In short: Connection often comes most easily through shared interests rather than formal support groups. Here are online communities, South African groups and activities where many neurodivergent adults find their people.
Meeting other autistic, ADHD and AuDHD adults can be life-changing — especially after a late diagnosis. In South Africa, in-person adult groups are still rare, so this list mixes online, local and interest-based options.
Online communities
| Community | What it is |
|---|---|
| r/AutisticWithADHD (Reddit) | About 117,000 members; one of the largest AuDHD communities |
| r/AuDHD, r/ADHD, r/autism, r/southafrica | Large, moderated forums; anonymous |
| AuDHD Hub (Patreon) | Small-group calls for late-diagnosed adults (paid, from US$5/month) |
| Skool groups | Paid peer communities such as Audaciously AuDHD |
South African groups
- Autism South Africa provincial Facebook groups
- The Neuroverse WhatsApp and Instagram community
- SADAG support groups (mental health, some neurodivergence-friendly)
- Meetup.com — search “neurodiversity”, “ADHD” or “autism” in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban
Places neurodivergent people often find each other
- Board-game cafés and Dungeons & Dragons groups
- Climbing gyms, parkrun and hiking clubs
- Maker spaces, coding meetups and hackathons
- Comic and anime conventions (e.g. Comic Con Africa)
- Birding, astronomy and other special-interest clubs
- Library book clubs and quiet reading events
Body doubling and co-working
Online co-working (Focusmate, “study with me” streams) builds connection without pressure. See body doubling.
Tips for socialising your way
- Choose activity-based events — less small talk
- Arrive early when it is quieter; leave when you need to
- Bring a stim tool or headphones
Run a group or event? Tell us and we will add it.
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