Autism Support Groups in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Autism support groups bring together people navigating similar experiences — most often parents and caregivers, and increasingly autistic people themselves. They exist because the autism journey is far easier when you're not doing it alone.

What support groups offer:

• Practical knowledge — which local providers are good, how waitlists really work, what to say at a school meeting, which programs are worth your time
• Emotional support — being understood without having to explain, from people who have felt what you're feeling
• Reduced isolation — raising an autistic child can feel isolating, and connection is a genuine antidote
• Perspective — families a few years ahead can show you what's coming and that it's navigable

Types of groups:

• Parent and caregiver groups — the most common; in-person or online, some general, some focused
• Autistic-led groups — run by and for autistic people; invaluable for autistic teens and adults, and for parents wanting autistic perspectives
• Sibling groups — support for brothers and sisters of autistic children
• Organization-run groups — many autism nonprofits host regular support meetings

A note for military families. Military life adds specific challenges to the autism journey — frequent moves, deployments, navigating TRICARE and EFMP, and rebuilding community every few years. Connection matters even more, and military-specific groups understand these realities in a way civilian groups may not. Many military autism families benefit from both military and civilian community.

A note on choosing well. The best groups leave you feeling steadier, better informed, and less alone. Some online spaces run on fear, conflict, or negativity about autistic people. If a group consistently makes you feel worse, it's completely fine to leave and find another.

Connection is not a luxury. It's one of the most protective things for family wellbeing — and unlike most autism supports, it's usually free.

Families in the Colorado Springs area have several routes to support and community — civilian and military.

Autism Society of Colorado. The Autism Society of Colorado provides statewide information, referral, community events, and family support, including in the Colorado Springs region. It's often a strong first point of contact.

The Resource Exchange (TRE). The Resource Exchange, the Community Centered Board serving El Paso County, connects families to community resources alongside its service-coordination role.

PEAK Parent Center. PEAK Parent Center, a Colorado parent training and information center, provides parent connection and free special education navigation support.

Military family support. This is significant in Colorado Springs. The installations — Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, the Air Force Academy — have Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) offices, family support centers, Military Family Life Counselors, and New Parent Support Programs. EFMP offices in particular can connect military families with special needs children to resources and to one another. These are valuable and sometimes underused.

Facebook and online groups. Colorado Springs-area special needs and autism parent groups on Facebook are active and practical, and include military-specific groups. Search "Colorado Springs autism," "Pikes Peak special needs parents," "military special needs Colorado Springs," or similar variants. Military-specific groups are especially helpful for navigating PCS moves, TRICARE, and EFMP.

Autistic-led community. For autistic teens and adults — and for parents seeking autistic perspectives — autistic-led organizations and online communities (many national, some regional) offer firsthand experience that parent groups can't.

A practical reality. Specific groups form, change, and dissolve over time — and for military families, the community itself turns over with each PCS cycle. The organizations above are stable starting points; for what's currently active, local and military-specific Facebook groups and a call to the Autism Society of Colorado are your best bets.

Here's how to find autism support and community in the Colorado Springs area.

Start here:

• Contact the Autism Society of Colorado — ask what support groups and community programming they currently offer in the region
• Reach out to The Resource Exchange — for connection to community resources
• Contact PEAK Parent Center — for parent connection and free navigation support
• For military families, connect with your installation's EFMP office — they can link you to resources and other military special needs families
• Join Colorado Springs-area Facebook groups — including military-specific ones; search "Colorado Springs autism" and "military special needs Colorado Springs"
• Ask your school district and your child's providers — they often know of parent groups

Trying out a group:

• Give it more than one visit — first impressions can mislead
• Look for the right fit — newly diagnosed, teen-focused, general, military-specific, or civilian
• Notice how you feel afterward — the right group leaves you steadier and less alone
• Consider autistic-led spaces — especially valuable for autistic perspectives and for autistic family members themselves

For military families specifically:

• Connect before you even arrive — if you're PCSing to Colorado Springs, join area Facebook groups before the move so you arrive with connections
• Use both military and civilian community — each offers something the other doesn't
• Connect with EFMP immediately on arrival — don't wait

A reminder: an online community or newsletter — including ours — can be a genuine help, but it isn't a substitute for real human relationships. Where you can, build connections with people you can actually sit beside.

Know of a Colorado Springs-area support group we should list? Tell us — this kind of local knowledge is exactly what helps other families.