Traumatic brain injury survivors face a variety of different issues. While everyone with TBI has different challenges, depending on the severity of their injury, other people undergoing similar challenges can best understand the problems you are facing. TBI support groups provide the emotional support TBI patients and their families need to tackle the obstacles of living with a traumatic brain injury. Support groups are a wonderful way to make new friends and to learn about TBI.

Different TBI support groups focus on different aspects of coping with TBI. For example, some groups offer special separate meetings for the family members and caregivers of TBI patients, while other groups have one meeting for both the TBI patient and his or her family. Some groups focus on helping new TBI patients adjust to their new lifestyle, while other groups focus on offering adaptive recreational activities for people with TBI. Some support groups offer support for people with either TBI or SCI and several support groups offer help to people with any form of physical disability. Some groups are for veterans suffering from a TBI acquired in combat; Connecticut has three veterans TBI support groups. It is a good idea to check out several groups before deciding which one to join; some people find it helpful to belong to more than one group.

We have tried to make the following list of TBI support groups in Connecticut as complete as possible. Since groups change meeting places and meeting times and may disband without notice, we advise you to call ahead before visiting a group’s meeting place for the first time.

Connecticut residents are fortunate to have several support groups available to them; many of these groups are sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut. If you cannot find a TBI support group, you may want to consider starting your own; the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut can provide helpful information and support for people starting their own support group. Their website is: http://www.biact.org/support_groups.html

Bridgeport

Social Group for TBI survivors

This group meets the second Wednesday of the month from 10 to 12 p.m.

Meeting place:

Wahlstrom Residence
165 Ocean Terrace
Bridgeport, Connecticut

Contact:

Diana Casey 203-561-3952

Cheshire

Support Group for Caregivers

Call for more information

Contact: Jim Pier 203-272-6007

Danbury

Mild Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Main Street Physical Rehab (Upper Level)

Contact: Lynn Yessian 203-797-7597

Danielson

TBI Support Group

This is a new group which is scheduled to start meeting in September 2009. Membership is open to all interested in TBI. The plans are for the group to meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

The Supported Living Group
128 Wauregan Road
Danielson, Connecticut

Contacts:

Amanda Van DeWage 860-774-3400
Denna Niedzwiecki

Enfield

ABI/Stroke

This group is for people with traumatic brain injury and for people who have suffered brain damage from a stroke. The group meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.

Meeting place:

Enfield Senior Center
299 Elm. St.
Enfield, Connecticut

Contacts:

Sandie Pino 860-896-3406
Stanley Ryjoch 860-745-0402

Hartford

Support Group for People with Brain Injury who are working

If you are working while coping with the challenge of brain injury, it is great to be able to talk with other brain injury survivors who are also coping with work and TBI. This group, sponsored by BIAC, meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please call ahead of time to let facilitator know that you will be attending the meeting.
Meeting place:
BIAC Conference Room
333 East River Drive, Suite 106,
East Hartford, CT 06108

Contact:

Nicole Greatorex at 860-721-8111, Extension 311.

Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital Caregiver Support Group

This group is facilitated by Dr. Michelle A. Brisman, Ph. D. The group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.

Meeting place:
Mt. Sinai
490 Blue Hills Avenue
Hartford, CT 06112,

Contact:

1-860-714-3390

Support Group for TBI

Everyone with an interest in TBI is welcome to attend this group’s meetings which are held on the first Wednesday of every month except July and August. Meetings are from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Trinity College
Life Science Center, Room 133
Hartford, Connecticut

Contacts:

Sarah Raskin 860-297-2342

Combat Veterans with Brain Injury

This group for veterans meet every other Thursday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Call for more details.

Meeting place:

Hartford Vet Center in Rocky Hill
25 Elm Street

Contact:

Thom Michaels 860-563-8800

Manchester

TBI Support Group

This group is open to anyone interested in TBI. It meets from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month except August and December.

Meeting place:

Manchester Memorial Hospital

Contacts:

Paul Zelinsky Drew or Terry Covell 860-742-1647

Middletown

TBI Support Group

This group is open to anyone interested in TBI. It meets on the third Monday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Connecticut Valley Hospital, Page Hall

Contacts:

Amy Paloski 860-262-5527
Tracey Sondik 860-262-5602

Mystic

Mystic area Support Group

This group meets on the first Monday of each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Meeting place:

Mystic/Noank Library
40 Library St.
Mystic, CT. 06355

Co-facilitators: Joel Ackerman, 860-535-0477 and Jerry Wilson, 860-510-0165

New Britain

This group is open to anyone with an interest in TBI. It meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. Call for details.

