Free Autism Spectrum Peer Support — Teens & Adults | GRASP
GRASP — the Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership — is an autistic-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit running free peer support groups for teens and adults on the autism spectrum across the United States. GRASP’s by-laws stipulate that its Executive Director, full Advisory Board, and at least half of its Board of Directors must be autistic — meaning the organization is genuinely run by autistic people for the autistic community. Programs include regional in-person support groups, national online discussion groups, in-school programs, advocacy, and education.
What to Expect
GRASP runs a network of regional peer-run support groups across the U.S., plus national online discussion groups for members who don’t have a local chapter or prefer the virtual format. Groups are organized around the lived experience of autistic teens and adults — topics span the work of navigating school, employment, relationships, sensory differences, executive function, identity, and self-advocacy. Sessions are peer-led: members guide the conversation, and the format is supportive rather than clinical. GRASP also runs in-school programs that help autistic students build advocacy skills, social ability, and self-esteem in collaboration with school staff.
Who This Group Is For
GRASP serves teens and adults on the autism spectrum, plus their families. The peer support groups themselves are for autistic members. Family members are welcome to access GRASP’s broader programming, including educational resources and community outreach. The teen-focused programs are particularly valuable for autistic teens whose schools or communities don’t have an autistic-led peer space — GRASP gives them a community that reflects their experience and is led by people who share it.
Why Peer Support Works
Autistic teens and adults often describe how different it feels to be in a space led by other autistic people. The implicit understanding — about pacing, sensory needs, communication styles, and what’s actually hard — means members don’t have to spend energy explaining themselves before they can talk about what matters. Peer support also gives autistic teens role models: adults who are out about their autism, doing meaningful work, and building lives that reflect who they are. That kind of representation is harder to find than it should be.
How to Join
GRASP membership is free. Visit grasp.org to find a regional support group, register for an online discussion group, or learn about in-school programs. The site also includes program literature, advocacy resources, and information for parents and educators looking to support autistic teens in their lives. Membership gives access to the online community and discussion groups; regional in-person groups operate locally and can be contacted directly through the GRASP site.