SUPPORT GROUPS
Peer support is one of the core services of a center for independent living. Educational topics, social time, and sharing feelings of frustration and joy are all part of the peer support experience.
- Brain Injury Survivors Group
This group meets every Thursday from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm at Disability Network's Kalamazoo office at 517 E. Crosstown Parkway. Call us for more information at (269) 345-1516.
- Spinal Cord Injury Support Network
This group meets occasionally throughout the year in both Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The group has a monthly e-mail newsletter so members stay informed and in touch. Upcoming meetings include September 9, 2008 at 2:00 pm in Kalamazoo and October 14, 2008 at 2:00 pm at Burnham Brook Center in Battle Creek. For more information about the group, e-mail Lula at kalpal2@mei.net or contact Karen Halsted at Disability Network at (269) 345-1516 x63 or khalsted@drccil.org.
- Women with Disabilities Group
This group meets every Tuesday from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm at Disability Network's Kalamazoo office, 517 E. Crosstown Parkway. Call or e-mail Lisa for more information at (269)345-1516 x25 or lwilliams@drccil.org.
- Parkinson's Disease Groups
All meetings are held at the Fountains at Bronson Place in Kalamazoo. Contact Mona at (269) 345-1516 x32 for more information.
Large group meeting/education session: 3rd Friday of every month from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. (see calendar section of this website for topics/speakers)
Small group meetings: Persons with Parkinson's & Caregivers meeting in separate rooms at the same time. 2nd Thursday of each month, 1:30 pm.
Other Disability-Related Support Groups
Following is a listing of other disability-related support groups in the area, categorized by county then listed alphabetically. Disability Network is not affiliated directly with these groups but makes every effort to ensure the information provided is accurate and up to date. Please call or email the contact person for a group before attending. If you find an error in these listings, please contact Michele at Disability Network at mmcgowen@drccil.org or (269) 345-1516.
Barry County
Low Vision Support Group: Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 1:30 pm at the Barry County Commission on Aging. Call Bill at (269) 686-0290 for more information.
Branch County
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group: Meets the 1st Monday of the month from 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Pines Senior Respite Service, H&C Burnside Senior Center, 65 Grahl Drive, Coldwater. Call ahead at (269) 279-8847. Respite care is available on site.
Diabetes Support Group: Meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Community Health Center, 274 E. Chicago Street in Coldwater. Call (517) 279-5335 for more information.
Calhoun County
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group: Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2:30 - 4:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center, 200 W. Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017. Contact Karen Hibbard at (269) 441-6063 for more information.
Arthritis Support Group: Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center, Battle Creek. Contact Jane Chappell at (269) 96602566 ext 368 for more information.
Bi-polar Disorder Support Group: Meets the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center, Battle Creek. Call Fred at (269) 963-4588 for more information.
Diabetes Support Group: Meets the first Monday of every month from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center. Call Jane Chappell at (269) 966-2566 ext 368 for more information.
Fibromyalgia Support Group: Meets the 2nd Monday of every month from 11:30 to 12:30 at Burnham Brook Community Center. Call Jane Chappell at (269) 966-2566 ext 368 for more information.
Low Vision Support Group: Meets the 3rd Monday of every month at 9:45 am at Burnham Brook Community Center. Call Murial Walters at (269) 209-9476 for more information.
Lupus Support Group: Meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center. For more information contact Dorothy Height at (269) 565-0881.
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group: Meets the 4th Monday of every month at 6:00 pm at Burnham Brook Community Center. Call Shawna at (269) 968-8166 ext 595 for more information.
Parkinson's Disease Support Group: Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 10:00 am at Burnham Brook Community Center. Call Jane Chappell at (269) 966-2566 ext 368 for more information.
Stroke Survivor Group: Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am. Location is the Southwest Regional Rehabilitation Center Board Room, 393 E. Roosevelt Ave. in Battle Creek. If you have questions please call (269) 965-3206 and press extension 4333 for Gina or extension 4129 for Samantha.
Kalamazoo County
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease): Meets the 2nd Sunday of each month in room 201 of First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo. Call 1-800-387-7121 for more information.
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Groups:
- 1st Tuesday of each month from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at Fourth Reformed Church, 6339 Atlantic, Kalamazoo
- 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Borgess Health & Fitness Center, 3025 Gull Road, Room 3, Kalamazoo
- 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Portage Senior Center, 320 Library Lane, Portage. Respite care is available on site.
- 4th Wednesday of each month from 2:30 - 4:30 pm at The Fountains, 1700 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo
Amputee Support Group: Meets monthly. Call Theresa at (269) 963-9696 for more information.
Aphasia Support Groups: A variety of groups meet for individuals with aphasia as well as a group for spouse/friends/caregivers of people with aphasia. For more information contact Sandra Glista at sandra.glista@wmich.edu or 387-8064. www.aphasia.org is a link to the National Aphasia Association.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Support Group: CHADD of Kalamazoo meets the 2 nd Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the Gilmore Education Center at Bronson Hospital. Contact http://www.kazoochadd.com or www.CHADD.org. No December meeting.
Blind & Visually Impaired Support Group: Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon at Senior Services, 918 Jasper Street, Kalamazoo. Transportation provided. Call (269) 553-4960.
Blind Starfish Group: A group for people who are blind or have low vision. Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at the Portage Community Center, 325 E. Centre, Portage. Call (269) 383-1544 for more information. Spouses, partners, family members & other interested persons welcome.
