UPDATED MARCH 2016: Raising a child with special needs can be challenging. Find support by connecting with other families, parents, and caregivers in Fairfield County who have kids with special needs.
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
860-739-3089; toll free: 800-445-2722
338 Main St., Niantic
This advocacy agency empowers families to become self-advocates for children with special needs. Parents can visit their website to find a listing of support groups, and CPAC can help guide them towards the appropriate one.
Autism Parent’s Club
Wilton
Patti Sylvia: 203-761-0248; pattisylvia@aol.com
This group, which meets the last Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at John’s Best Restaurant (1 Danbury Road, Wilton), gives parents of children on the autism spectrum a chance to support each other.
Autism Service and Resources Center
101 N. Plains Industrial Road, Harvest Park Building A, Wallingford
203-265-7717
For individuals, families, and professionals involved with autism spectrum disorders. Offers resources, parent support groups for those with children of various ages, workshops, conferences, and other services.
Connecticut Family Support Network
877-FSN-2DAY (376-2329)
The Connecticut Family Support Network is a statewide resource for parents and family members of children and adults with disabilities and special health care needs. CTFSN is committed to helping families, individuals, and professionals find information, resources, and support for individuals who have disabilities or special health care needs.
Epilepsy Support Groups (through Epilepsy Foundation of CT)
Multiple Locations
800-899-3745
Dedicated to improving the lives of people with epilepsy and their families through programs, services, and the five local support groups listed online.
Therapeutic and Family Advisory Services (through Abilis)
1150 Summer St., Stamford
Monica Smyth: smyth@abilis.us
Ida Lupinacci: lupinacci@abilis.us
203-324-1880
This program offers year-round support for families by facilitating networking with other local parents, and provides information about recreation, special education, community resources, and advocacy.
Friends of Autistic People
974 North St., Greenwich
203-661-8510
Nonprofit advocacy organization. A parents’ support group dedicated to bringing about an environment where anyone with autism can be assured of high-quality care. Networking Moms support group meets the last Monday of every month at a pizza parlor in Cos Cob.
Litchfield County Autism Spectrum Association
Winsted
Sharon Cable: 860-693-9128
Robert Beck, Ph.D.: 860-738-6386
This group, facilitated by Sharon Cable (parent) and Dr. Robert Beck (NCCC faculty member and director of the Behavioral Studies program in the college), offers a support group for parents and caregivers of children with autism the second Thursday of each month at 6:30pm.
North Star Support Group for Parents of Children with Disabilities Including Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Developmental Delays
First Congregational Church of Derby
137 Derby Ave., Derby
Cathy: 203-751-2417
A friendly and supportive place to meet other parents, learn from each other, and access resources. Usually meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm. Contact Cathy before attending, as dates and times vary with guest speaker availability. Group events include a yearly family picnic and yearly holiday party to promote socialization of children and their families.
Parent Partnership for Chidren with Special Needs through Kidsteps Family & Children’s Center, a division of SARAH Inc.
1 Commercial St., Brandford
203-453-7592 x108
The mission of the Family and Children Center is to meet the needs of families who are concerned about their child’s social, emotional, and physical development, as well as their educational success. Parent Partnership for Children with Special Needs is held every first and third Tuesday of the month from 9:30-11am at the Women and Family Life Center (96 Fair St., Guilford).
Pizza Moms
847 Post Road, Darien
Nanette: nanette618@gmail.com
Pizza Moms is a support group for moms with children that have special needs. It meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant (847 Post Road, Darien).
Rhythms of Grace
St. John’s Episcopal Church
51 Church St., Pine Meadow
860-485-2545
Locations throughout Connecticut and New York
Comprised of a team of professionals in Christian Formation, Special Education, and Sacramental Liturgics that developed a fun, play-based curriculum for children with special needs and their parents and caregivers that honors the Anglican tradition and maintains a dignified liturgy.
SEPTO Network (Special Education Parent Teacher Organization Network)
Based in Milford, includes multiple CT towns
203-640-8017
SEPTO Network is designed to provide vital information and support, help parents understand special education issues, equip parents to hold schools accountable for effective educational results, and advance the quality of special education services.
Shoreline CT Down Syndrome Support Group
Ellen Nixon: 203-421-3591
rmancuso02@snet.net
A casual and relaxed support group for parents, siblings, and friends of children with Down syndrome in which they gather informally and periodically to discuss current issues and support each other.
Special Education PTA Inc., Fairfield
Nancy Ross, president
fairfieldseptapresident@gmail.com
The association speaks on behalf of youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; helps parents develop the skills needed to raise and protect their children; and encourages parent and public involvement in the public schools in Fairfield.
St. Vincent’s Autism and Developmental Services
47 Long Lots Road, Westport
203-341-4501
Provides children and teen social skills groups, sibling groups, parent support groups, and parent workshops. In addition, the center’s multi-disciplinary team offers diagnostic testing and evaluation, clinical counseling, and educational support.
St. Vincent’s Special Needs Family Center
St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services Family Center, 95 Merritt Blvd., Trumbull
203-386-2743
Family Support staff members combine their personal and professional experience to assist families with specific questions and concerns by offering community resource information and advocacy support, as well as the empathetic ear of someone who has been there. Parent coffee meetings once a month where the center will bring in a community speaker to talk about programs that help parents who have children with special needs; call for dates.
STAR Inc., Lighting the Way
182 Wolfpit Ave., Norwalk
203-846-9581
This nonprofit serves individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and provides services to their families. STAR creates opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice, and personal growth.
Tourette Syndrome Association Connecticut Chapter
617-277-7589
The mission is to educate the general public about TS, to nurture a feeling of acceptance and tolerance toward people with TS in all settings, and promote a strong level of personal support and interaction among families and the community at large. The TSA of Connecticut is seeking volunteers to help out during the restructuring of the Connecticut Chapter. The CT chapter lends an ear to anyone who needs to talk and share experiences.
Trumbull Parents of Students with Learning Differences
tpsld@yahoo.com
203-452-4300
A town-wide parent support group that offers resources and information for children with or without special needs. TPLSD works closely with Trumbull Public School’s department of Pupil Services.
West Haven Parent Support Group
West Haven City Hall
355 Main St., West Haven
Karen Muro: 203-645-4934
karenmmuro@aol.com
The mission of the Parent Support Group is to meet others in the same position, share information, network with one another, and provide and receive resources, education, support, and guidance for special needs children.
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