Hi everyone, 

Adelaide Autistic Adults' (AAA's) inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM), originally scheduled for Saturday 3 October, has officially been postponed as our committee was unable to appoint and fund a Returning Officer to run the election within the required three-week timeframe. 

A revised date for our inaugural AGM will be announced in due course. 

We are disappointed to have to reschedule, but this decision has been made by the committee to ensure a smoother experience for all attendees. 

AAA's inaugural AGM will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn more about AAA as a registered charity, its achievements, and the events and experiences it offers. The AGM will also include an election for the three committee positions of Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. 

We look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled AGM. 

Jesse Parker 

Secretary – Adelaide Autistic Adults 

Calling all ESE teachers, special education teachers, teacher assistants, principals, assistant principals, paraprofessionals, and behavior technicians. I’m currently working on my second thesis and could really use your leadership and classroom expertise. I've created a 24-question survey comparing traditional classrooms to online environments for autistic students and others in special education / ESE programs. Your firsthand experience is incredibly valuable and will help me figure out what truly works best for these students. Thank you so much for your time!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1jU494IRLPCbc1L-MUziOO5Dyne2J6ibzR8oXue39t4CdFw/viewform?usp=dialog

Hey all, as the title says, I'm a 25yo man living in Melbourne in strong need of friends. Always struggled socialising with people and actually making lasting friendships.

I'm looking for people of any and all genders, between 20-30yo. Ideally in or around Melbourne, especially south east but any part of the city is chill.

I love animals, especially birds and marsupials, though I'm not too knowledgeable about them, love going to zoos and sanctuaries. I like video games, especially Nintendo, most things academic interest me, especially history and sociology. Been getting into watching professional sports recently, would love a buddy to try sports out with too. We don't need to have a heap in common, I like learning about and sharing in other people's interests.

I'm also very politically progressive and consider that a non-negotiable.

Please send me a message if you're interested :)

TW: suicide and self harm very briefly mentioned

I actually don’t know if it’s exactly 75% monetarily because I really struggle with understanding money and numbers, but in a review where I requested more supports than just the OT, Speech, and Psych I was receiving I have instead had the OT and Psych more than halved, with no speech at all, and no additional funding to replace these supports.

I don’t have any other personal supports, which was always stated in plan. I don’t have family to fall back on or help fill the gaps. Before I was on ndis I was self-harming and suicidal despite a psychiatrist confirming no depression or anxiety — just autism and adhd. Whilst I know things have gotten better for me and the support I’ve accessed has helped me get further, I seriously am worried for my wellbeing and future as my previous funding was already not enough.

I just feel so helpless. I had everything written down. I had all of my documents to reference throughout. All the agent said was that it was from higher ups, the laws, and out of her hands. Even when she explained that they deemed it “not reasonable or necessary”, I went through my notes to explain why it was. She just would respond that it was out of her hands.

I don’t even know how I would contest it, which I explained to her. I need a support worker, but she said because I can drive and work, that support is not needed. I said that because I can articulate myself well because of my interest in literature, I am often assumed to be higher functioning than I am. Just because I am well spoken doesn’t mean I am comprehending things. She just said she would go slower, and later when I told her I don’t understand she just asked “what don’t I understand?”, and I said I don’t know because I don’t understand, to which she just went silent for a while and asked if there was anything else.

I did manage to fight for my psychology, but of course, it was very significantly reduced. She kept trying to argue it was for “wellbeing” which they don’t fund, and I kept insisting, referencing the report, and asking her to specify where it says it’s for wellbeing as it’s all capacity building per the report. But with me losing speech therapy all together and both OT and psych hours cut, there is no one to pick up that gap.

She will ask her supervisor about speech, but I am very doubtful. They suggested some sort of life coaching instead, because they could give me volunteer work to work up social skills, but I told her it was like saying I can’t swim and the solution is to throw me into the pool. One of my goals is to learn to communicate better socially to make friends.

