AANE Online Support Groups

We invite members of AANE to join one of AANE's Online Support Groups for parents of children or teens with Asperger Syndrome. (Take a look at our membership benefits.) If you ever feel like you need to find other parents who "get" what your life is like raising a child (or children) with AS, these groups are for you! Both AANE parents groups (Google Groups) are forums where you can share your concerns, questions and successes with other parents. If you are looking for an understanding community of parents who are also "walking in your shoes" and who can offer support, empathy and information to ease your stresses and celebrate your successes, please join the age-appropriate group today. Both groups are moderated by AANE staff to ensure the building of a strong support community for all parents to feel that they are not on this journey alone.

Individuals or families in financial need may request an AANE membership for free.

Call Lisa at (866) 597-AANE x10 or email Lisa.Graffeo@aane.org for details.

AANE-Children-Parents Group
(for parents of elementary and middle school children)

Brenda Dater, Coordinator of Children’s Services and a parent of three boys, two of whom have an Asperger Syndrome diagnosis, moderates this on-line group. Brenda’s children with AS attend elementary and middle school. In addition to her parenting experience with AS, Brenda has worked in Early Intervention for many years developing and providing training and consultation for families, educators and therapists.

To join AANE-Children-Parents, please make sure your AANE membership is current. If not, you may join AANE online. Once your membership is current, you can email Brenda at Brenda.dater@aane.org. Please include your full name, street mailing address, and year of birth of your child. Please let Brenda know if you prefer to receive individual emails as they are posted or one daily email digest. Welcome!

AANE-Teens-Parents Group

Erika Drezner, AANE Coordinator of Teen Services, moderates this group. Group membership is currently limited to parents/guardians of teens who live in New England.

If you are not yet a member of AANE, you may join AANE online. When filling out the membership form, you will have an opportunity to request membership in the online parent support group.

If you are already a member of AANE and live in one of the six New England states, you may join AANE-Teens-Parents by emailing Erika.Drezner@aane.org.

  • Please include your full name, your street mailing address and the year of birth of your teen.
  • Please let Erika know if you prefer to receive individual e-mails as they are posted or one daily e-mail digest.
  • If both parents in a family wish to receive messages from the group, please send both email addresses.

Parents of younger teens are welcome to join the parents of teens online group whenever you feel ready. You may choose to also join (or remain on) the support group for parents of younger children at the same time.

Similarly, parents of older teens are welcome to continue participating in the parents of teens group even if you also decide to join the parents of adult online support group. It’s up to you when you “graduate.”

AANE-Spouse/Partners Group
(for women in relationship with men with Asperger’s)

Grace Myhill, LICSW, is a clinical social worker who specialized in working with adults with Asperger’s or their spouses. She will moderate this fairly new group. She has facilitated the Spouse / Partners Group at AANE since 2004 and has expertise in working with depression, anxiety, and other challenges adults face.

To join AANE-Spouse/Partners, please send an email to Grace at gmyhill@gmail.com. Please include your full name, your street mailing address and the year of birth of your partner with AS. Please let Grace know if you prefer to receive individual e-mails as they are posted or one daily e-mail digest.

AANE-Adults-Parents Group
(for parents of adults with AS and related conditions)

Good news! We have listened to your requests for an on-line group especially for parents of adults. This includes young adulthood through all phases of adult life. To help us support our adult children, we will have this new forum for sharing information and supporting each other. Steve Snitzer will be the moderator of this group.

If you'd like to join, please send an email to Max Sederer and cc to Steve Snitzer. Include your request to be a member of the group, your full name and whether you prefer to receive individual messages as they are posted or a daily digest of all messages received that day. You must be a current AANE Member  to join this group.

For those of you moving from the teen online group to the adult online group, you are welcome to be a member of both lists but If you want to be removed from the teen list please email teen list moderator Erika and ask her to remove your name.

Jamie Freed, Director of Adult Services- Jamie.Freed@aane.org
Max Sederer, Adult Services Program Manager- Max.Sederer@aane.org
Steve Snitzer, Parent of Adult Online Group Moderator- steve.aane@gmail.com

Support Groups

Also be sure to check out face-to-face support groups, or contact AANE if you are interested in starting a new group in your area.

 

"I wanted to thank you again for everything that you have done and for leading the group. I tend to complain a lot and not focus on the good things- so I wanted to make sure that you know that I am happy that there is a group. I don't say it often, but I am really glad that AANE exists.

Adult Group Member