Support group info for Austistic adults - social and jobswith job coaches

[Karen Kierpaul]

Client with a 23 year old autistic son report:

Oakland University offers OU Cares. We participate in Social group 1x month, drop in, no cost, young adults socialize playing games & OU Students are at each table & they serve pizza/drinks. OU has a lot of program offerings. There are a lot of other program offerings: bowling, basketball, check out their webpage: https://www.oakland.edu/oucares/ and FB page: https://www.facebook.com/OUCARES/. We have been attending OU Cares programs for about 14 years. My son works at Home Depot (HD) 20 hours a week. Got the job thru the agency KensKrew.org. They primarily place at HD. There was a job coach (JC) for as long as he needed, then they pulled away as his skills improved. He has a task list he completes daily. He likes working there and the store staff are phenomenal! JC visits about 1x a month to check & see how he's doing. He's been at HD for 3 years. We also attend Troy Community Center 1x month for a dance on Fridays. We have a great group of young men we've met and "the boys" get together for movies, nature walks, lunch/dinner, parents tag along as chauffeurs and we chat.

Other resources identified:

Adults with autism in Macomb County, Michigan, have access to several support groups and social, including:

The Autism Society of Greater Detroit, which offers adult social clubs (18-29 and 30+), and The Arc of Macomb County, providing advocacy and community inclusion.

Other resources include Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults, Sterling Heights Adaptive Recreation, and local social meetups.

Key Support Groups and Resources for Adults in Macomb County:

Autism Society of Greater Detroit: Adult Social Club (18-29): Meets bi-monthly on Wednesdays from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.

Older Adult Social Club (30+): Meets bi-monthly on Wednesdays from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.

PIE Baking Academy & Social Club: Meets monthly on the second Thursday.

ASGD Detroit Adult Social Club Meet-up: Monthly on the second Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM (Locations in Macomb County).

The Arc of Macomb County: Focuses on community inclusion, vocational training, and advocacy.

Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults: Offers various meetups, coaching, and advocacy in-person and online. Sterling Heights Special Recreation: Offers activities for adults with cognitive impairments, including bowling, dances (16+), and, and cooking classes.

ASD Friendship Club: Located in Clinton Township, offering activities for teens and young adults (often includes older teens/young adults, call to verify age range).

Support groups for adults with autism offer essential social connections, peer support, and resources, with both online and local options available. Key organizations providing these services include AANE (Association for Autism and Neurodiversity), GRASP (Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership), and Autism Alliance of Michigan, which feature virtual meetings, social clubs, and specific groups for women. In Michigan, options include the Disability Network Southwest Michigan's weekly Zoom meetings and the Autism Society of Greater Detroit's monthly meet-ups. 

National & Online Support Options

• AANE (Association for Autism and Neurodiversity): Offers various free and member-supported online groups, including for LGBTQ+ adults, women over 50, and general social clubs (book clubs, game nights).
• GRASP (Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership): Provides online support groups specifically for autistic adults.
• Autism Speaks: Connects adults to resources, including "Adulting on the Spectrum" and "Navigating A New Autism Diagnosis" communities.
• Online Communities: Platforms like MyAutismTeam Social Network, Wrong Planet, and the ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) online forum are available for, virtual peer support. 

Local Support Groups in Michigan

• Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAOM): Hosts virtual,, non-judgmental spaces for autistic adults, including, peer support, groups, for,, self-diagnosed, individuals,.
• Disability Network Southwest Michigan: Conducts a, weekly, Autistic Adult Peer Support Group, on, Zoom, on, Thursdays, from, 6–7:30, PM.
• Autism Society of Greater Detroit: Organizes a, monthly, adult, social, club, meet-up, in, Macomb, County,.
• OUCARES (Oakland University): Provides, after-hours, adult, social, events,.
• IGNITE (Autism Society of NC): A, program, for, young, adults, focusing, on, building, friendships, and, life, skills,. 

These groups are designed to provide a safe space for networking, sharing experiences, and finding community.