About r/autism
Autism news, information and support. Please feel free to submit articles to enhance the knowledge, acceptance, understanding and research of Autism and ASD.
The community at a glance
r/autism is a Subreddit for Special needs parents and advocates with roughly 591K members. It has been around since 2008. It uses a forum format for communication. On the Hive Index it ranks #2 in the Special Needs communities list.
Roughly 96K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Autism, Looking For, and Looking. Product recommendations often mention books, job, and noise cancelling headphones.
Community Features
This community has a forum
Subreddit Analysis
via GummySearchMember growth over time
All time (yearly)
- 2013: 2K members
- 2014: 3K members
- 2015: 3K members
- 2016: 4K members
- 2017: 7K members
- 2018: 14K members
- 2019: 24K members
- 2020: 33K members
- 2021: 55K members
- 2023: 182K members
- 2024: 93K members
- 2025: 95K members
- 2026: 75K members
Past year (monthly)
- Nov: 9K members
- Dec: 11K members
- Jan: 9K members
- Feb: 7K members
- Mar: 8K members
- Apr: 8K members
- May: 8K members
- Jun: 7K members
- Jul: 7K members
- Aug: 8K members
- Sep: 7K members
- Oct: 5K members
Topics
- Autism28 posts in the past month#128Autism
- Looking For25 posts in the past month#225Looking For
- Looking25 posts in the past month#325Looking
- Hate17 posts in the past month#417Hate
- Struggling10 posts in the past month#510Struggling
Flair
- Question23 posts in the past month
- Should I tell my sister in law her son said his first word?
- Has anyone else ever felt like their getting "more" autistic as they get older?
- How long do you spend in the shower?
#123QuestionShould I tell my sister in law her son said his first word? · Has anyone else ever felt like their getting "more" autistic as they get older? · How long do you spend in the shower? - Social Struggles20 posts in the past month
- I can't unmask because when I do people ask me if I'm sick or depressed and I don't know what to do
- I got pulled into a HUMONGOUS friend group and idk how to function
- Does anyone else struggle to hold animals and babies?
#220Social StrugglesI can't unmask because when I do people ask me if I'm sick or depressed and I don't know what to do · I got pulled into a HUMONGOUS friend group and idk how to function · Does anyone else struggle to hold animals and babies? - Vent Advice Wanted14 posts in the past month
- How long did it take you to get diagnosed? How much advocating did you have to do?
- Will I ever stop hating myself?
- I’m struggling with coming out as an autistic trans woman.
#314Vent Advice WantedHow long did it take you to get diagnosed? How much advocating did you have to do? · Will I ever stop hating myself? · I’m struggling with coming out as an autistic trans woman. - 🎧 Sensory Issues10 posts in the past month
- I just discovered a surprisingly soothing sensation/sound
- Recommended earplugs for auditory processing that mean you don't hear your mouth constantly?
- Please help with ideas on my daughter's safe sensory space
#410🎧 Sensory IssuesI just discovered a surprisingly soothing sensation/sound · Recommended earplugs for auditory processing that mean you don't hear your mouth constantly? · Please help with ideas on my daughter's safe sensory space - 🫶🏻 Friendships/Relationships8 posts in the past month
- Tips on dating with autism
- Mixed Feelings for a girl
- Dating as AuDHD woman in Europe
#58🫶🏻 Friendships/RelationshipsTips on dating with autism · Mixed Feelings for a girl · Dating as AuDHD woman in Europe
Product recommendations
- books13 posts in the past month
- Can you guys recommend helpful books youve read?
- Can you guys recommend helpful books youve read?
- Hello, I am looking for a book about autism that will help me. Can you recommend one?
#113booksCan you guys recommend helpful books youve read? · Can you guys recommend helpful books youve read? · Hello, I am looking for a book about autism that will help me. Can you recommend one? - job10 posts in the past month
- hello all! I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to read this and recommend potential careers suitable for my needs & preferences. i’m in desperate need of advice!
- hello all! I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to read this and recommend potential careers suitable for my needs & preferences. i’m in desperate need of advice!
- Can anyone recommend a good job/career for me?
#210jobhello all! I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to read this and recommend potential careers suitable for my needs & preferences. i’m in desperate need of advice! · hello all! I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to read this and recommend potential careers suitable for my needs & preferences. i’m in desperate need of advice! · Can anyone recommend a good job/career for me? - noise cancelling headphones9 posts in the past month
- Can you please recommend the noise-canceling headphones that work best for you? I'm willing to pay up to €300.
- What noise canceling headphones do you recommend?
- noise cancelling headphones recs
#39noise cancelling headphonesCan you please recommend the noise-canceling headphones that work best for you? I'm willing to pay up to €300. · What noise canceling headphones do you recommend? · noise cancelling headphones recs - headphones9 posts in the past month
- Do you recommend buying musician/concert earplugs, or headphones for my girlfriend who suffers from constant sensory overload?
- Any good headphone recs?
- I can hear everything, all at once, headphones recs please.
#49headphonesDo you recommend buying musician/concert earplugs, or headphones for my girlfriend who suffers from constant sensory overload? · Any good headphone recs? · I can hear everything, all at once, headphones recs please. - games5 posts in the past month
- I cannot recommend the game Fruitbus enough to everyone on this sub.
- I cannot recommend the game Fruitbus enough to everyone on this sub.
- game recs for someone who likes doing tasks and customizing!
#55gamesI cannot recommend the game Fruitbus enough to everyone on this sub. · I cannot recommend the game Fruitbus enough to everyone on this sub. · game recs for someone who likes doing tasks and customizing!
Community Reviews
Frequently asked questions
- Who is r/autism for?
- Best for Special needs parents and advocates enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
- Is r/autism free to join?
- This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
- How many members does r/autism have?
- Roughly 591K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
- What platform is r/autism on?
- r/autism runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
- What topics does r/autism cover?
- On the Hive Index, r/autism is organized under Special needs parents and advocates.
- How do I join r/autism?
- You can join r/autism by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
- What are the Special Needs communities like?
- Communities for parents, caregivers, educators, and individuals navigating special needs. Covers autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, speech and developmental delays, and the broader support ecosystem including IEPs, therapy, early intervention, and self-advocacy. Mix of Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and dedicated forums where people share resources, ask questions, and connect with others who understand the journey.
Added 10/19/2026
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