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SUPPORT GROUPS

Bloomfield. Fourth Friday of the month: Parent Support Group, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, First Congregational Church, 10 Wintonbury Ave, Bloomfield. Contact Sheila Harris at (860) 297-4358 or JP Vincent Family Resource Center at (860) 286-2640 x 112. Sponsored by AFCamP.

Bloomfield. Third Monday of the month: Parent Support Group, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, First Congregational Church, 10 Wintonbury Ave, Bloomfield. Contact Sheila Harris at (860) 297-4358. Sponsored by AFCamP (African American Caribbean American Parents) and PEETA (Parent Empowerment Through Education Training and Advocacy).

Bridgeport. Every Wednesday and Friday on the school calendar: Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School DROP IN PLAY GROUPS,
9:30 - 11:30 AM, Provides a wonderful opportunity for caregivers and children to interact with others in a rich learning environment.
Drop-in playgroup (no enrollment necessary) give a caregiver and child a chance to participate in free play, snack time, and songs.

Bridgeport. Third Tuesday of the month: Parent Support Group, 12:30 - 1:30 PM, Bridgeport Public Library, Bridgeport. Southwest Region - CT Family Support Network support group for Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs. Contact Lisa Sheppard at (203) 556-7317 or lnshep@aol.com for more information.

Bridgeport. Third Monday of the month: Caregiver Support Group, 10:30 - 11:30 AM, Bridgeport Hospital, Education Conference Room, lower level, Bridgeport. Southwest Region CT Family Support Network. Contact Lisa Sheppard at (203) 556-7317 or lnshep@aol.com for more information.

Bridgeport. Third Thursday of the month: Padres Latinos* (For Spanish speaking parents), 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, St John's Family Center,
768 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport. *Minimal Childcare provided-registration required. For more information, please contact Rose Abreu Sanchez: (203) 332-4535 Ext 247 or rsanchez@kennedyctr.org

Cos Cob. Third Wednesday of the month: Birth to Three Parent Support Group, 10:00-11:30 AM, Abilis, Cos Cob.Southwest Region, CT Family Support Network. Contact Lisa Sheppard at (203) 556-7317 or lnshep@aol.com for more information.

Danielson. Last Tuesday of the month: Support Group for Parents of Children with Asperger's/PDD-NOS, 6:30 - 8:30 PM various locations in Danielson.Northeast Region - CT Family Support Network. Contact Mona Tremblay at (860) 928-6514 or monatremblay@sbcglobal.net for information and locations.

Darien. First Tuesday of the month: Pizza Moms in Darien! 7:30 PM Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Pizza moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County area. http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home. We get together informally
and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested, contact Nanette Jordan at nanette618@gmail.com.

Enfield. Third Wednesday of the month: Parent Support Group, 6:15 - 7:30 PM Enfield Child Development Center, 110 High St., Enfield. Contact Kate Faherty at KFaherty@enfield.org for more information and location changes!

Greenwich. Last Monday of the month: Friends of Autistic People. Presentations, informal conversation, refreshments. Christ Church Parish House, 250 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Contact Brita Daranyi at (203) 661-8510 or fap.autismct@gmail.com.

Groton. Third Tuesday of the month: Parent Support Group for parents, grandparents and caregivers of children with an ASD, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Groton Public Library. Contact Danielle Greene at dkg64@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Hartford. Third Monday of the month: Parent Support Group (Spanish), 4:30 - 6:00 PM at the Institute for Hispanic Families, 45 Wadsworth Street, Hartford. Sponsored by PAP. Contact afcamp@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Hartford. Third Friday of the month: Parent Support Group, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, HARC, 900 Asylum Ave., Hartford. Contact Sheila Harris at
(860) 297-4358 or afcamp@sbcglobal.net Sponsored by AFCamP (African American Caribbean American Parents) and PETEA (Parent Empowerment Through Education Training and Advocacy).

