ASO Sponsored Groups: Each group determines if they are continuing to meet on-line, or meeting in person, or a hybrid of on-line and in person. All ASO Support and Social Groups are FREE.

Friendship Group for Autistic Kids (suggested ages: 7 – 13): Meets Every Monday, from 6:00pm – 6:45pm. A place to meet, get to know each other, be silly, explore common interests, and make friends. On alternating Monday meetings, the group plays Minecraft. This group is meeting on-line, with occasional in person meetups. To register and get a Zoom link, please go to LINK.

ASO/Synergy Autism Online Support Group Meeting for Parents: Meets 4th Saturday each month, from 10:00 – 11:30am.  Our on-line group for parents of children (birth-adult) on the autism spectrum living in Oregon. This group is facilitated by Barbara Avila, MS, of Synergy Autism Center. Cozy up with a morning beverage and your computer! The group looks at a different topic each month including self-care, safety considerations, understanding your child’s processing, social engagement and challenging your child productively.  To register and get the Zoom link, please go to LINK.

(Online) Support and Discussion Group for Autistic Adults, ages 18+. Meets online every Thursday, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. We would like to hold space for Autistic adults in Oregon who want to meet and talk with other adults about life on the spectrum. We will be reviewing books, talking about neurodiversity, and openly talking about life on the spectrum in general. Facilitated by Shawn Sullivan, an Autistic adult and ASO Board member (See bio at LINK). This group is temporarily full and not accepting more participants at this time. If you have registered previously, you are still welcome to attend. If you have never registered for the group, please contact us to be placed on a waitlist at info@AutismSocietyOregon.org or call 503-636-1676.

New (Online) Support and Discussion Group for Autistic Adults – Tuesday Edition, age 18+ Meets online every Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7:00pm.  Due to the popularity of the Thursday night group, we’ve opened this version that meets as a separate group on Tuesday evenings. The purpose of this group is to cultivate a safe, affirming space to process and discuss what it’s like to be autistic in the world. This is a peer support group facilitated by Rae (he/him), an Autistic person. This group is a stand alone support group. Click here to REGISTER. For more information contact Lori Ball at LoriB@autismsocietyoregon.org or 503-636-1676.

New Autistic Parents Parenting Group (online) – Meets every other Thursday from 1:30-2:30 PM, starting on Aug 29th, 2024. This support group is for autistic parents. Our aim is to create a supportive space where you can share your experiences, challenges, and insights as autistic individuals raising children. Register at LINK HERE. For questions, email LoriB@AutismSocietyOregon.org or call 503-636-1676.

New (Online) Intersectional Identity Group – Support and Discussion Group for Autistic Adults with Intersectional Identities, age 18+ Meets online every Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7:00pm. The purpose of this group is to cultivate a safe space to process and discuss what it’s like to have an intersectional autistic identity in the world (e.g., autistic people who are also: people of color, queer, gender queer, assigned female at birth, etc). Please note, this is not to assume that we will all understand each other’s experience, but that we do understand having an intersectional identity comes with extra complexities. This is a peer support group facilitated by an Autistic Trans and Queer person.  No registration needed. Click here for Zoom LINK. For more information contact Lori Ball at LoriB@autismsocietyoregon.org or 503-636-1676.

On Hiatus for November (Hybrid) – Autistic Young Adults of Oregon, 18-30. The Autistic Young Adults of Oregon, 18-30 will be on hiatus for the month of November, as our facilitator, Sadie, will be on medical leave. We plan to resume our meetings on December 2nd. This is a support group for Autistic Adults 18-30 who are seeking community. Meetings are held every other week on Monday, alternating between Zoom & hybrid. When in-person, we met in SW Portland. Facilitated by Sadie, an Autistic person. Click here to REGISTER. For more information contact Lori Ball at LoriB@autismsocietyoregon.org or 503-636-1676.

Teen & Young Adult Club This group meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 1-2 PM online. The program is for young Autistic adults that need a parent, a guardian or caregiver to meet with success, and some of the activities may require participation from the accompanying adult. Register for the zoom link at LINK HERE. This group is led by Danitza Galvan who has a Master’s Degree in Early Intervention/Special Education and who is the parent of a young Autistic adult. For questions or more info, call us at 503-636-1676 or email LoriB@AutismSocietyOregon.org.

