🗓️ Date: June 22nd, Sunday
📍 Location: Totally 80’s Pizza & Museum 2567 S Shields St Unit 4C Fort Collins, CO 80526
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📔 Event Description: Join us for a pizza social and a chance to explore the one-of-a-kind Totally 80’s Museum. We’ll have optional nametags to help make socializing easier and an optional icebreaker to help start conversations. After enjoying pizza together, you’re welcome to explore the museum section of the restaurant at your own pace. Totally 80’s is the world’s only 1980s pop culture museum and restaurant, and a top tourist destination in Fort Collins! They offer gourmet pizza, wings, local beers, twists, and salads. 
Please feel free to bring any sensory supports that help you feel comfortable, as it may be loud inside the restaurant starting around 12 pm (lunch time).
💵 Cost: $12 per person (includes up to 2-3 slices of pizza and a fountain drink). Additional food, drinks, or museum items are available for purchase separately.
You're welcome to bring guests, please purchase one ticket per guest if they will be participating and eating.
✅ Registration: To join us for this event, please register and pay online in advance. This helps us with attendance, information for emergency contact, and planning for space. Registration is required to attend.

Questions/concerns: please email groups@autismcolorado.org 

The purpose of autistic social meetups for adults is to foster connection, reduce isolation, and build community in a space where autistic people can socialize without pressure to mask or perform.

These gatherings are casual and lightly structured, offering a more independent, self-paced environment with the intention to socially connect with. Facilitators are available to offer optional conversation prompts, icebreakers, or gentle guidance during activity-based social time. Participants are always free to choose how they’d like to engage—whether that means joining in, observing, or simply enjoying the space in their own way.

Our goal is to create low-pressure, accessible, and respectful opportunities for in-person connection and meeting others. To create an environment where autistic people can build community on their own terms and engage in whatever way feels right for them, and without having to mask who they are. 

Our program recognizes that traditional group outings may not often meet everyone's sensory, communication, or pacing needs and aims to do things differently. 

Here’s what that usually means:

• Predictability: We provide clear details in advance—what’s happening, when, where, and what to expect.
• Flexibility: There’s no pressure to talk, stay the whole time, or participate in any specific social facilitation activity such as icebreakers, conversation starters, etc. You can engage in the way that works best for you.
• Sensory Awareness: We choose locations with lower sensory load, offer quiet spaces or breaks, and support stimming or sensory tools.
• Consent & Boundaries: We emphasize consent in conversations, touch, and interactions. There’s no expectation to “perform” or mask.
• Supportive Spaces: Participants can bring a trusted support (friend, family, caregiver) if it helps them feel comfortable.
• Interest-Based Activities: Outings may include visits to museums, nature walks, cozy cafés, accessible activities, or other places that are enriching without being overwhelming.​​​

You can utilize your HCBS waivers to help cover the cost. We try to keep fees as low as possible and are happy to talk if cost is a barrier. Please email groups@autismcolorado.org to assist.