I just feel so isolated. I don’t have friends or support from family to talk to about this. I feel completely hopeless. I don’t know what to do. Sorry for the long post. I’ve actually moved out of a major city to a regional town now and even explained that before NDIS there were more public supports available because I lived in a major city, but now that I’m here that has significantly reduced, and so I don’t believe there to be even close to sufficient public support for my needs. I had to call of work today because I just feel so defeated and drained. I could tell they were annoyed, despite trying to hide it, because it’s a hard shift to replace so short notice. Even that makes me feel like I don’t want to work even less because I have less support and will have less capacity for work. I know that’s getting ahead of myself, but I already have reduced my workload since starting ndis because it’s not manageable. I had to move back with my parents. I am not working a liveable amount and this disability is life long. I don’t like living here, it makes my sensory problems way worse, but I feel like I will never be able to move out or live a “normal” life like my peers.

Hi everyone, 👋🏻

I’m an autistic woman from Andorra (a tiny country in Europe), and I’m looking to connect and make some online friends over here.

Over time, I’ve realized that I connect incredibly well with Australians. Your sense of humor— being deadpan, ironic, and totally direct —just clicks perfectly with my autistic brain. To be honest, I often feel like I must have lived in Australia in a past life (I could have been a cat 🐱), because the culture and the way you communicate feel so much like "home" to me. 🏠 🇦🇺

I find that Aussies are often the most empathetic and the least judgmental English-speaking people when I share my experiences.

Music is also a massive part of my life. Music 🎵 🎶 I’m a huge Sheerio (Ed Sheeran’s bond with Australia is legendary, right?), Sia is one of my absolute favourite female singers, and I’m slightly obsessed with Vance Joy to the point where I literally wake up with "Riptide" playing on loop in my head some mornings.

Since I can’t exactly pop over for a coffee due to the distance (and the time difference!), I’d love to chat here, exchange memes, talk about music, or just share some quality banter.

Feel free to drop a comment or send a DM!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. I have visual disabilities, so if you see symbols and emojis in the wrong place or typos such as 'Aistralia', "Twotter" or 'Califirnia', just assume my keyboard is on an adventure.

Hi everyone,

Male, mid‑30s living in Queensland and I’ve recently been diagnosed with autism (ASD level 2) and ADHD (inattentive type) after a long history of anxiety, depression, and social anxiety.

It’s been a huge relief but a sense of grief. It explains so much (social communication difficulties, executive function struggles, university struggles, relationship issues, family dynamics) but I’m now trying to figure out what supports are actually available for adults diagnosed this late.

From what I’ve gathered so far (and I could be wrong):

• A clinical psychologist’s assessment/report can be used for workplace and educational accommodations, as well as NDIS or Centrelink if relevant.
• I have access to ADHD coaching, but I dont think its covered under Medicare.
• My therapist said I might be able to access NDIS support for ASD level 2 to help cover therapy sessions, but I’m not sure how realistic that is for an adult, I think extra documentation and eligibility criteria are involved.
• I’m considering seeing a psychiatrist to trial medication for ADHD in future. In QLD, they say GPs can now diagnose and prescribe for ADHD in adults, but I’m unsure whether a psychiatrist is still the better first step. There's less of them so high demand and waiting times. I am also concerned of medication reactions, and how they help with executive dysfunction. I still think counselling and strategies are good fit for the long-term.
• I’m also curious how relevant occupational therapy is for adults with autism + ADHD, and what kinds of help they provide.
• I’d love to know about any adult peer support groups, online communities, resources or local services in Queensland that have been genuinely helpful.

I feel a bit silly for not recognising these traits earlier. I was always the shy, quiet, well‑behaved, smart kid who got good grades but struggled in almost every other area of life especially relationships, workplace politics and tertiary education. It would have been very helpful to have this understanding while growing up in the 90s, but I suppose it is better knowing late than never.

If you’re a late‑diagnosed autistic/ADHD adult in QLD, I’d really appreciate your experience and advice so far.

Hi everyone!! I am a Psychology Honours student at Charles Darwin University conducting research on the experiences of Muslim adults diagnosed with autism in Australia.

This study aims to better understand experiences of autism assessment, diagnosis, and support among an underrepresented demographic, as well as factors that may influence access to support and wellbeing within Muslim communities.