Madison. Every Wednesday: Parent Chat Group, 9:30- 10:30 AM, sponsored by Kidsteps, 51 Boston Post Road, Unit 9, Madison.
Childcare provided. Call Kidsteps at (203) 318-3692 for more information or email Marian Roy at mroy@sarah-inc.org.

Madison. Third Tuesday or Third Thursday of the month: Parent Support group for parents and caregivers of children with an ASD, 7:00 PM Meeting dates: Th 1/21; Tues 2/23; Th 3/18; Tues 4/20; Th 5/20 and Tues 6/22. Unitarian Universalist Society, Boston Post Rd., Madison. Sponsored by the Shoreline Region of the Autism Society of Connecticut. Call 888-453-4975 or asconn@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Manchester. Second Monday of the month: Parent Support Group for parents, grandparents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders, 7:00 p .m. Manchester Memorial Hospital. Sponsored by the East of the River Region of the Autism Society of Connecticut. Contact Jean Bajorek at (860) 645-1940 or Bajorek2@cox.net.

Middletown. Second Tuesday of the month: Support Group for Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs
South Central Region - CT Family Support Network Please contact Tesha Imperati at (203) 710-3041 or teshaimp@comcast.net for information on locations and times.

New Canaan. Area parents contact Judi Anders at judianders@sbcglobal.net for meeting dates, times and locations.

New London. First Wednesday of the month: Parent Support Group for parents of children with a disability and/or special health care needs, 6:00 PM. Southeast Region - CT Family Support Network, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, New London. Contact April Dipollina at (860) 271-4371 or adipollina@lmhosp.org for more information and locations.

New Milford. First Monday of the month: Parent Support/Resource Group for parents and caregivers raising children with special health care needs, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. The United Methodist Church, 68 Danbury Road, New Milford. Contact Alice Buttwell: (860) 350-6025 or alicemmbb@aol.com or Monika Nugent: (860) 355-1179, monikan@sbcglobal.net. CT Family Support Network - Northwest Region.

Newington. Second Saturday and Fourth Saturday of the month: Play for All! A playgroup for children of all abilities, 10:30 AM-12:00 NOON. Special needs play group giving parents an opportunity to talk, support and encourage each other, while allowing their children time to play and socialize. Children's Programming Room, Lucy Robbins Welles Library, Newington. Sponsored by the Library and Newington UNICO. Call the library at (860) 665-8700 for more information.

Newtown. First Thursday of the month: Newtown Parent's Support Group, 7:00 PM. For parents of children with an ASD diagnosis. Sponsored by Newtown Youth and Family Services. 17 Church Hill, Newtown. Call (203) 364-1163.

Old Saybrook. Second Thursday of the month: Support Group for Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs, 7:00 PM. L&M Hospital Satellite, Old Saybrook. Contact April Dipollina at (860) 271-4371 or adipollina@lmhosp.org for more information and locations. Southeast Region - CT Family Support Network.

Preston. Last Thursday of the month: Support Group for parents and professionals working with children with an ASD, 6-30 - 8:00 PM.
SECASA (Southeatern CT Autism Spectrum Association, Inc.) Preston Library, Preston. Call the library at (860) 886-1010 for more information.

Putnam. First Thursday of the month: Support group for parents of children with a disability and/or special health care needs,
6:30 - 8:30 PM, John Dempsey Regional Center (DDS Satellite), Putnam. Contact Mona Tremblay at (860) 928-6514 or monatremblay@sbcglobal.net for more information. Northeast Region - CT Family Support Network

Stratford. First Tuesday of the month: Parent Support Group for parents and caregivers of a child with ASD, 7:00 PM.
Sterling House Community Center, Main St., Stratford. Sponsored by the Stratford Region of the Autism Society of Connecticut. Contact Pam Jannetty at alinadrk823@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Torrington. First and Third Sunday of the month: Rhythms of Grace monthly church services for children with special needs and their families /caregivers, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Church of Our Saviour, Plainville on third Sunday. Trinity Episcopal Church, Torrington. All are welcome.
Contact Rev. Audrey Scanlan at ascanlan01@yahoo.com for more information.