Autism Parent Support Group (based in Durham/Tigard): Parents of children from 0-21 are welcome. Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. This group is facilitated by Lori Ball, ASO’s Programs Coordinator and parent of an autistic child. To register and get the Zoom link, please go to LINK.

Autistic Professional Support Group: Meets Every Other Friday, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm, starting Sept 22 2023. This support group provides a welcoming community for Autistic adults employed in professional positions to meet and share experiences. The group offers an overall sense of belonging, group mentorship, social connection and networking. At each meeting there will be a guided topic to start the conversation which can lead to bigger discussions. This group is led by Dan Dickinson, an Autistic adult who works in a mid-level professional position. This group is for Autistic, career focused individuals who hold mid to senior level positions and/or a position with at least 2 years of experience in their field. If you are unsure if this describes you, please contact us to discuss and we’ll figure it out. Contact the ASO office at 503-636-1676 or Click to Email. To register and get a Zoom link, please go to LINK.

“Happy Hour” for Autistic adults: This time is to chat, support each other and forge new friendships. Meetings are the 4th Friday of each month, from 7:30 – 8:30pm. An Autistic run social group for Autistic adults age 40+. For questions or more information contact: Rhonda at RhondaS@AutismSocietyOregon.org, an ASO Chapter Rep in Southern Oregon. Or call our office at 503-636-1676. Click the LINK HERE to register.

Women and Non-Binary Friendship Group for Those on the Autism Spectrum (based in Portland). Meets on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, from 3:30-5:00pm. For female-identifying and non-binary Autistic people, ages 18 and up, looking for an accepting environment in which to hangout with other female-identifying or non-binary Autistic adults. Come chat, relax, or just chill. Participate in great discussions and/or activities (or not) of your choosing! This group is temporarily full and not accepting more participants at this time. To be placed on a waitlist, please contact ASO at info@AutismSocietyOregon.org or call 503-636-1676.

Women & Non-Binary Friendship Group #2. Meets online only every other Sunday, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm, starting Sunday, March 24, 2024. For female-identifying and non-binary Autistic people, ages 18 and up, looking for an accepting environment in which to hangout with other female-identifying or non-binary Autistic adults. Come chat, relax, or just chill. Participate in great discussions and/or activities (or not) of your choosing! This group is facilitated by Erika Kraft, an Autistic adult who identifies as nonbinary. To register for the online only group, click LINK. For additional information call 503-636-1676 or email LoriB@AutismSocietyOregon.org.

Young Adult Social Group (based in Portland). This is a peer-led group for young adults, ages 18-30, who have graduated from high school. Sorry but this group is not open to people younger than 18. There are 2 group consultants who are there to provide a level of social safety by mediating conflict and supporting participants to make connections. NOT a skill building class. Meets 2nd Saturday and 3rd Monday of each month, from 6:30-7:30pm. To sign up, email Pam S at pamsmith.business@gmail.com

For more support and social group listings, please see the Support Groups by Region on the ASO website at LINK. Click on each region for listings in that region. We list the groups that ASO sponsors first, then all of the groups that we’re aware of in that region.

Not Sponsored by ASO:

AANE (Autism Aspergers Network) offers a large variety of online adult social groups and clubs. See LINK.

Autism/Aspergers Peer Community Support Group (Online) – This group will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST via Zoom and will work to cover topics related to walking through this world as an autistic adult. For those age 27 and older, you are invited to experience support, understanding, and community with others walking in autistic bodies. To sign up, or for questions, email Hannah Rockey at comorbidlife@gmail.com and you can also find them on FB at Autism Peer Support

Sensory Storytime Live! from Multnomah County Libraries, held on Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:00 pm. “This preschool storytime is especially welcoming for children on the autism spectrum and families who are looking for a more adaptive virtual storytime experience.” Free, but need to register for the Zoom link. To view calendar and register for sessions go to LINK. For more information, please see the Multnomah County Library webpage.

Grandparent Support Group – Meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 10-11 am & the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6-7 pm. “We cover topics such as boundaries, trauma, parenting, grief, and more. Grandparents and other caregivers of relative children are welcome.” For more information, call 833-201-5557. Online: click the LINK HERE Phone: +1 314-666-1828 PIN: 291 586 204#.  Presented by Oregon Kinship Navigator, a statewide program to help grandparents and other relatives raising children to find resources to support their caregiving efforts. For their mailing list, sign up at LINK HERE.

