Question and Answer

Where can parents of special needs children find support groups?

Where can you find a parent support group that will help you? Here are some ideas:

• Check with your local ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) and MHMR (Mental Health and Mental Retardation) offices, which sponsor support groups for parents of children and adults with special needs.
• Check with Easter Seals, the local Cerebral Palsy association and chapters of any local support organizations. Some Easter Seals facilities have parent support groups available so that while children are in therapy, their parents can interact in a group setting without extra scheduling.
• Check with nearby children's hospitals, which often provide support groups. For example, Children's Hospital in our city has different groups for different special needs. One of these, called "Lifeline," is the support group for parents of children who have had heart surgery or heart problems.
• Ask therapists, case managers, social workers and your doctors for the names and phone numbers of coordinators of different groups. In addition, check with your school district's special education department for parent-to-parent groups.
• Check with the national organization of your child's disability to see if it can connect you with a local chapter.
• Call the offices of your church and other churches in your community to see if any Christian support groups are available.

Above all, keep asking until you find a group that fits your needs.

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