Re: Looking for suggestions for support group

[Guest guest]

I have joined a local Support Group in my town where I live and it is

called Autism Support Group. We advertise as that and welcome anyone

that has a child with an ASD, a family memeber, teachers, physcians

and anyone who supports the needs of someone with an ASD to attend.

We meet once a month in our local library meeting room. It is free

to reserve the room but we have to do it well in advance. We meet

for one hour but most times run over that time limmit with no

problems. We normally meet and share stories, suggestions, comments,

etc. From time to time we do have guest speakers. The last one we

had a few months ago was a social services employee that specialized

in emergency prepardness and talked about the importance of this when

dealing with an individual with a disability.

I do know of another county in Virginia that has a much larger

support group, I believe more than 20 parents and they do have their

meetings in a hospital cafe. They have guest speakers that are

employees of the hospital, or teachers, therapists, etc, many

professionals.

Our group is usually small, about 5 parents or familiy members

total. The last meeting there were 2 new members which was awesome,

and I briefly introduced myself and my kids on the spectrum. It was

short, but to the point.

The one thing that I do suggest is getting the group name out there

to other parents and caregivers. Advertise your group, but do it

wisely, find the newspapers that do it for free, dont pay for this,

it should be free everywhere, check doctors offics to see if you can

hang a flyer in their waiting room, things such as that. I found out

about my local support group in a local newspaper. Many of them have

sections for community calendars.

Use the group as a tool to share books and resources. You dont

always need to have an Agenda, just sharing about what little johnny

did at school last week is enough to get some laughs or some tears or

some simple suggestions.

Even if there are only 2 parents that go to the meeting, atleast you

can vent with each other for that hour or so.

I do have to say that I was very nervous to go to my first meeting,

but I sucked it up and went. It took me about 4 months before I

finally went to my first meeting. It was great to be able to get to

know other families that are going through some of the same things

that I am and have been.

Good luck with what you are doing.

in VA

>

> I am meeting next week with a local center that specializes in

> treatment of children and adults with LD and autism and related

> diagnoses to get them to sponsor a support group through

www.meetup.com.

>

> There are about twenty-five people that have responded to my posting

> for families and individuals interested in starting a meetup group

> here in town.

>

> So, I am looking for suggestions for a support group. Tell me some

> things that have worked in one you have attended and things that

have

> NOT worked for someone that has been in a support group for

> autism/aspergers.

>

> Did you break up into smaller interest groups? Try to do an

activity?

> Just share stories? Suggestions for keeping it solution based are

> welcome. How do you integrate someone new into the group versus one

> that has been going on for a long time and everybody knows everybody

> else and their stories?

>

> There are so many frustrations and it is so difficult for us parents

> that many times a group like this can be the only place to vent. Is

> this a good use for a support group?

>

> I recently attended two meetup.com groups for webdesigners. It was

> fascinating to see the range of people that showed up for the first

> meeting, but don't know where to go with it now! We all agreed that

we

> liked it for the socializing aspect and sharing of tools and

> tips...but not sure how meeting #2 is going to go!

>

> Thanks everyone for suggestions!

>

> Sue in TN

>