Celiac's Disease Support Group: Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Gilmore Education Center at Bronson Hospital. The group is for anyone who follows a fluten-free/wheat free diet because of Celiac's Disease, autism, or any other reason. Call 492-5278 or 342-5278.
Depression & Bipolar Support Group Meetings: Meets every Monday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church (S.W. corner of Romence & Oakland Drive, Portage). Call 599-2782 or go to www.freewebs.com/dbsa_kazoo for more information.
Diabetes: Children's Diabetes Support Group meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month 7:00 pm at Bronson Hospital's Gilmore Center in Kalamazoo. It meets to educate and provide information and resources for young people with diabetes, their families and friends. Contact Windee (269) 649-1777 or mwzwagner@aol.com or Cyndi Brown at cyndigb@quixnet.net for more information.
Diabetes: Comstock Diabetes Support Group meets at Comstock Community Center at 6330 King Highway, Comstock, MI. Contact Sidney at (269) 329-4551 for more information.
Diabetes: P.U.G. Pump Users Group Contact Amy Lohrrmann at (269) 344-5791 for the next meeting site or e-mail her at alohrrman@juno.com This is a fun group that meets at various restaurant sites on a Friday night, around 6:00 or 6:30 PM, every other month.
Diabetes: Portage Senior Center Support Group meets at Portage Senior Center at 320 Library Lane, Portage.
This support group is open to the public and meets the 3rd Friday of each month at 10:00 am. Contact Carol Ebel at (269) 329-4555 for more information.
Dual Recovery Anonymous: For anyone facing substance abuse and mental health challenges seeking recovery. Meets every Tuesday 10:30 am - 12:00 noon at InterAct of Michigan, 610 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo. For more information, call Patrick at 381-3700.
Epilepsy: HUGS - (honesty understanding group support) meets the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Gilmore Center @ Bronson Hospital, 601 John Street. The group is for children and teens with epilepsy and their families. For more information, contact Rhonda Frohriep at (269) 679-2245.
Epilepsy support group -- meets 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month at Bronson Methodist Hospital's Gilmore Center for Health Education, 7 Healthcare Plaza. Call (269) 694-1016 for more information.
Hearing Loss Association – Kalamazoo Chapter: Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month (except May, July, August & December) at First Congregational Church, 129 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo. The meeting room has a loop system for those the a T-switch on their hearing aids & often closed-captioning is projected on a nearby screen. If you need a ride, let us know. Contact kalamazoo@hearingloss-mi.org or howard-potrude@juno.com.
HIV/AIDS mutual support group: Meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Call 381-2437 or 1-800-944-2437 for more information.
Laryngectomy Support Group: Meets the 4 th Saturday of every month at 10:00 am at Oakwood Neighborhood Assocation, 3320 Laird Ave, Kalamazoo. Call (269) 343-0363.
Multiple Sclerosis Support Groups : HOOPLA (Hope On Our Path through Life’s Adventure) meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 11:00 – 12:30 am at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center, 3025 Gull Road, Kalamazoo. Call (269) 382-4991, (269) 668-4248 or (269) 321-0868 for more information.
Muscular Dystrophy Support Group: meets the 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Bronson Gilmore Center Forum Room A. Call Jen Volkers at (616) 459-4331 for more information.
Ostomy Support Group: Meets the 3rd Monday in the months April, July & October at 7:30 pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 W. Milham Avenue, Portage. Anyone interested in this issue is invited to come. Call Don Bregger at (269) 674-8382 for more information.
Parent Network Meetings: Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan's (P2P) parent group meets monthly at the Arcus Depot Garden Room, 402 E. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on the first Thursday of every month. Call (269) 345-8950 for more information. Childcare is available.
Parent Support Group: The Advocacy Services for Kids (ASK) parent support group is for parents and caregivers of kids with neuro-biological disorders & special mental health needs. It meets the first Monday of every month at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 W. Milham Ave. Child care is provided. Call 343-5896 for more information.
Recovery International: for people trying to cope with stress, anxiety, panic, depression, worry or other emotional concerns. Meets Mondays from 5 pm - 7 pm at 2nd Reformed Church, 2323 Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. Also meets Wednesdays from 7 - 9 pm at First Congregational Church, 129 S. Park Street in Kalamazoo. For more information please call Fran at 344-9193 or email jerrfran@sbcglobal.net.
Schizophrenics Anonymous: Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at Pathways, 119 W. Vine Street, Kalamazoo. Call (269) 342-0173.
Stroke Support Group: Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month at 1:30 pm at Senior Services, 918 Jasper Avenue. All stroke survivors, spouses & caregivers welcome. Call Margaret Keleman at (269) 327-9520 for more information.
St. Joseph County
Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Groups:
- Sturgis - meets the 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Thurson Woods, 307 N. Franks Avenue. Respite care is available on site.
- Three Rivers - meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at St. Joseph County Commission on Aging, 103 S. Douglas.
Stroke Club: Meets the first Tuesday of every month from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon at the Wellness Pavilion at Three Rivers Health, 501 S. Health Parkway, Three Rivers. This is an education and support group for stroke survivors and their families. For more information, contact Chris Whitehead at (269) 278-1145 ext. 331.
Van Buren County
Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Groups:
- Paw Paw - Meets the 4th Tuesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Lakeview Hospital, 408 Hazen.
- South Haven - Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at Warren Senior Center, South Haven Senior Services, 220 Broadway. For respite care and transportation call (269) 637-3607.
Visually Impaired Persons Support Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 1:00 pm. Meeting location is the Warren Senior Center, 540 Williams Street, South Haven. For more information call (269) 637-1418.