SIBSHOPS Sibling group: Meets online at 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM on Saturdays. For brothers and sisters, ages 8-13, of children with special developmental needs. Siblings can share stories, give and receive support, as well as, have fun with children who have similar experiences. To Register: Email Swindells@Providence.org or call 503-215-2429. More info on Swindells Resource Center Website.

NAMI Multnomah– NAMI Multnomah is the Multnomah County affiliate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions and their families through support, education, and advocacy. NAMI hosts support groups, including walking groups, writing groups & more. To see all of our events, see our Events Calendar here.

Coming Together: Families in Focus Support Group (online only): This support group from OFSN (Oregon Family Support Network) is to encourage families to elevate their voices and discuss barriers they face while navigating local systems of care such as: School/Special Education, ODHS, Mental Health, Juvenile Justice and more. Meets the 4th Thursday of every month, from 6:30 – 7:30pm, on Zoom. To register, contact Chelsea Mersereau, Support Group Facilitator, at Click for Email or 971-500-3494. This Support Group is for Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah County Families only.

Away From Home Support Group: Meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:00-7:00 pm. Join us in a space that offers support and connection to parents and caregivers with past, current or anticipated experience in away-from-home placements. Presented by Reach Out Oregon. Join us via Zoom at LINK HERE. For more info, contact us at info@reachoutoregon.org or visit our website. Reach Out Oregon Warmline: 1-833-REACH-OR / 1-833-732-2467

Grupo de apoyo fuera de casa: Se reúne cada segundo miércoles del mes de 6:00-7:00 pm. Únase a nosotros en un espacio que ofrece apoyo y conexión a los padres y cuidadores con experiencia pasada, actual o anticipada en colocaciones fuera del hogar. Presentado por Reach Out Oregon. Únete a nosotros a través de Zoom en LINK AQUÍ. Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto con nosotros en info@reachoutoregon.org o visite nuestro sitio web. Reach Out Oregon Warmline: 1-833-REACH-OR / 1-833-732-2467

AWE (AWEtism We Embrace) meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm via Zoom. AWE is a group for adults (18 and older) for those on AND off the spectrum. No diagnosis is required. Each participant, no matter where they are in their journey, shares an interest in forming an environment of mutual respect to gain fresh outlooks. This creates better tools to understand our situations, our loved ones and ourselves. This group supports and respects members in their individual paths toward acceptance no matter where they are on the “human spectrum.” To get on the listserv, or to obtain the Zoom link for meetings, please email Shasti McLaughlin at shastim@autismempowerment.org or text 503-781-2461. AWE also has a Facebook group, linked HERE.

Better Together Parent Online Café. Meets on most Thursday evenings 6-7:30 pm. We are “Parents Helping Parents” For families of children with social, behavioral, emotional, and physical challenges. Meet other parents in a confidential, supportive setting. Share experiences, successes, and frustrations. Exchange ideas, learn parenting skills and find new tools. For more information and to sign up, contact Signe Miller at signem@ofsn.net or (541) 505 2511.

Men of Color/Caretaker Support Group – Lead, Love, Elevate (LEEP!) Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 4PM PST virtually over Zoom. A free, confidential, enlightening, and educational SUPPORT GROUP for Black/African American Men who Parent/Co-Parent Children on the Autism Spectrum. Register at Zoom LINK HERE. For more information, visit The Color of Autism’s website here.

Family Connection Group – 3rd Thursday of the month, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Except holidays. Are you a parent or caregiver of a youth experiencing mental, developmental or behavioral health challenges? This support group is currently happening online. An opportunity for families to connect with families. Please note, we understand that accessing an online support group may be challenging and new. We are here to help you. If you would like more information, or assistance in accessing our support group please reach out to Nita Likes at NitaL@Ofsn.net or 971-900-7126. Dinner and child care are provided, please RSVP. Located at the Wichita Center 6031 SE King Rd. Milwaukie, OR 97222 For any questions or to RSVP please call Oregon Family Support Network at 503-430-0917.

PDX Autistic Adults – Private Facebook group. From the group description: “This group is aimed at Portland, OR area adults who on the Autism spectrum. This page is open to any adult on the spectrum regardless of race, religion, and LGBTQ+” Click here for more information about joining this group.