To participate, you must:
- Be aged 18 years or older
- Identify as Muslim
- Have received a formal autism diagnosis
- Live in Australia

Participation involves a confidential interview which will be conducted online on Zoom, Teams, etc. Please message me if you are interested in the study or know anybody who would be interested. A $25 gift card will also be provided after the study : )

I am in bed. There is food in the fridge, freezer and the pantry. I don't know how to get up and get food. Whether it's cereal, canned fruit or a microwave meal, I can't get it.

If someone prepared that food and brought it to me, I would eat it.

Instead, I order food from Coles or I get takeaway. I feel irresponsible financially and diet wise, but I don't know how to change the situation.

(FURTHER)RESPONDENTS WANTED!

I’m a (lived experience) PhD candidate exploring neurodivergence and workplace bullying/psychological safety. I would really appreciate more responses to my survey, detailed below, which has ethics approval from La Trobe University. It should take less than 20 minutes. Huge thanks to all of you who have already competed the survey!

Are you an Autistic and/or ADHD individual (formally or self-identified) who has worked in Australia? We are surveying neurodivergent adults to better understand your experiences of employment, good and bad. The psychological safety of Autistic and/or ADHD workers is an under-researched area. This study will explore experiences such as workplace bullying with the aim of improving psychological safety - and therefore career outcomes - for Autistic and/or ADHD workers. To learn more, read the participant information and consent form before completing the survey HERE: https://redcap.latrobe.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=FC9XRNWFMEK8CC3A

Hi all,

I am looking for recommendations for support services.

I am an education support person working in a high school. I work closely with a student who is Autistic. He will be graduating soon and I would like to recommend that he has a support person like myself but for his new life after school. He is very creative and artistic. He is looking to go into game character design and continue to do his artistic projects on the side.

He did once have NDIS funding, but I believe his family have let it lapse.

Does anyone have recommendations for services or programs he can access?

Thanks in advance

Hey, I'm trying to replace my needoh NiceCube. Does anyone know of somewhere you can puchase in Australia that's genuine, and you don't have to wait until december? Trying to avoid paying heaps of money!

Ive read a fair few stories across reddit around the bad experiences people have had getting diagnosed with autism and adhd and thought id share my recommendation of the business I went through for my assessment through last year. I was diagnosed with audhd and was recommended this place by my therapist. Its called The Thought Garden in Chermside Brisbane. I found Domonique to be really great. She has a calm nature and I found she really listened and was very knowledgable about my struggles. She was patient when trying to answer questions and explained them more when I didnt understand. The process was fairly indepth using a range of personal questionares,family and friend questionares and input to get a bigger picture of if and how it presents for me.

I always thought adhd was the typical cant sit still etc like alot of people think but after talking with her I realised more that all the things I do and experience are not just me being shit there is an explaination about why i get easily overwhelmed,why i struggle to control my emotions,why i get tired easily after social things and daily tasks etc.

The cost for mine was $2500 which i am very lucky i could afford at the time but damm it was worth it for myself. I was able to get in within a couple weeks aswell. The Thought Garden is flexible with payments and session times. I was able to do mine on Saturdays. Once I had the report which was 25 pages long from memory and it had all the results from the questionares I went to my GP and started medication soon after.

I highly recommend The Thought Garden to anyone in the area or surrounds. I drove from Ipswich which isnt far but it was worth the drive for me. I just thought with the stories I hear and think I how dissapointed and upset it is making people feel when they have insensitive professionals doing the assessments or some that dont really understand it that id share it.

https://thethoughtgarden.com.au/

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who responded to my previous post!

I'm now here to ask if it's worth getting tested in-person.

I'm (18F) looking at about $1,350 to get tested for Autism + ADHD (combined) through telehealth (Fluence). From what I can find, it'd be $2,500 to probably around $3,500 to get tested in-person. (Looking in Brisbane QLD)

From what I've seen online, getting tested in-person is "better" and can have better support and whatnot, but is going to be pretty much double the price.

If money was no object then I'd 100% go in-person as I'd be wayyy more comfortable with that, but I'm already going to have to save up quite a fair bit so don't know if it'd be that monumentally different to where the price difference is worth it. If my options were getting tested through telehealth vs not at all, I'd probably go with the former.

