Many autistic adults cannot easily participate in everyday conversations: They feel as if they have nothing to say or that what they do have to say would be rejected, so often they just don’t talk at all. On Sat Mar 21, AASCEND explores the autistic experience of conversation to see if there are ways we autistics together can help make conversation more comfortable for people like us. This a live program, in-person only at the Arc.Respecting privacy, the program will not be recorded. There is no need to register for the event. Program details below.

In the first part of the program a panel of autistic adults will share their experiences in conversation, both successes and challenges, answering questions like, “Do you find it easy to participate in everyday conversation, or do you sometimes feel left out?” “What is your favorite mode of conversation: verbal, text, phone, email,..?” “How do you feel when the conversation stops and there is only silence?” etc. We’ll then talk about what helps us feel comfortablein conversation, and what can help in the future. Attendees will be invited to share their experience.

In the second part of the program we will practice actual conversation on basic topics we hope will be of interest to everyone, for example, “What clothes do you like to wear and why?” “What foods do you like or dislike?” “Do you like animals or have any pet?” “What music do you like?” We will make an effort to include everyone in the conversation, with everyone also welcome to “pass” if they want to. Finally, we will open the floor to everyone to write a conversation topic on a card, hand them in, and we’ll talk about some of them. Come with a conversation idea in mind if you like!

This is an experiment – just a gathering of autistic adults trying to help each other out. We hope you can make it and we’d love to have a conversation with you if you feel like it!

Who: Adults on the autism spectrum, families, mentors and professionals all welcome. For more information, please contact: info@aascend.org
When: Sat Mar 21, 10am – Noon
Where: The Arc of SF 1500 Howard St. @ 11th St. SF, CA 94103 (enter on 11th St) map

Contact info@aascend.org with any questions.

On March 14 (not the usual first Saturday), the AASCEND Job Club presents Forward AI, an online AI-powered career development platform designed to help individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about their career direction. Unlike traditional job boards or career tools that assume you already know what you want, Forward’s AI companion takes the initiative, guiding you through structured career exploration step-by-step without the pressure of facing a blank page. The platform helps you articulate your preferences, build confidence in your career direction, and navigate the job market with clear guidance tailored to your specific situation and needs.

After a tour of the Forward website, Job Club Facilitators Dan Middleton and Michael Bernick will interview Forward founders Chinmay Rathod and Gautham Narayanan.

The Zoom link to this presentation will be emailed as the date approaches, to people on our mailing list. There is no need to register for the event. Click here to subscribe to our mailing list if you aren’t already on it.

Forward founders Chinmay Rathod and Gautham Narayanan are both neurodivergent individuals who experienced firsthand the challenges of finding work that truly fits. 

 As usual, autistic adults will share their perspectives throughout the program.

Who: Adults on the spectrum, family, professionals and friends all welcome!
When: Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Where: Online via Zoom, Link will be emailed as the date approaches.