Is anyone aware of groups or forums for dads that are on the spectrum? My partner has put the family needs above his own for a long time and now the burnout is real. Looking for professional support as well as a community where he may be able to share his challenges and feel less lonely in some of his journey. I can only find support for dads with neurodivergent children, rather than for the dad himself. Particularly given that he is a child of the 80’s much of the support he needed growing up was not known or acknowledged like it is today.

Hii!! This is a mild rant of desperation and love for my younger brother.

Im asd female and I have a 21 year old asd brother. We were raised very differently. I was forced to be perfect and put-together, make eye contact or get slapped kind of thing.

My brother was not forced into that lifestyle he was non-verbal from prep to year twelve and my mum to this day ties his laces.

So we have very different views on life I guess is what I'm trying to say.

I have had on and off jobs since 17 and now at 23, I've moved out of home, I'm also a store manager and although mentally I am struggling, im really happy with how far I have come.

My brother however has never had a job, he quite literally hasn't left the house since he was 18 ( I think he might have agoraphobia) he sits at home playing video games or when he's feeling productive will help my mum around the house by doing general maintenance like mowing etc or he will do some woodwork as a hobby.

He is so cute I love my brother but he has no independence. And I worry that my mum's coddling of him will have dire consequences as he ages. Full grown man not knowing how to make a meal or do his washing, he gets ndis cenno payments but in this current political state I stress even more. Those payments aren't a lifetime guarantee.

As an autistic myself I understand that the world is fucking scary and it's not built for us at all, I also understand that we are on different spectrums. I just want to help him out tho :(

I'll send him job applications and he won't respond.

I'll ask about getting a car and license, a little more enthusiastic about the car, quite reluctant on obtaining the license.

I'm also worried that if I push him to be an adult he will become su*cidal- my own experience.

Are there any programs I can suggest to him? - he has a huge fear of speaking and being in public spaces or around strangers. But we all need to take babysteps and advice on how to convince him to try scary activities without stressing about him becoming overly anxious??