over!)
When you choose to respond to calls for #AutisticElders, you may also chose to add the #AutisticElders hashtag to your social media profile(s). That will ensure you’re included in search results so more advice-seekers might find you.
Want to be added to the official Autastic #AutisticElders Starter Pack? Let me know here or on BlueSky. This is very optional.
You may want to check the hashtag weekly so questions don’t languish unanswered.
Thank you for giving of yourself. May your kindness and generosity return to you many times over.
Why Do We Do This?
The Road Behind
Autism wasn’t included in the DSM until 1980 and Asperger’s Syndrome not until 1994. Widespread screening wasn’t available for children born earlier. The roughly 1.2 million autistic children born per generation worldwide* were left with little information about who they were, few peers, and not a whole lot of public support.
Out of necessity, they (we!) found our own way**.
For better or worse, we made it up as we went along, probably a lot like you.
We cobbled together:
- Sensory mitigation techniques,
- Masking skills,
- Social scripts,
- Employment hacks, and more in order to get by.
We created safe havens where we could de-stress and be ourselves. Many times, we had no idea why we weren’t like the people around us or why we were clearly experiencing life differently than expected. This is exponentially true for autistic people of color.
Our solutions for living are as varied as we are people. One size definitely does not fit all. We made lives for ourselves and our families, often suffering greatly for the privilege. We’ve learned a ton along the way. In the gulf of representation and information by, for, and about us, we want to pass along the wisdom we’ve earned. Let us light your way.
Use of the #AutisticElders hashtag is entirely voluntary and intended only as a suggestion for connecting on social media. Autastic is not responsible for any advice shared, interactions, or conduct of individuals choosing to participate or connect using this hashtag. Participants engage at their own discretion and risk.
The Young Autistic Adult Squad (#YAAS)
Looking for mentors who’ve lived most of their lives having been identified as autistic? No problem! The Young Autistic Adult Squad (#YAAS) is standing by for your questions.
Learn more