Support Groups for Parents of Disabled Children
Disabled children, also known as special needs children, require extra attention from their parents or caregivers. This extra responsibility can be extremely stressful, especially when combined with careers, other children, and financial issues. Luckily, there are a variety of support groups which bring parents of special needs children together, along with experts, in order to provide care, advice, education and understanding.
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Parent to Parent USA
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Parent to Parent USA, also known as "P2P USA," is an organization which sets up one-on-one support groups between experienced parents of special needs children and parents who have questions, difficulties, or who are generally unexperienced. Parents who wish to advise other parents either join willingly or are referred, and then P2P USA sets up individual support groups based on match compatibility between parents. Programs are divided state-wide, with more than half of the states being full P2P USA alliance members.
Parents Helping Parents
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Parents Helping Parents, or PHP, is an non-profit organization based in San Jose, California, which offers both parent-driven local and transnational support groups for caregivers of special needs children. They sponsor and represent a wide range of special interest groups, as well as a large number of local support groups across the country. They also house an intensive catalogue of book and video resources for both experts and parents on topics related to special needs children.
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Meetup
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Meetup, a popular website for organizing all types groups and meetings, has a directory of local groups providing support for parents of special needs children. These groups are usually organized by parents and community members and cover a wide range of needs, anything from general special needs support to support on dealing with a specific disease or condition. Meetup is completely free to join and use.
EParent
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EParent is the publisher of Exceptional Parent magazine, a monthly publication which focuses on the parents, teachers, and professionals within the special needs community. They offer a bookstore, a listing of support groups and organizations, and online access to seminars and talks from special needs professionals. They also spotlight stand-out organizations and cover current special needs news, giving parents and caregivers of special needs children up-to-date information on how to obtain support.
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