three happy men in wheelchairs

Listing: Support Groups and Peer Mentor Resources for All Conditions

Body

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA - Online 
Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous
https://aa-intergroup.org/

_______________________________________

 

Aphasia

National Aphasia Association
naa@aphasia.org | no phone
National Aphasia Association
P.O.Box 87, Scarsdale, NY 10583
https://www.aphasia.org/

Northwestern Medicine Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology
Monthly support group for family and care partners of people with PPA primary progressive aphasia. Meets online the third Monday of each month from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Contact Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW, d-morhardt@northwestern.edu, 312-908‐9432 There is no fee to participate.
http://www.brain.northwestern.edu/care-and-support/ftd-ppa-support.html

___________________________________________

Arthritis and Joint Conditions

Lupus Foundation of America - find chapter near you
1-800-258-7872
https://www.lupus.org/resources/find-support-near-you

Lupus Society of IL - Chicago Chapter and IL
312-542-0002
https://www.lupusil.org/get-involved/support-groups-2/

___________________________________________

National Ataxia Foundation

Support Groups - National Ataxia Foundation
Minneapolis, MN 55426
763-553-0020
https://www.ataxia.org/support-groups/

____________________________________________

Brain Injury

American Brain Tumor Association Support 
800-886-ABTA (2282)
https://www.abta.org/about-brain-tumors/social-emotional-support/

Brain Injury Association of IL List of sites
800-699-6443
https://www.biail.com/support.htm

Brain Injury Association of America-National
1-800-444-6443
https://www.biausa.org/find-bia

Brain Aneurysm Foundation Support Group
888-272-4602
https://www.bafound.org/recovery/support-groups/

Synapse House
(877) 932-1120
https://synapsehouse.org/

_________________________________________

Burn

Burn Survivor Support - Burn Institute
(858) 541-2277
https://burninstitute.org/burn-survivor-programs/

Phoenix Society 
800-888-2876
http://www.phoenix-society.org/

___________________________________               

Cancer Rehabilitation

American Cancer Society
800.227.2345
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services.html

Cancer Care Support Groups
800‑813‑HOPE (4673)
https://www.cancercare.org/tagged/support_groups

Imerman Angels
866-IMERMAN (463-7626)
https://imermanangels.org/

Gilda's Club
312-464-9900
https://www.gildasclubchicago.org/

Cancer Wellness Center
847-509-9595
https://www.cancerwellness.org/

Surviving Breast Cancer
https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/ 

ThyCA Thyroid Cancer Support Groups
877-588-7904
http://www.thyca.org/sg/

___________________________________________

Cardiac Dysfunction

American Heart Association-National
1-800-242-8721
https://supportnetwork.heart.org/

American Heart Association-IL 
312-346-4675
https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/illinois/chicago

Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Support Groups
NOTE: Hospitals below request that you attend support groups at the hospital where you had the transplant OR LVAD placed.

Northwestern Medicine-Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
312-664-3278
https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/treatments/ventricular-assist-devices#:

Loyola Medicine-Center for Heart and Valve Medicine 
888-584-7888
https://www.loyolamedicine.org/locations/center-heart-vascular-medicine

University of Chicago Medicine-Transplantation and Circulatory Support
1-888-824-0200 or 1-773-834-7819
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/heart-vascular/heart-failure

___________________________________________

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy Foundation 
212 520 1686
https://www.yourcpf.org/blogs/

UCP Sequin-Chicago
(708) 863-3803
https://ucpseguin.org/
______________________________________

Chronic Pain

American Chronic Pain Association
1-800.533.3231
https://www.theacpa.org/about-us/support-groups/

National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association
801-200-3627

___________________________________________

COVID-19 Survivors - online groups

Covid Survivors for Change
covidsurvivorsforchange.org/survivor-resources/

Survivor Corps
Facebook support group:
www.facebook.com/groups/COVID19survivorcorps/

________________________________________________

Grief

GriefShare
There are thousands of GriefShare groups meeting weekly at locations around the world. There’s probably one near you! The program is designed so that you can join the group at any time. You will be welcomed and encouraged.
Email: info@griefshare.org Phone: 800-395-5755 International: 919-562-2112
https://www.griefshare.org/

JourneyCare
Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult challenges in life. The grief process can includes a range of feelings and reactions. Learning the impact of grief and how to cope are some of the best ways to begin healing.
1-844-6-JOURNEY (844-656-8763)
https://journeycare.org/grief-support/group-support/

_________________________________________________

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome - Facebook Support Group
*many have found support and relief in this open group.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Guillian-Barre-Syndrome-Support-Group-118128741585652/

