Raising a child with autism and ADHD can be exhausting, stressful and overwhelming at times. It also can feel isolating. It’s such a relief when you meet another parent who is also on this journey. They understand and get it. Local autism and ADHD support groups are comprised of parents just like you. Supporting one another is so important. So should you join your local autism and/or ADHD parent support group?
As our son J was growing up, we attended some activities through our local autism support group. When he reached his teens, he was able to attend their summer camp, and he loved it! I would attend the support group meetings from time to time. My one regret is that we didn’t really join the autism support group when J was younger. Being part of the autism community is so important, and I know we would have had more support if we had been involved in the group. We are involved now at an important time when J is now a teenager and will soon be transitioning to a young adult.
Types of support groups
There are a few types of support groups that are available, and they may vary in your area.
- Parent- or peer-led support group – This type of group is established and run by a few parents who saw a need in their community.
- Professionally led support group – This group is managed by a professional patient advocacy group or a local social worker, school or psychologist. This could be a national organization that has local chapters, or a local only organization.
- Online support groups – There are a few online only groups available, and these can be especially helpful if you live in an area that does not have a local support group. There are several available on Facebook.
Benefits of support groups
Being part of an autism or ADHD support group can have many benefits. Those include:
- Meeting other families in your area who are on the same journey and have similar experiences. It’s an opportunity to be part of a community of people who understand what you are going through and help support one another through the good and challenging times.
- Having a safe place to vent your frustrations and share your highs and lows with your child.
- Obtaining advice and ideas from other parents about what has worked for them.
- Providing social opportunities for you and your child to be with others where you can just be yourselves. You may make long-term friendships through a group.
- Accessing information about local events such as training workshops, fundraising opportunities, summer camps, education sessions and more that can provide you with valuable information for your child.
How to get the most out of a support group
How to find a local support group
To find a local support group, first try a search in Google or other search engine for “autism or ADHD parent support groups near me.” That may bring up some listings for you.
If that does not work, try these other sources to find out if there is a local group:
- National Autism Association’s support group finder
- Autism Connect Directory
- CHADD local chapters
- Autism Source (from The Autism Society)
- Your local Meetup
Don’t feel like you have time or the means of transportation to go to a live support group? Try looking for a group on Facebook or one of these online groups:
A support group can provide valuable support in addition to that of teachers, therapists and others on your child’s dream team.
Did you join a local autism and/or ADHD support group? How did you find a group that was a good fit for you? Leave a comment, so we can connect and support one another!