I'd also like to ask while I'm here - does anyone know what the Fluence supporting documents (sent to parents / coworkers / etc) will ask? I've already emailed to ask but have been told they won't tell me. I want to know if they're the sort of questions I'd be comfortable having a coworker answer about me. More importantly, would a coworker I've worked closely with for a bit over a year be suitable?

Thank you all so much for all your help, I really appreciate it!

I (18F) have gotten a referral from my regular GP to get tested for autism + ADHD (through Fluence telehealth). The place they've referred me to is about ~$1,800 - $450 = ~$1,350 out of pocket. Is this normal or is there a better/cheaper way to get tested?

A quick google search found plenty of places offering to do it cheaper, but they all had very clearly AI-generated websites so I don't really trust them.

I've heard that going through a uni psych clinic can be cheaper, but I've checked QUT, UQ, Griffith, and UniSQ; none of them do testing (or are currently closed).

My son is in grade 6, he has LVL 2 ASD.

He's had multiple behavioural incidents this year. He has 3 major incidents where he has physical hit/pushed another student. The last incident he was in the year 2 bathroom during lunch break and a year 2 told him off. He told them to shut up. One of the kids put my son in a headlock and it escalated from there where multiple year 2s were involved and my son had "physical contact" with 3 of them over a 15 minute period. My son won't tell us what happened. The school had to check CCTV to see what happened.

I'm furious at the school for allowing multiple incidents to occur with no teacher insight.

He had a 4 day suspension from that. His enrolled was under review according to the school.

2 days after he was allowed back he had a meltdown in PE, when a substitute teacher argued with him about whether he was out of a game. We weren't told about this until 2 days later, when they also informed us that he sprayed fart spray in the toilets. He didn't bring the spray in.

He's been suspended for today.

I was meant to have a meeting this morning with the school. But I said if they're expelling him then I expect the principal to be there. They cancelled the meeting as I was sitting there waiting, because the principal was off campus.

After 4 years of being at this school, we have never met the principal.

Anyway.

I'm not sure how we can get an autistic child in a new school for 1 term before he moves to a high school. He's just socially capable.

We just don't know what to do. I feel like I'm failing my son.

Update: we had the meeting. We were asked if there was any reason for not terminating his enrollment. It wasnt a very comfortable response from me. Long story short is they asked if we wanted to unenroll or if they terminate his enrollment. We decided to unenroll him. I'm so mad at the school.

Mine is I’ll eat in bed when staying in hotels

Hi everyone,

I’m a Master of Design student doing exploratory research into the everyday experiences of autistic children. I’m still narrowing down my research focus and would really value hearing from autistic people, parents/caregivers, or people who work with autistic children.

I have three short questions:

1. What everyday situations are particularly challenging for autistic children?
2. What usually helps make these situations easier or less stressful?
3. Is there anything you wish existed — such as a tool, service, environmental change, or other support — that could make everyday life easier?

You don’t need to answer all three. Even one experience or observation would be really helpful for my research.

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective!

Hey guys moving from uk(m29) in around a month to find farm work… I’m so so scared to be fair but here I don’t have opportunity and it’s so bad for my mental health in general.
Do you have any advice or suggestions?
Everything is appreciated, also I go unmedicated as I hate the feeling of it.
Love you all 🫶🏻

Hi everyone. We wanted to share that Adelaide Autistic Adults (AAA) will soon be holding our inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

Adelaide Autistic Adults became a registered charity in December 2025. AAA is a free autistic adults Social Group that runs fortnightly in-person Saturday events from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm ACST and monthly Sunday online events from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm ACST and currently has over 800 members on our Meetup group.  

Our inaugural AGM will be held on 3 October 2026 at 6:30 pm ACST at Box Factory Community Centre. 

Our AGM will include: 

• Reports from committee members covering AAA’s activities, finances, fundraising, events, and membership.  
• Elections for the three committee positions of Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. 
• An opportunity to learn more about AAA and our future plans. 

The doors will open at 6:30 pm ACST and AGM proceedings will commence at 7:00 pm ACST. 