Living with Polyneuropathy CIDP, GBS, & CMT
modsupport@bensfrinds.org

GBS/CIDP Foundation International Support
 866-224-3301 (Must call for information on support group and arranging for a peer mentor).
https://www.gbs-cidp.org/support/

___________________________________________

Limb Loss & Impairment

Amputee Coalition of America Support
888/267-5669
https://www.amputee-coalition.org/support-groups-peer-support/support-group-network/

Central IL Amputees (CIA)
(217)663-8064
http://www.disabilityresourceexpo.org/resource/central-illinois-amputee-cia-support-group/

___________________________________________

Multiple Sclerosis

NorthShore MS Caregivers Support Group
Meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM at NorthShore's Skokie Hospital, Room C (1041A)
9600 Gross Point Road, Skokie, IL 60076
1-312-331-0466
millerfam2145@gmail.com

National Multiple Sclerosis Society- National
www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Find-Support
https://nms2cdn.azureedge.net/cmssite/nationalmssociety/media/msnationalfiles/brochures/msfriends-informational-flyer.pdf
1-800-344-4867

Greater IL MS Society
www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/ILD
1-800-344-4867

Multiple Sclerosis Support Online | MS Social Network - MyMSTeam
https://www.mymsteam.com/

___________________________________________

Lung & Pulmonary

American Lung Association Online Support Groups
https://www.lung.org/support-community/online-support-communities

UNOS Support groups by state
https://transplantliving.org/community/support-groups/

The University of Chicago-Lung Transplant Program
Contact: Fran Hammon
1-773-702-4608

Loyola University Medical Center-Lung Transplant Center
Contact: Susan Long
708-216-5454

___________________________________________

Ostomy

United Ostomy Association of America
Supports, empowers and advocates for people who have had or will need an ostomy.
www.ostomy.org/
P.O. Box 525
Kennebunk, ME 04043-0525
1-800-826-0826
___________________________________________

Parkinson's Disease & Neurologic Conditions

American Parkinson Disease Association support
1-800-223-2732
https://www.apdaparkinson.org/resources-support/

Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Support Groups - Chicago
downtown and also online support groups
1-312-503-4397
https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/neurosciences/movement-disorders/patient-support-and-information/support-groups/downtown-parkinsons-disease-support-groups

_________________________________________

Pediatric & Adolescent Rehabilitation

American Brain Tumor Association-pediatric
1-800-886-2282
https://www.abta.org/about-brain-tumors/caregiving/pediatric-caregiver-resources-center/

Child Neurology Foundation (parent peer support) 
888.417.3435
https://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/support-for-patients-caregivers/

Childrens Oncology Group Support
https://childrensoncologygroup.org/

Family Resource Center for Children with Disabilities
312-939-3513
https://frcd.org/

United Cerebral Palsy Association-National
1-800-872-5827
https://ucp.org/

________________________________________

Spinal Cord Injury

Backbones
618-724-5484
https://backbonesonline.com/

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation support
1-800-539-7309
https://www.christopherreeve.org/get-support

Facing Disability: online peer support videos
312-284-2525
https://facingdisability.com/

GUSU2Cure
info@gusu2cure.org
https://www.gusu2cure.org/

United Spinal Association
1-800-962-9629
https://unitedspinal.org/

Spinal Cord Injury – Gun Violence Survivor Peer Support Group
This is a social/support group for people who have survived a gunshot and are now paralyzed from a spinal cord injury.  
https://unitedspinal.org/new-group-for-gunshot-survivors/
Please request Zoom link at RSA@rochesterspinalassociation.org

Spinal Cord Injury Association-IL
708-671-1808

______________________________________

Stroke Recovery

American Stroke Association - Support Group Finder
1-800-AHA-USA-1
https://www.stroke.org/en/stroke-support-group-finder

Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other (SSEEO)
1-888-988-8047
https://sseeo.org/

Life After Stroke radio Podcast 
Support with Christopher Ewing
Available on Apple, spotify, google, and iheart.
http://www.thestrokechannel.tv/radiopodcast.html

RUSH - Stroke Support Group [no web link]
For caregivers and stroke survivors 
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday on ZOOM, 2-3pm CST
Contact Gail Valadez: 312-563-2994 |  Gail_Valadez@rush.edu

______________________________________

Spina Bifida

Spina Bifida Association
(800) 621-3141
https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/

_______________________________________

Vestibular Disorders

Vestibular Disorders Association support
800.837.8428
https://vestibular.org/support_groups

____________________________________________________________________

You may also be interested in: 

Listing: Support Groups at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Peer Mentor Program at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

___________________________________________________________________

This content is for informational purposes only and may not be comprehensive. Information contained does not imply an endorsement from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and does not replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.  See here  for further details.
© Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
Henry B. Betts LIFE Center – (312) 238-5433

Latest Updates

view all