Feel free to suggest ideas for #AutChat topics (or offer to help write questions)! For scheduled topics, see autchat.com

Every topic we've ever run: autchat.com/all-topics/ We're happy to rerun past chats we haven't revisited in a while, especially now that we’re on a new platform!

Reminder: We don’t currently create transcripts of #AutChat.

We’ll update these intro/outro posts if that changes in the future.

Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on reading and math difficulties. October 18, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 20:00 UTC / 9pm BST on BlueSky. autchat.com/reading-and-...

If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.

The scheduled #AutChat is wrapping up. It's fine to keep chatting, join in late, or use the tag at other times!

Q4: What do you want autistic people of other orientations to know about yours? #AutChat

#AutChat A3: I mean, it kinda looks like everyone doing AutChat today is floating around the same region of the orientation landscape. I think I recall a couple other regulars mentioning being in the same ballpark in the past, as well.

But I haven't really read many books where it comes up.

Q3: Do you see people of your sexual/romantic/other orientations in autistic communities?

In books/materials by and for autistic people?

#AutChat

Yeah, for me, it's like, "Oh, these people are here? Why didn't I know about this sooner?" #AutChat

#AutChat A2: I'm gonna be honest, I've only started engaging with neurodivergent spaces OR spaces that talk much about attraction and orientation at all in the last few years. So yes, to a very limited and very recent degree. Not enough to have learned a ton yet.

#AutChat A1b: What I mean by that is that I can appreciate beauty, and have historically described that as 'attraction' because I thought that's what it meant, but for me it's almost always equivalent to recognizing a quality piece of art. Appreciate the craftsmanship without being horny about it.

#AutChat A1a: Kinda? This is a work in progress, but basically, understanding how being autistic relates to my emotional interoception issues, and how THAT feels relevant to my limited ability to experience attraction beyond aesthetic appreciation, does suggest that it's all connected somehow.

Q2: Do you see people who are neurodivergent like you in discussions of attractions/orientations?

In sex education?

In conversations about significant relationships?

#AutChat

Q1: Did being autistic or similarly neurodivergent play a role in understanding your sexual, romantic, or other attractions/orientations? #AutChat

Hello, #AutChat! I'm Tej. This one might be a doozy, let's see how it plays out.

You don’t have to disclose your orientations or attractions to participate, though you can if you want.

This chat includes other kinds of attraction and orientation as well as sexual and romantic ones. For example, platonic attraction, aesthetic attraction, etc. #AutChat