Support Groups
Sometimes the best resource for parents and caregivers of children with special needs are other parents and caregivers who are facing the same issues and challenges.
Disability-specific support groups can be very helpful to patients, their families and medical professionals. In addition to general medical background, groups can provide the patient and family's perspective on various issues, enable networking, offer educational literature and medical references, as well as offer relevant news on research and clinical trials.
Unfortunately, many patients have multiple conditions or lack a specific diagnosis and thus may not find any one support group that can be helpful. In this case, a physician or social worker may be helpful in providing direction to an appropriate organization(s).
The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center recommends resources where parents and caregivers can turn to find support.
Support Groups
- Many of the organizations listed on the Disability-Specific Web Resources offer their own support groups.
- Cincinnati Children's sponsors many support groups for children and families with special needs.
- Family Resource Center at Cincinnati Children's maintains a listing of local support groups for medical conditions by diagnosis, bereavement support groups, and others.
- Pastoral Care Department at Cincinnati Children's has a listing of bereavement support groups in the Greater Cincinnati area.
- Apraxia of Speech Parent Group meets monthly at Cincinnati Children's Mason Campus. Email for more information.
- Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR) has email discussion groups to support families.
- Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati provides support groups, education and resources:
- Autism Support Group meets second Tuesday of each month at Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Road. Call 513-561-2300 for more information.
- Asperger's / High Functioning Autism Discussion Group
- Adults with Asperger's / High Functioning Autism Networking Group
- Cancer Family Care Grief & Bereavement Institute has a listing of bereavement support groups in the Greater Cincinnati area.
- Caregiver Assistance Network, sponsored by Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio, provides information, support groups and resources for caregivers of the ill and disabled.
- CarePages allows you to create and update a free, private and personalized web page to share health care news with friends and family, and receive messages of support.
- CaringBridge lets families of children with special needs create a free, personalized web site to keep others informed and updated during challenging times.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is a national nonprofit organization provides resources and encouragement to parents, educators and professionals dealing with children and / or adults with ADHD.
- Cincy SPD - Parent Connections Support Group meets monthly at the Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute and provides information and resources to parents and professionals working with children who have sensory processing disorder.
- Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati offers information, resources and support to individuals with Down Syndrome and their families, including a Parent Network Program.
- Families with ASD of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky provides information and support for families who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Fernside Center for Grieving Children provides peer group support for grieving children, teens and their parents or guardians.
- Genetic and Rare Conditions Site lists support group information by both condition and categories of conditions. There is also information about how to start a genetic support group and information for siblings and family members.
- H.E.L.P. (Helping Everyone Live Positively) is a support group for young adults, ages 18 through 30, learning to cope with mental health issues. Meetings are held at St. Monica / St. George Church in Cincinnati. Email for information.
- iVillage.com can connect you to a wide range of online parenting support groups.
- Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky offers information and support for mental health and substance abuse.
- Mental Health Association of Southwest Ohio
- Support Group Clearinghouse maintains a listing of known area support groups for people who share similar mental, emotional or physical health care problems or life situations.
- Mental Help Net has information and resources to promote mental health education and advocacy. They have current news, book and article reviews as well as links to self-help groups and online discussion forums.
- Mothers of Special Children meets on a regular basis at the Hyde Park Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Cincinnati. Call Sally Wyler, 513-351-5478 for current meeting schedule.
- Mothers of Special Children of Northern Kentucky meets monthly at varying locations. You can find a calendar of events on their web site.
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a non-profit organization for individuals with severe mental illness. Local support group information is one of the many services offered.
- OCD Parent Support Group meets monthly at St. Monica's Community Center. Call 513-271-7723 or 513-891-2879 for more information.
- PsychCentral.com provides information on chat rooms and online support groups in all areas of mental health.
- Reaching for the Stars supports families of children with cerebral palsy. The Northern Kentucky / Cincinnati chapter meets monthly. You can email for local meeting information.
- Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome Support Group for Families provides information and organizes events for families in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Email for information or call 513-708-5611.
- The Self-Help Group Sourcebook Online provides detailed information on how to start online support groups, message boards, chat rooms and email discussion groups. They also have resources to help you find existing online support and discussion groups.
- Sibshops, sponsored by the Aaron W. Perlman Center, in partnership with the Family Resource Center and the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's, is an interactive workshop for the brothers and sisters of children with special health and developmental needs. Sibshops provides siblings, ages 8-12, with opportunities for peer information and discussion. For more information, contact the Aaron W. Perlman Center at 513-636-4601.
- Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati offers information, resources and support to individuals with Spina Bifida and their families.
- Turner Syndrome Society has local chapters in Ohio and Indiana.
- United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati provides information and support.
- Williams Syndrome Association has a regional chapter for information and support.
If your questions are not fully answered by our Special Needs Resource Directory and its links, please contact us via email.
Rev. 6/09