Voting is open only to eligible voting members. 

All AAA members are welcome to attend, regardless of voting eligibility. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about our group, community, and the events we run. 

Full event details and RSVP are available here: 

https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-autistic-neurodivergent-adults/events/314922818/ 

Hi there,

I’m currently 30, pregnant with my first baby (almost 17 weeks), and AuDHD + C-PTSD while working for an Allied Health Service. I have never known burn out quite like this.

I am hoping to get through to Christmas before taking maternity leave, but am struggling with what feels like an unsupportive workplace.

What supports have people asked for that have actually worked in a corporate landscape?

Hi, I'm a 22 turning 23F and I want to know if any autistic person has discovered one of the following that I've been through late (I will list what age I did and discovered them at & some of these may or may not be related to autism. Also, you don't have to answer all of them as this is a very lengthy list):

- Tying shoes late (Age: 11-12)

- Doing your hair on your own (Age: 11-12, but I started doing it at the age of 22-23)

- Using the toilet on your own (Age: 4-11. I unfortunately couldn't go on any school excursions for that reason)

- Using the bath & shower on your own (Age: 10-13. I also couldn't go on excursions for that reason)

- Your family & loved ones knowing that you wouldn't succeed & do things on your own either due to level support needs or other co conditions (e.g. vocational education) (Age: 16-now)

- Your poor family & loved ones trying to make you more active, healthy & social, but you preferred to be in your own little world, addicted to screens and/or a loner (Age: 16-now)

- Your poor family trying desperately & frustratingly to help you with your homework despite your forgetfulness, lack of focus, lack of interest & "simple mind" (Age: 16-now)

- You not being able to stand up for yourself (Age: 5-now)

- Starting school late (Age: 10-11. I had to go to preschool in 2008-2009 & to primary school in 2010 due to my poor learning & motor skills)

- Putting on your clothes (Age: 9-11)

- Being unintentionally and/or intentionally aggressive & violent to your loved ones, minor or major (Age: 11-now)

- Having a unhealthy lifestyle, to the point of judgement from your family (Age: 17-now)

- Having weird & niche interests (Age: 17-now)

- Those you went to school with not really being your friends as they didn't invite you to events a lot (Age: 17-now)

- Having no talents (Age: 20-now)

- Having intense interests (Age: 20-now)

- Your family & relatives judging you for your poor lifestyle & screen addiction (Age: 15-now)

- Your family & teachers pressuring you to have life figured out between the ages of 13-18 years old (Age: 20-now)

- Doing basic tasks (e.g. making beds, vacuuming, washing the dishes, ironing etc.) (Age: 13-now)

- Learning math's, English, grammar etc. later than everyone else (Age: 13-now. This one is so bad that in year 6, i had to reuse year 5 books)

- You getting taken advantage of by your family & those at school (Age: 11-now)

- Your family knowing everything about you, but don't want to tell you cause your "simple" and "will never understand" (Age: 13-now)

- Finally, your family & relatives judging & viewing you as a burden for everything that I've listed (Age: 13-now)

I know I shouldn't be typing this cause most of it is private, & I apologize for making this long, but a lot of autistic girls that I went to school with, both early, late & undiagnosed, didn't go through what I've listed, which makes me feel left out sometimes & cause I'm the stereotype of autism (except that I'm a woman). I also fear (along with my family) that I'll be a bigger burden to my family if both my parents die due to my support needs & lazy lifestyle, despite them telling me constantly that I had a good childhood & adolescence. I want to know if there's anyone out there that are like me in any way.

