6 Types of Support Groups for Parents of Special Needs Children

Emotional Support Groups

There are many reasons why families with special needs might want emotional support. Discovering a child has special needs can be devastating and difficult.Coping with special needs can be exhausting and overwhelming. Dealing with fallout from extended family can be trying. Handling financial worries can be paralyzing. When facing serious emotional difficulties, it's always helpful to meet others who have been there and done that. Sometimes another person's experiences or solutions can be more helpful than any therapist.

If time is short, or if you feel uncomfortable about sharing personal feelings with a local group, you can also consider online support groups.These offer the support you may need with the added bonus of relative anonymity. Organizations likeParent to Parentwill actually match you with a parent mentor who has lived through similar experiences.

School-Based Groups

Many school districts have parent groups dedicated specifically to families with special needs students. These groups are, obviously, not anonymous. Rather, their purpose is to discuss and advocate for the needs of special needs children within the local district. They may also invite speakers on relevant topics, including members of the district staff who may be able to answer parent concerns and questions.

On the downside, parents may not agree with one another about what the district should be offering or paying for. Parent A may feel strongly about inclusive classrooms while Parent B is advocating for specialized support programs. Parent C may have a child with mild issues who needs a learning specialist while Parent D is frustrated at the lack of appropriate educational tools for their physically disabled child.

Regional Groups

Some regions support organizations that provide resources, services, and support to parents in a particular geographic region. These are usually formal non-profits with at least some paid staff and volunteers.

An example of such a regional group is theAsperger/Autism Network(AANE)是有自闭症的家庭成员in the Northeast. In addition to providing webinars, speakers, resources, and events, the organization also runs support group programs for a wide range of people.

There are support groups ranging from parents of teenage boys to parents of teenage girls, parents of children, parents of tweens, adults married to people with autism, single adults with autism—in short, if you have a family member with autism you'll find a face-to-face support group that is experiencing similar challenges and issues that you're facing.

The downside of a regional organization is that it may be a long distance from where you live. That means you may have to either commute to your support group or connect online. Fortunately, virtual communication can make connecting with some of these groups possible.

National Groups

National organizations are full-fledged, large-scale non-profits, but that doesn't mean they can't provide local support to parents as well. Some, likeEaster Seals,Variety Club, andThe Archave local chapters offering a wide range of services to both parents and kids.

In some ways, getting connected with a national organization can be enormously helpful. Staff members are connected with and knowledgeable about everything from Social Security to adult services to housing, and they can help with finding services, funding, schools, housing, programs, and even employment for your child.

Advocacy and Public Policy Groups

Advocacy and public policy groups aren't support groups in the typical sense of the word. While they help support the funding and programs that make daily life possible for many families, they're not as available to provide one-on-one advice, groups, or even programs. Some, however, do a lot more than just lobby and advocate. For example, The American Diabetes Foundation offers programs such as summer camps, as well as awareness events, local calendars, and help with local fundraising.

Whatever your child's disability or disorder, you'll find a national organization dedicated to helping. You won't find local friends, per se, but you will find information, opportunities to vote for issues that concern you, fundraisers, and other ways to support the cause.

Online Groups for Specific Needs and Interests

You're starting a new course of therapy for your child, and you're looking for others walking the same road. Or you're going through a divorce and trying to figure out how to tell your special needs child. Or you want to talk in-depth about the ins and outs of which educational methods are most effective for children with specific learning disabilities.

Chances are, your local support group won't be of much help in that regard. Nor will your school group, or even your disorder-specific national organization. You need to find people who know exactly what you're talking about and who speak your language.

When you're looking for a very small, intense, focused group, your best option is to go online. That's where you'll find people from all over the country (and even around the world) who just happen to share your particular concern or direction.No matter what you need to talk about, chances are there's a group for you.