If you get anxious about nebulous future social interactions, maybe knowing what to expect will help.
You do not have to RSVP for video meetings. Just show up!
We use Google Meet for our biweekly meetings. Many of us have our cameras on, but it's not required. You do not need to have a Google account. You can join from your computer, tablet, or phone. Closed captions are available in Google Meet and the quality is decent.
If you have never used Google Meet, here is a 3-minute video that walks you through the basics: https://youtu.be/X4jAvaX73-U?si=108WH1XyO3U0zLb3
1-3 days before the meeting (usually on Sunday), you will receive an email with the Google Meet link. The email will include the meeting topic.
Hosts usually log in 5-10 minutes before to meeting starts. When you join the meeting, a host will admit you, and you'll be in.
A typical meeting goes like this:
We start with an icebreaker.
If we have announcements, we usually cover them here.
We then introduce the topic. We may watch a video or two about the topic.
We open the meeting for discussion. We try to use the hand-raising system. You can click the “raise your hand” button and you will be called on to speak. We aren't perfect at it, but we try to stick to hand-raising, as many autistic people are more comfortable with a clear speaking order.
Before closing, we share the Discord invitation link.
Then we have casual conversation time for those who want to stick around.
Meetings typically last around an hour and a half.
For important organizing meetings, we will email the agenda in advance and strictly enforce hand-raising. We anticipate these meetings happening about 2-3 times a year.