COC Amsterdam e.o. AutiRose

Who is Autiroze intended for?

Everyone is welcome, but autiroze is primarily for lhbtqi+ adults (18 years and older). This includes people who have an official diagnosis as well as those who suspect they have autism. The activities are designed for people who can function independently. You may bring a companion the first time, but preferably not all the time.

Why we are here.
Why there is a group specifically for lhbtqia+ with autism we explain here:

Why a group for lhbtqi'ers with autism?
Here are some of the things lhbtqi'ers with autism may encounter.

Smaller social network
People with autism are more likely to have difficulty making and maintaining contacts, so they have a smaller social network and fewer friends to go out with, for example.

Coming out of the closet twice
It is often difficult for people with autism to come out of the closet for their autism. They are not believed, not taken seriously, or it is difficult to discuss. lhbtqi'ers with autism thus in fact have a double coming-out.

Stimuli
People with autism have difficulty with too much stimuli, such as loud music, lights and large groups of people, etc. Therefore, they are less likely to go out or participate in (gay) events.

Social contacts
People with autism often find it difficult to make small talk. Understanding and seeing other people's emotions is also often difficult. People with autism are quick to take things literally. Understanding and seeing others' emotions is also often difficult. Seeing and understanding nonverbal communication is often difficult. Also, people with autism often have particular specific interests. As a result, they often feel less connection with others, and can quickly feel lonely.

Woody motor skills
People with autism often have wooden motor skills; for example, they are often not good dancers.

Poor self-image
People with autism often have poor and incomplete self-image. This makes it more difficult to make contacts and enter into relationships and creates a lot of insecurity.

Partner choice
It takes more effort to find a partner who understands their autism. There are many lhbtqi'ers with autism who are single. A person with autism often has a partner who also has characteristics of autism.

Growing up later
People with autism often take longer to mature, and there may be differences between their intellectual and social ages.

Also good to know
Most people with autism do not see autism as a disease but as part of their person, with good and bad sides. People with autism are not "patients." Many problems that people with autism experience are because society is set up for a different group of people. Autism, like homosexuality, is diversity. There are whole discussions about whether you call people "autistic" or "people with autism," for example. Many people perceive the word "autistic" as negative, which is why AutiRose does not use it. We prefer to speak of "people with autism. The diversity among people with autism is very great. You can tell some people have autism better than others. Some work full-time, others are totally disabled. There is also a large male-female difference. Autism in women is less likely to be noticed. A possible explanation of this could be that women are by nature a more social being, and are raised in a different way than men.

Advantages and autism
Autism also has many advantages, for example: being creative, reliable, loyal, and good with details. See similarities to the the story above and want to be with like-minded people at a meeting cafe? Then come to the AutiRose meeting cafe.

Photo credits © Header & quote: Ernst Coppejans, Photos center: Isabell Janssen