Meeting place:

Hospital for Special Care

Contacts:

Dennis Johnston 860-223-2761 ext. 3351
Scott Moore 203-233-2129

New Haven

New Haven Veterans Brain Injury Support Group

This group which is one of three Connecticut TBI support groups for veterans currently meets on the third Monday o f each month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The group is bilingual. The group is devoted to Combat Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, who discuss issues significant to TBI and support each other. Guest speakers and other activities are also scheduled for some meetings.

Meeting place:

New Haven Vet Center
141 Captain Thomas Boulevard
West Haven, CT 06516 (The entrance and parking are on the side of the building)

Group facilitators:

Oscar Velazquez 203-932-9899 or email oscar.velazquez@va.gov
Gabon Kountze 203-500-2129 email gabor.kautzner@va.gov.

New Hartford

This group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month except August.

Meeting place:

New Hartford Fire House

Contacts:

Marshal Janes 860-379-7858
Zachary Mastrocola 860-248-9273

New London

New London Brain Injury Support Group of the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital

This group frequently sponsors social events as well as meetings. Call for more information. It is open to anyone interested.

Contact:

Christa Rosado 860-442-0711 ext. 2246

Debbie Odom 860-237-5457

Norwalk

TBI Support Group

This is open group for anyone interested in TBI. It meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Norwalk Hospital, first floor Rehab area

Contacts:

Pam Corker 203-966-5445

Norwich

Spouse/Significant Other Support Group

Coping with the brain injury of someone you love is tough, especially if that person is your partner in life. Suddenly, things have changed and you old way of relating is facing challenges. Talking with others going through similar experiences can help. This group, sponsored by BIAC, invites you to come and share your experiences with people who will understand. The group meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m.

Meeting place:

S.E. Mental Health Authority
401 West Thames Street, Bldg. 301
Norwich, Connecticut 06360

Facilitators: Sage Cochrane, BIAC 860-721-8111 ext.306 or toll free 800-278-8242 ext. 306
Patti Frates, spouse of a TBI survivor 860-8220-8108 momfrates@sbcglobal.net

TBI Survivors Only Support Group

This group restricts membership to only TBI survivors, but holds a separate meeting for Caregivers in another room on the day of the meeting. The group meets on alternating Thursdays throughout the year from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

S.E. Mental Health Authority
401 West Thames Street, Bldg. 301
Norwich, Connecticut 06360

Contacts:

Peter Gergler 860-859-4604
Patricia Rose 860-376-2049

Open TBI Support group

This group is open to anyone with an interest in TBI and it meets on the first Thursday of the month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

William W. Backus Hospital in the Medical Office Building

Contacts:

Beth Conley 860-889-8331 ext. 4060
Richard Suckau 860-887-5931

Combat Veterans with Brain Injury Support Group

One of three groups in Connecticut especially for vets with TBI, this group meets every other Monday from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

Norwich Vet Center
2 Cliff Street

Contacts:

Rob Cochran 860-464-2143
Don Staub 860-887-1755

Putnam

Open Support Group for TBI

This group meets at 6 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

Meeting place:
Day Kimball Hospital, Conf. rm. 3

Contacts:

Amy LaFleur 860-576-0161
Dan Marcotte 860-963-6322

Oxford

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month.

Meeting place:

Employment Options Learning Center

Contacts:

Richard Kiley 203-267-3810
Keith Iodice 203-275-6196

Stamford

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

Goodwill Center
970 High Ridge Road
Stamford, Connecticut

Contact:

Diana Casey 203-561-3952

Stratford

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Disability Resource Center—please call for directions.

Contacts:

Sue Rhode 203-380-4672
Walt Valites 203-380-1004

Vernon

ABI/Stroke Support Group

This group for all ABI survivors including those suffering brain damage from stroke meets from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month except August.

Meeting place:

VNHSC, Board Room 1

Contacts:

Linda Bissel 860-872-9163

Waterbury

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on the last Thursday of the month. Call for details.

Meeting place:

Waterbury Hospital—Bizzozero Dining Room

Contacts:

Jennifer Hannah 203-575-8366
Stephen Sarfaty 203-271-3809

Willimantic

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets from noon to 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.

Meeting place:
Project Genesis—call for directions

Contacts:

Christi Thomas 860-456-1698

Windsor

Open TBI Support Group

This group meets from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

Meeting place:

The Easter Seals Rehab Center

Contact:

Su Stanton 860-714-9500 ext. 53542

Woodbridge

Acquired Brain Injury/12 Step Support Group

This group which is co-sponsored by the Kennedy Center in Trumbull and BIAC offers a true 12-step program to people coping with both acquired brain injury and an addiction. Meets will be each Friday from 6: 30 to 8:00 p.m.

Meeting place:

7 Research Drive
Woodbridge, Connecticut

Contact:

Morgan Leary 203-365-8522 ext. 237
Frank Wargo 203-396-9547
Sage Cochrane, BIAC 860-721-8111 ext. 306 or toll free 800-278-8242 ext. 306