Bay Area Autism Collective — Peer Support Groups for Autistic Adults

The Bay Area Autism Collective (BAAC) is a community-led organization founded by and for autistic adults. Their free peer support groups are designed to offer a space where autistic people can connect authentically — without masking, without lengthy explanation, and without being treated as patients. BAAC’s groups are affirming, neurodiversity-centered, and explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive.

Groups meet bi-weekly via video conference and rotate across topics relevant to autistic adult life: navigating workplace dynamics, managing sensory needs, building relationships, understanding your own mind, and supporting one another through the highs and lows of autistic adulthood. The peer-led format means that conversations are shaped by members’ lived experiences rather than clinical frameworks.

BAAC’s commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion makes their groups a particularly valuable resource for autistic individuals who also hold queer or trans identities — a significant and often underserved overlap in both communities. Groups are led by autistic facilitators who understand both communities from the inside.

Though based in the Bay Area, BAAC’s virtual groups are open to autistic adults regardless of geographic location. To join, contact BAAC to register and receive meeting details. No prior diagnosis documentation required — self-identification as autistic is welcome.

Who it’s for: Autistic adults, with explicit welcome for LGBTQ+ individuals; open nationally regardless of location.

Format: Virtual • Cost: Free • Frequency: Bi-weekly • Registration: Contact BAAC to join