How to Start a Support Group

A support group can be an important resource for people with disabilities and their families. A group can help people with disabilities and their families deal with the sense of isolation that many feel. A support group can also be an important resource for sharing common experiences and resources. What follows are some things to consider as you plan a support group in your community. If you have experience founding or participating in a successful support group, please contact us and share your experience.

Begin By…

Doing Your Homework.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Take some time to research local support groups. Determine whether or not a support group already exists around issues that concern you. You can start by contacting local, state, and national disability organizations.

Soliciting Help.
Find two or three other people who are interested in starting a support group. Getting the group started will require a considerable amount of time and energy. To make the process easier, find people who not only understand the need for the group, but also those who are passionate about disability-related issues.

Emulating Success.
Visit other support groups. Talk to the leaders of those groups. In your discussions, remember to ask about their challenges and how they overcame them. You want to know what made their group successful.

Plan for your group…

What will this group offer?
The first step in planning for your support group is to decide on its purpose. Will the group provide peer support and mentoring, training and information, or activities to increase awareness? At your first meeting, ask participants what they hope to gain from the support group. This will help you determine the group’s goals and establish parameters.

What will the group look like?
Now that you have determined the purpose of the support group, begin having conversations with participants about the organizational structure. Should the group be a peer or professionally led group or a discussion group whose focus is ongoing education of its members? Keep in mind that the organizational structure should support the group’s purpose and help achieve its goals.

Where will the money come from?
A support group can be maintained with very little expense. Make the group’s budget a part of the discussion and brainstorm with members about how money will be raised. Will there be a membership fee? Are there local organizations or businesses that might support part of the budget? Will local businesses provide products that can defray costs? Make sure that members have a say in how the group is supported and then engage them in doing the work to raise the necessary funds.

When and where will the group meet?
Remember to consult with congregations, libraries, and independent living centers. These locations sometimes offer meeting space free of charge. Also consider accessibility of transportation to and from the meeting place and accessibility of the facility where the meeting is being held.

How will you tell others? 
Create a brief flyer that gives the details about the group and its meetings. Make the flyer informative and concise. Inquire about placing an article in your congregation’s newsletter.

Do you want the community to know?
Contact your local media and ask if you can submit a public service announcement (PSA). PSAs are generally free of charge and should contain the group’s purpose, meeting time, and location. Also consider placing announcements in your local newspaper’s community calendar. 

What can you do to support families?
Be clear about whether or not your group offers childcare. Caregivers will need to know if they need to make arrangements for their loved ones during meeting times. If this is an important issue for the group, brainstorm potential solutions and act on one or more of the ideas.

Keep it Going…

How will you know if the group is successful? 
Get to know each member of the group. Find out how they are being helped by participating in the group. Ask them if there is anything that could make the group an even better experience and follow up on suggestions and comments.

How will the work get done?
Engage members of the group by asking for volunteers to help plan and facilitate meetings on topics of personal importance. Group members need to be convinced that the group is meeting a need for them. Once they buy in, this will help ensure the longevity of group as well as give members an opportunity to use their talents and gifts for the good of the group.

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