Foundations

Recognizing the importance of self-discovery and understanding, THE CEREBELLA provides a safe andsupportive environment where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, past experiences, andfuture hopes. Through a variety of online services, programs, assessments and resources, THE

CEREBELLA facilitates the process of self-assessment, providing valuable information about autism.

THE CEREBELLA’s services empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to better comprehend their neurodivergent identities and make informed decisions about their path forward.

You do not need a formal autism diagnosis to access The Cerebella’s support, services, or

community. You will need to be assessed by our Cerebella staff so that we can best assist you, but

ultimately you are the expert on your own experience. Whether you have received a medical diagnosis or not, the Cerebella is here to support you. Many people make the decision to seek out a formal, medical diagnosis, while others go through their own exploration of self-diagnosis without official testing with a professional.

Know that diagnosis, by its very nature, describes broad generalizations and descriptions of the way we have coped in life. Here at the Cerebella, regardless of your diagnosis, we recognize your unique

experience as an individual and we do require a comprehensive assessment for sensitivity *(approx. 2 hours) so that we can best build on your strenghs and develop the areas that are challenging for you regardless if you enlist in coaching services. We want to know who is in the support groups to help our Cerebella staff to assist your grow.

Individuals within our community describe varied responses to receiving a medical diagnosis. A medical diagnosis may validate past experiences, provide a framework for understanding yourself, and give you access to resources and services that require participants to have received a medical diagnosis. Some report relief upon receiving a medical diagnosis, affirming their long held self-understanding, and giving them a framework for building their future.

Receiving a diagnosis can also lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. Members of our community who receive a diagnosis later in life report years of invalidation by professionals and loved ones and that they wished they had known this earlier. Had they had this information sooner, they might have found community and support when they needed it, and avoided some of the harm that came from years of being misunderstood and mistreated. For some, receiving a formal diagnosis does not match their understanding of themselves, can bring up fears of discrimination, bullying, and ostracization, and may be an unwelcome experience given the continued stigma associated with autism.

Parents and caregivers of young children are often their child’s first advocates and may get curious about whether their child may be Autistic. Some may not consider this until their child is in their teens or older. For some parents and caregivers, their curiosity about a possible autism diagnosis can be dismissed by professionals. Parents and caregivers have heard “they’ll grow out of it,” feeling disempowered and invalidated. Many who come to the Cerebella describe having received one or more diagnoses before receiving an autism diagnosis, and for others, they may have received an autism diagnosis as well as one or more mental health diagnoses. Some parents and caregivers come to us still searching for a diagnosis that fits.

For adult groups, the individual should be a post-high school adult who is at least 18 years old. Some

groups vary by age which would be included in the title.

For teen groups, the ages vary between 14 – 19 years old, and the required age for participation will be included in the title.

All THE CEREBELLA support groups run a little bit differently from one another depending on the

facilitator and the members. You can expect that the facilitator will uphold the code of conduct above and established norms within the group. In many closed groups, “norms” or conversational guidelines are established by the whole group in the first meeting. In many open groups, the facilitator will share generic norms to ensure participants are on the same page. Groups can include individual check-ins and discussions of chosen topics as decided by attendees. Participants are encouraged to care for themselves during a meeting by being on or off camera, eating, stimming, etc. You can find specific group descriptions on the registration page for each group.

Participants should recognize that THE CEREBELLA groups are facilitated peer support groups, which are different from Group Therapy. While some of our facilitators are licensed clinicians, in their role at THE CEREBELLA, they are acting as facilitators. This means that the meaningful support of the group is not a replacement for individual or group therapy, but rather a place where folks with similar experiences find community and solidarity while sharing what has and hasn’t worked for them.

Please note that the resources and information shared within THE CEREBELLA support groups are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our hope is that these resources will provide you with useful connections as you navigate your journey of discovery and connection. THE CEREBELLA makes no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information shared between the participants within the group.

All individuals, regardless of their gender, are encouraged to choose groups that align most closely with their sense of identity. Gender identity, which encompasses a person’s deeply felt understanding of their own gender, can include identities that correlate with the sex assigned to an individual at birth (cisgender), differ from an individual’s sex assigned to them at birth (transgender), or are non-binary— meaning their gender identity doesn’t exclusively fit within the male/female gender binary. Every Autistic person is invited to participate in THE CEREBELLA support groups and social activities, without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

If a group member feels concerned, threatened, or disrespected, they should first bring it to the attention of the group facilitator inside or outside of group meeting time. If additional support is needed, they should contact their group’s staff liaison. They can get connected to the Staff Liaison by emailing  groups@The Cerebella.org , they do not need to detail their concern in that initial email if they do not wish to.