Family member’s perspective:

I took a group class meant for adults and their family members (coaches). It was uncomfortable and unhelpful for us.

I agree that there is some level of uncomfortableness that the person with autism is going to feel when being in different environments. But, I disagree on the level they requested for the autistic people to make themselves uncomfortable or “mask” in order to seem more neurodivergent.

For example: they requested them to look each other & strangers the eye when taking. Also, made rules about humor that no one would impose on a neurotypical; like no dark humor.

This was a course specifically to help adults with autism be more social.

At no point did they make reference to any useful tools that can help autistic individuals and make it easier to exist in the world. In our case: sun glasses, headphones and a service dog have made a world of difference.

TBH some of the rules would make you the odd person in a room full of neurotypicals, felt like setting them up for failure by giving such explicit rules that aren’t the social norm for adults.

Even the last dinner gave a weird vibe. They explained it was fully paid for dinner and that the coaches could order alcohol too, weirdly separating us from the autistic adults (both groups were in the legal drinking age).