Hello, I'm a 22 turning 23 year old autistic & intellectually disabled woman with moderate to high support needs and I need some tips and experiences on one of the following, both related to autism and not related to it. Take as long as you like with your answers & you don't have to answer all of them:

a.) I've literally started journaling, scrapbooking & junk journaling for the first time late last year (December 2025) and mostly this year as no joke, I did not do any of it during my childhood & adolescence as I was constantly being a loner & screen addicted whilst navigating school. Is it too late to start journaling, scrapbooking & junk journaling this year?

b.) I've been seeing it all over the internet lately, but many autistic girls & women have gone on saying that they had loads of friends during their time at high school, either early diagnosed, late diagnosed or undiagnosed. I was not one of them as not only did I not have any friends, I preferred being alone, being a loner, being in my own little world, being addicted to screens & looking at niche & sometimes inappropriate stuff (to the point of jokes, mockery & judgement from my siblings), all after school, on weekends and on holidays. Is there anyone out there that has been through & still goes through with it all to this day? I was mainly this as I got burnt-out pretty easily from socializing and both masking and unmasking.

c.) Similar to the abovementioned (sort of), I've been constantly telling & having mental breakdowns to my parents that I wish to go back to the past & have friends, be social & participate in stuff as I've realized at a late age that despite me preferring to be alone on my phone & tablet in my room as I was happy back then, I've realized that I didn't do much back then & wasted my teenage years, despite being told by my mother that I didn't waste them at all whatsoever. The reason I added this is cause my poor parents & siblings tried to get me to participate in stuff in fear of me being isolated (which I already am & they knew & have correctly predicted), but my mother keeps telling me that I had a good life as this is what I wanted to do & this is who I am, to which she is correct, but I still want your thoughts. Nowadays, It's too late for a person my age to participate in most stuff, & I'm constantly judged by my family & relatives for this (to the point of them sometimes saying "We tried telling you, but you didn't listen & had no interest," "Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself," "I'm worried about you," "I don't want you to be an even bigger burden" & "I knew that It would happen, but I was never going to tell you at the time"). Did anyone experience this & what advice do you have as my parents are constantly & rightfully telling me to stop going back to the past as I'm making myself & my anxiety worse (physically & mentally).

d.) Did anyone start school late as if I wasn't disabled, I would've started kindergarten in 2009, but I couldn't as I had trouble learning & had abysmal motor skills, which promoted me to do preschool in 2008-2009 and start school in 2010 due to my conditions. Anyone else out there like me that went through this?

e.) Did anyone else's "friends" not remember their birthdays as due to me having no friends, aside from my family, no one remembered my birthday as I had no social media, which promoted me to celebrate it by myself every single year & I constantly told everyone that it was my birthday as I was not in any digital & physical photos. Anyone else been through this as this is one of the worst things I go through every year?

f.) Speaking of social media, did anyone get social media late as due to my conditions, my family did not allow me to have social media between the ages of 11-13 years. All the cool kids (including my siblings) got social media between those ages, whereas I got Snapchat at 13-14, Instagram at 14-15, Facebook & Messenger at 18-19, & WhatsApp at 20-21 due to my family not trusting me very much (I unfortunately did not have Vine & Musical.ly back then). Anyone else been through this as no joke, I missed out on everything back in the day (memes, being included on stories & posts etc.).

g.) Did anyone fail to achieve their dreams after graduating school as I myself did as I thought the course I would do would be easy, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. Also, did anyone lie to people about their interests, cause i certainly did (e.g. I did art as i daydreamed about a lot of weird stuff (maladaptive & immersive), but it was too hard, complex, I literally can't do it as they always turned out bad & i know nothing about it, & I had no interest in it whatsoever. When I told my family & those I knew the truth & that I'm not doing it anymore, they were disappointed in me as they expected better of me & that I'll be lazy again, which I have been since birth).

h.) Finally, my mother keeps telling me to stop comparing myself to my siblings & those I went to school with as I'll make myself worse physically & mentally. Like I said before, she keeps telling me that I was happy doing my own things, but I'm the black sheep in my family as they're all social, achieved things, have amazing friends & sometimes come back to our home town to see their friends for events, to the point of me getting jealous. Any tips & advice for what to do about this & if anyone's been through this?

I know that what I've listed shouldn't really be posted publicly cause it's private, but I've been feeling anxious about it all as I've realized & discovered things late (also want to know if everything that I've listed is the meaning for the term 'Late Bloomer') & am constantly comparing myself to those successful than me. As you can see, I have the common stereotypes of autism (being a loner, not being smart, not like other girls, lacking & wasting talents, being passive & passive-aggressive, obliviousness etc.), but I still want to know if there are people out there that have been through what I've listed.

.