NAMI Multnomah Peer Support Group: Meets over Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. A free, drop-in recovery support group by and for people living with mental health differences. Register online at the LINK HERE. Or call 503-228-5692

NAMI Multnomah BIPOC Peer Support Group: Meets on the 1st Wednesday of every month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A free, drop-in recovery support group by and for people living with mental health differences who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Register online at the LINK HERE. Or call 503-228-5692

Neurodiversity Support Group: Meets over Zoom on the 1st Saturday of each month. Neurodiversity Support Group is a space created to offer hope and a place of belonging by an amazing tribe that supports each other with neurodiversities. Contact: Sharrie Kreins, Facilitator (503) 396-3361 Follow us on Facebook at: Neurodiversity Support Group. 

Meeting Virtually! ASD Parents Support Group: Meets the first Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Zoom.  Potential participants should contact the office of Dr. Leslie Carter at frontdesk.ttc@outlook.com or call 503 206-5578 to get the link.

Coffee Connection – Support Group for parents. Enjoy coffee, snacks and good company! Every Tuesday morning, 9:30-11:00. Oregon Family Support Network (OFSN) office, 72 A Centennial Loop, #150, Eugene. Contact Nita Likes at NitaL@Ofsn.net or 971-900-7126. This group is currently meeting online.

Every Friday Social via Zoom – Hosted by KindTree. For adults and transition-aged youth from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Zoom. Hosted by Tim Mueller. For more information call: 541-780-6950.

Online Support Group in Eastern Oregon:  Eastern Oregon Autism Support. Here is the link: www.facebook.com/groups/EasternOregonAutismSupport. It is a closed group, so all members have to be approved. Invited to join are self-advocates, family members, and professionals in the field.

Charla entre padres en linea – Nos reunimos cada segundo miércoles de cada mes puedes unirte entre las 6:00 pm a 8:00 pm. Tiene preguntas? Contacte a Rosa Belem Ochoa! Para español: (541) 414-4958 – rosa@bcoregon.org. Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm over Zoom. A way for parents across the state to connect and share in Spanish. Contact Rosa Belem Ochoa for the Meeting ID at (541) 414-4958.

On-line Support Group – Central Oregon Autism Movement. A private group on Facebook. “A group for active COAM families and individuals in Central Oregon. It is a safe place to post stories/articles about autism or ask questions.”.  Contact them at https://www.facebook.com/groups/910426539295624

Southern Oregon Developmental Disability Group for Parents. The group is set up for members only and is private. This is a collection of parents, caregivers, doctors, nurses, therapists, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and any other individuals that are in the lives of children up to the age of 18 that have any type of developmental disability. Click here for the page and to request to join.

OFSN (Oregon Family Support Network) Support Groups: OFSN provides support, education, and advocacy for families raising children who experience mental health or behavioral challenges. They host support groups throughout the region where you can (a) connect with other parents, family members, and youth in a confidential and supportive setting; (b) get helpful information and exchange ideas with others, and (c) share your experiences, successes, and frustrations with others who understand your journey.

All meetings are currently happening online over Zoom.

Parent Support Group: Raising A Teen With Anxiety Or Depression (Lane County): Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, 6:00pm – 7:30pm. For parents of teens struggling with issues including depression, anxiety, suicide ideating, eating disorders and self-harm. A chance to meet other parents who understand how tough it can be to help our children. Finding emotional support from other parents can help reduce feelings of isolation and guilt. Register at LINK HERE. For questions, please contact Debi at 971-209-9726 or DebraW@ofsn.net

Parent Support Group: Raising Young Children with Developmental or Behavioral Challenges (Lane County): Meets every 1st Thursday of the month, 10:00am to 11:30am. For Parents of younger children, ages 0-12, who have
behavioral or developments challenges. A chance for parents to meet others with similar experiences to share ideas, listen and understand the frustrations and anxieties that arise. Topics include navigating education, disability and mental health resources. Register at LINK HERE For questions, please contact Debi at 971-209-9726 or DebraW@ofsn.net

Contact Signe Miller at (541) 505 2511 or contact the statewide OFSN office at 503-363-8068, or see their website. Signe is trained in Collaborative Problem Solving.