Trumbull. Second Friday of every month: Support Group, 1:00 - 2:00 PM. Parent Connections - The Kennedy Center; Autism Project Support Group at The Kennedy Center's Recreation Room, 39 Lindeman Drive, Trumbull.

Unionville. Last Tuesday of the month: Parent support group for parents or extended family members or professionals working with a child with an ASD. Farmington Valley Asperger's Network. Discussions and networking meetings at the Lending Library, Farmington Senior/Community Center, 321 New Britain Ave, Unionville. FAVAN. Call Lee McFadden at (860) 589-0097, e-mail leemcf@sbcglobal.net or www.favan.org.

Wallingford. Additional Support Groups in Trumbull, Woodbridge, Wallingford, Wethersfield, Glastonbury for parents of children on the spectrum. Two groups for adults 18 and over with ASD meet in Wallingford. Group for wives of men with ASD in Wallingford. Sibling support group in Wallingford. Sponsored by CT Autism Spectrum Resource Center. Contact Lois Rosenwald at (203) 265-7717 or lois.asrc@sbcglobal.net
for information, dates and times of meetings.

Wallingford. Second Friday of the month: Adult Asperger's Support Group for Adults on the Spectrum, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, CT Autism Spectrum Resource Center at 101 North Industrial Road, Wallingford. Call Dave Tipping at (203) 484-2937 or e-mail NZ1J@juno.com for more information.

Waterbury. Second Tuesday of the month: Support Group for Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs, 10:00 AM- 12:00 NOONNorthwest Region - CT Family Support Network. Central Park, Waterbury. Contact Alice Buttwell at (860) 350-6025
or alicemmbb@aol.com for more information and directions.

Waterbury. Fourth Monday of the month: Northwest Region - CT Family Support Network Support group for Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs. 6:30 - 8:30 PM, ARC, Waterbury. Contact Alice Buttwell at (860) 350-6025 or alicemmbb@aol.com for more information and directions.

West Hartford. First Tuesday of the month: Sibling Support Group for ages 10-13, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Group focuses on the intense feelings that a sibling may experience when they have a brother or sister with special needs. At Jewish Family Services, Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford. Contact Janice Rothstein at JRothstein@jfshartford.org for more information and registration.

West Hartford. Third Thursday of the month: Sibling Support Group for ages 7-10, from 6:30 - 7:30 PM Group focuses on the intense feelings
a sibling may have when they have a brother or sister with special needs. Jewish Family Services, Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford.
Contact Janice Rothstein at JRothstein@jfshartford.org for more information and registration.

West Haven. First Wednesday of the month: Autism Family Support Group, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Johnson Community Center Upper Level,
201 Noble St., West Haven. Sponsored by the West Haven Interagency Network for Children (WHINC). Please contact Janet Booth at boothjeb@yahoo.com or Randy Brown at (203) 937-3760 for information and to reserve space for child care.

Willimantic. Second Tuesday of the month: Support Group for Parents of Children with disabilities and/or special health care needs,
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Northeast Region - CT Family Support Network. Generations Healthcare, Willimantic. On site spanish translations available. Contact Mona Tremblay at (860) 928-6514 or monatremblay@sbcglobal.net for information and locations.

Wilton. Last Tuesday of the month: Autism Parents Club, 7:30 PM at Blue Luna Restaurant, 1 Danbury Rd, Wilton. A group of parents
(dad's too!) of children on the autism spectrum. Open to parents from all over CT. For more information, contact Patti Sylvia at
(203) 761-0248 or http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.

Winstead. Second Thursday of the month: Parent Support Group, 6:30 PM. Northwest Community College, Winsted. Sponsored by LACASA. Contact Sharon Cable at cablehome@aol.com or (203) 693-9128.


Many towns have organized SEPTA's (Special Education PTA's) that hold informational meetings about special education in general and specific disabilities as well. Most have monthly meetings. Check out the listing to see if there is one near you at www.ctpta.org/membership/septa. Check out the event listings for specific programs as well.