Local Support Groups

Page Index: Apraxia Parent Group, Autism Support Center(ASC), Baskets Support Group (Explosive kids), Concord Family and Youth services(CFYS),
Family Ties, Landmark school, LD / NVLD suppost Group, Metro West CHADD, Wayside's Parent Partnership Program (WPPP),  Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL), Personal Advocacy and Lifetime Support, Inc. (PALS), Parent Support Group for Children with Challenges (PSGCC), Suicide Survivor Support Group, Parents Helping Parents and links to other resources.

Apraxia Parent Group

This support group meetings are held in Saugus, MA and are for adults only.
(No childcare available at this time).  Contact: Beth
e-mail: philipandmarysmom@yahoo.com
Meeting Location: Saugus Public Library, Saugus, MA
Meeting times/frequency: every other month during school year, 4-5 time/year
www.ApraxiaKids.org
NE Aprxia yahoo email list

Autism Support Center (ASC)

Support parents and professionals who expressed a need for assistance finding information and support about autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s Disorder. It is directed by a Parent Advisory Policy Committee comprised of parents of children with autism/PDD.  ASC is a program of the North Shore ARC with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation.
The Autism Support Center (ASC)
6 Southside Road, Danvers, MA  01923
978-777-9135, 1-800-7-AUTISM (MA only)
978-762-3980 (Fax)
asc@nsarc.org
www2.primushost.com/~nsarc

Baskets Support Group

A support group for parents and professionals involved in the care of inflexible-explosive kids.
Meets typically, the first Monday of every month, to provide networking and education.
Andover Chapter of P.T.E.K. (Parents and Teachers of Explosive Kids)
Holds informal meetings, occasionally with speakers, open to parents, relatives, and teachers.
Based on the methods used in Ross Greene's program, which is described in his book, The Explosive Child. 
Contact: Beth Edelstein at: beth@explosivekids.org

Concord Family and Youth Services

(Formally called: Carlisle Educational Institute)
A Division of Justice Resource Institute offers two residential therapeutic schools for girls, a therapeutic high school, a transitional independent living shelter for young adults, a group home for boys, parenting and adoption services for all residents and a day program for local high school aged girls and boys.  Parenting support is for ages birth to age 3.

380 Massachusetts Avenue
Acton, MA 01720
Phone: (978) 263-3006
Fax: (978) 263-3088
www.cfys.org

Family TIES

Parent support groups to help access to useful information to assist with the issues parents of children with a disablities. 
Family Ties collects support group information and maintain a database of these groups throughout the state.
http://massfamilyties.org/parenttoparent.html

Landmark School

Outreach Program
Offers courses to parents and teachers.
P.O. Box 227
Prides Crossing, MA 01965
(978) 927-4440
http://www.landmarkschool.org

The Learning Disabilities Parent Support Group

(formerly our local NLD Support Group)
Meet at local cafe's and bakeries in Concord, they usaually meet on the weekend, in the morning aound 8am.
Any parent who would like to connect with other parents who are navigating through the special education maze are invited to come.

Topics for discussion include taking care of ourselves, strategies for coping and other topics.
Everyone is welcome -- the group is dynamic, warm, and supportive. 
For more information, email:

Ruth Bell: rebell9000@aol.com
Bonnie Polakoff: bonnieboop@comcast.net

Metrowest CHADD

CHADD national non-profit organization serving indivuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disdor (AD/HD).

Metrowest CHADD  our local chapter, support group has meeting held every second Tuesday of the month, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.
(No meeting during the month of August.)
Their meetings are free and open to the public.  They welcome parents, relatives, and teachers, and often have speakers.

Local meeting use to be held at Goodnow Library Meeting Room, 21 Concord Road, Sudbury, MA

(Local meeting use to be held at The Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760
Route 135, one block east of the intersection of Routes 27 and 135, with  Wendy Peverill-Conti, Coordinator)

email: metrowestchadd@verizon.net
You can find your local chapter listed on  CHADD website.
Metro West CHADD Yahoo email list 

Parent Partnership Program, Parent Support Group

Wayside's Parent Partnership Program (WPPP)
A free group for parents of youth affected by mental health challenges.
The group meets in Arlington the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
(The group used to meet in Acton, as of Dec. 2005, due to low attendance has moved back to Arlington)
Many topics and areas of interest will be explored. Supportive environment for parents.
Occasional guest speakers, coffee is avaible.
For addational information or questions, call Anne Sullivan, Parent Support Coordinator:

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
406 Massachusetts Avenue (Opposite Fire Station)
Arlington, MA 02474
Email: anne_sullivan@waysideyouth.org
781-643-2580 x 123

Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL)

PAL is the statewide chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.
They provides support, education, and advocacy around issues related to children's emotional, behavioral and mental health.
PAL is an organization of more than 4,000 Massachusetts families and professionals.
They advocate for supports, treatments and policies that enable families to live in their communities in an environment of stability and respect.

Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL)
Suite 664
Boston, MA 02111
617-542-7860

Personal Advocacy and Lifetime Support, Inc. (PALS, Inc.)

A non-profit organization started by a group of parents with adult sons and daughters with special needs. Their mission is to assist parents and other care givers establish and maintain a lifetime plan for a safe and secure future for their loved one with special needs. They provide advocacy and friendship in the present, and in the future, when primary care givers are no longer able to do so.

Personal Advocacy and Lifetime Support, Inc. (PALS, Inc.)
130C Baker Ave Ext.
Concord, MA 01742
978-369-0025
pals.inc@verizon.net

Parent Support Group for Children with Challenges (PSGCC)

The primary goal of our support group is to connect parents with others confronting similar issues.
By sharing concerns, experiences, resources and ideas with each other.
They strive to form a community of parents who can provide mutual support and comfort.
Meetings are held monthly in Acton, at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School or
in the school library at the Parker Damon Building off Rte. 111.

If you can’t come but would like to be a part of this group, or for further information,
please contact either:

Lynn Armstrong at 978-266-0458 or lynn.armstrong2@verizon.net
Francesca Ricciardi at 978-266-9708 or fricciardi08@aol.com

Suicide Survivor Support Group

Meets at First Chruch Unitarian
The second and Fourth Monday
Alliance Room
19 Foster Street
Littleton, MA 01742
Barbara 978-486-4928
Nancy 978-425-6654

Parents Helping Parents

Their office is listed below, they have support groups all around Massachesstes.
For a list of the groups closest to you please see their website. Parents Helping Parents
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA  02116
(800) 882-1250
(617) 267-8077
email: php.ma@verison.net
www.parentshelpingparents.org/links.html


Resources
Acton/Boxborough SpEd PAC - List of Local Area Support Groups for Parents of Special Needs Children web page

Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line

Free Parent workshops and information, Federation for Children with Special Needs

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