Local Support Groups

Are you interested in joining or facilitating a disability-based support group for Medway caregivers? 

If so, please email msepac@medwayschools.org

ADD/ADHD

• Metrowest CHADD Parent Support Group

• National office ADD Call Center: (800) 233-4050, website: http://chadd.org

ANGELMAN SYNDROME

• Angelman Syndrome Foundation: Parent Support Group

APRAXIA

• Apraxia Parent Support Group

ASTHMA AND ALLERGY

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation/ New England Metro-Boston

• Metro-West Allergy & Asthma Support Group at Newton Wellesley Hospital 

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

• Asperger’s and Autism Association of New England

• Autism Alliance of MetroWest, Facebook Page 

• The Autism Support Center

• The Child Development Partners

• Grandparent Autism Network

ARTHRITIS

• Arthritis Foundation-Newton: Parent Support Group meets periodically; call for dates and times.

CARDIAC CONDITIONS

• Little Hearts of Massachusetts Parent Support Group: Call or check website for information on meeting date, time, and place. If you are interested in forming a Greater Boston chapter, please the national headquarters.

CROHN’S DISEASE AND COLITIS

• Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Parent Support Group

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY

• Minuteman Early Intervention- West Concord.

DIABETES

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Networking Coffees: Groups meet monthly to discuss a variety of topics. 

DOWNS SYNDROME

• Downs Syndrome Online Support Group – MDSConnections

• Family TIES - Parent support groups to help access to useful information to assist with the issues parents of children with a disability face. Family Ties collects support group information and maintain a database of these groups throughout the state.

BEREAVEMENT GROUPS

• The Children’s Room: Center for Grieving Children and Teenagers in Arlington provides support, counseling and group sessions. 781-641-4741; info@childrensroom.org; 

• Samaritans Grief Support Services 

DEAFNESS OR HEARING IMPAIRMENT 

DYSLEXIA:

• Landmark School –Outreach programs offering courses to parents and teachers about language based learning disabilities.

• Decoding Dyslexia Massachusetts

EATING DISORDERS

• MEDA Support Group

EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: 

• Wayside Youth & Family Support Network/ Metrowest

• Parent/Professional Advocacy League, PPAL 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI offers a Family-to-Family Education Program which is a free course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses.

• YOU, Inc. 

• Families for Depression Awareness

EPILEPSY AND SEIZURE DISORDERS

• Parent and Family Network Get-Togethers

FRAGILE X SYNDROME

• Fragile X MA

GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES RAISING CHILDREN

• Kinship Support Group

LEUKEMIA/LYMPHOMA

• Leukemia/Lymphoma Society

LIMB DEFICIENCY

• Helping Hands Foundation

MEDICAL SUPPORT

• Tube Feeding Support Groups and Resources

• TrachCare, a nonprofit organization, offers support and information to parents, caregivers and healthcare providers of children who have, or previously had, a tracheotomy, and children who are on ventilator support. trachcare.org; 617 527-1990; info@trachcare.org.

MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE

• Mitochondrial Disorders Support Group: Meets monthly at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

• Parent Support Group:  Meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7:30PM–9PM at the MDA Office, 275 Turnpike Street, Suite 201, Canton. CONTACT: Christine, Healthcare Services Coordinator, Muscular Dystrophy Association, 781-575-1881

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

• Rett Syndrome Support Group:  Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at ARC of Massachusetts, Waltham. Call for more information.CONTACT: 781-891-6270

NON-VERBAL LEARNING DISABILITIES

• TAWK (Talk As a Way of Knowing) Support Group for Parents of Children with NLD:  Monthly meetings at Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick, often with speakers.  Call for schedule. CONTACT:  Barbara Wilder-Smith, 508-650-8885

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

• Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (OCF) / Greater Boston Support Group for Friends and Family:  Meets 1st Tuesday of every month at the DeMarneffe Bldg., McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont.  Call for meeting time.CONTACT:  Greater Boston Helpline, 617-376-3784 WEBSITE:  

PARENTING SUPPORT/ OTHER SUPPORT: 

• Parents Helping Parents –www.parentshelpingparents.org/ – organization in Massachusetts to support parents, they have a parent stress line and parent to parent support.

• Special Needs Parent Coach – www.specialneedsparentcoach.com – Book, teleclasses, artciles, etc.

• The Help Group

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER

• SPD-Parents Connect

• Sensory Integration Issues Parent Support Group: Meets once a month at the Congregational Church, 24 South Main Street, Sharon. Call for details CONTACT: Smadar Gekow, 781-784-9086 E-MAIL: gekowfamily@verizon.net

SIBLING SUPPORT

SPINA BIFIDA

• Spina Bifida Association of Massachusetts: The Spina Bifida Association hosts a listserv for families who have loved ones with Spina Bifida.

TRANSITION EDUCATION GROUP

• Transition Education Group for Parents of Young Adults (ages 15-25):

VISION IMPAIRMENT