Aspies For Freedom

... or do they just have a greater need of organizations?

Often get the impression that most autism-related organizations are so parent-dominated that you would think autistic adults didn't exist.

Nowadays there's a few aspies who want to make an organization in Norway devoted to adults on the spectrum. It seems like there might be a need of one, so it would be nice to get some suggestions as we might have trouble figuring out how things could be done.

The main problems right now is that few know other adults on the spectrum and we have some disagreements as to who the organization should be devoted to - I say youth and adults all along the spectrum, others says adults with either HFA or AS.

I honestly don't think it would be too hard for autistics to organise groups, if they could find each other. Parents are able to find each other much more easily due to funded services, such as government run initiatives, charity organisations, and psychology networking.

The other issue is that autistic adults are often encouraged to hide it, whereas parents are encouraged to talk about their children constantly, which makes it much easier for them to find each other.

All the above aside, I still think that if we can get a small number of groups linked by a single organisation (for example, AFF), then the idea will spread.

Wonder if I would get to know more autistics if I told more that I was autistic, get the impression that this other local girl I know has somehow managed to get in contact with dozens of autistics in Stavanger - unfortunately I haven't managed to get to know any of them through her.

Which local girl is this?

I suspect two people I "know" through uni, but I'm not particularly open about my aspieness.

Given the genetic connection- why don't you start by talking to the parents?  If their children are on the spectrum chances they are too, or other adults in the family are, and they might welcome a group for adults?  Just a thought, but maybe a starting place!

Private message.

^ to MG that is.

Sadly the reason for why people are interested in starting an organization is because they feel excluded from the dominating autism organization's local groups which seems to favorize parents.

Think about what creating and running a large organization entails:

Making lots of phone calls
Speaking with tons of new people
Being presentable to the media
Dealing with nutcases
Understanding peoples' emotions and appealing to them
Traveling long distances frequently
No procrastination

Sorry, I'm out. I wouldn't mind maybe having some supportive role in an organization, but I am just not cut out for creating/running one. I could perhaps create a plan for creating an organization on paper, but I would in all likelihood be unable to execute it.

Yip, I can understand that perspective.  What I was thinking though, was that the parents' groups may be able to connect you with other adults who're on the spectrum, whether dxed or self dxed or just wondering.  Maybe the organisations which support the parents' groups could find out if there would be interest in a youth and adults groups from extended family, older siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles perhaps?  If there was interest, then maybe you could ask those organisations if they would help set up/fund/support an adults as opposed to parents' group?  

Not sure if I'm expressing myself very well here.  I'm very tired!  Yawn, need to go to bed!

One of those who are interested in creating the group is a mom of autistic children who is herself autistic and tells that she has had a really bad experience with the organization.

Mmm...That's a real shame.  Probably better relying on your own resources then.  It's a difficult one, you need to able to contact people to get a group going in the first place then have some way of letting others know that a group exists.  And as you say, and it is true, most of what's out there is for children and their parents.

Anyway, with regard to your original question - I don't think better are necessarily better than anyone else at setting up or running groups, it's just that it's either laid on for them or that it's easier for them to find each other.  Just look for people with pushchairs! And sleep deprivation!

Edit - I don't think parents are necessarily better ....!

I think it also has to do with the support base. For instance, to run a club in high school, it's much easier if you have a lot of members and can have a secretary, a president, a vice-president, and divide the work up and execute plans. When you have to scramble together just enough people to come to a meeting, then it's much harder to get anything done, no matter how good you are at planning or organizing.

That isn't completely true. If you simply want to run an organisation that isn't formally legally incorporated all you have to do is talk to members. If you want to legally incorporate it you may have to talk to the following:
Lawyers
Accountants
Bankers

The rest you mention there is all "optional" other than the no procrastination part.