Support groups can be a great resource for people with disabilities and their caregivers. They help you make connections within the disability community and learn from others’ shared experiences.
Due to the volume of support groups, we can't list them all, but we've offered a large sample below. If you're looking for a certain support group or you have questions, please contact the UPMC Disabilities Resource Center.
Support group categories on this page:
Contact: Lori Crabtree (Lynnanscott@aol.com), 814-684-0836
Location: 708 N 2nd St, Altoona, PA 16001
Contact: Andrea Wright (asd3mom@gmail.com), 724-992-2527
Location: Children’s Aide Society - 350 W Market St, Mercer, PA 16137
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 6 p.m.
Social Group
Contact: Heather Conroy (heather@evolve-coaching.org)
Location: Pittsburgh metro area (locations may vary - go to link or contact Heather for more information)
Please visit the Autism Connection of PA page at meetup.com/autismofpa to sign up for either group. Individual must have an official diagnosis of autism.
Contact: Jamie Upshaw (aucofpgh@yahoo.com), 412-853-0115
Location: Carnegie Library of Hazelwood (5006 Second Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15207)
Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.
Dinner is provided and children are welcome.
Visit the Autism Urban Connections Facebook page for more information about this support groups activities.
Contact: Brandy, 814-949-1905
Location: Station Medical Center, Conference room (use K4 entrance to the left of Dialysis Center)
Date: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Contact: Brandee Riggleman (briggleman.cilscpa@gmail.com), 800-237-9009
Location: 1019 Logan Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602
Date: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 12 - 2 p.m.
Contact: Brandee Riggleman (briggleman.cilscpa@gmail.com), 800-237-9009
Location: Bedford County Library, Asa D. May meeting room (240 S Wood St, Bedford, PA 15522)
Date: First Thursday of the month
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Contact: Michelle McCann, 412-749-2388
Location: HealthSouth of Sewickley, 3rd floor board room (303 Camp Meeting Road, Sewickley, PA 15143)
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 12 - 1:15 p.m.
Contact: 814-889-2141
Location: UPMC Altoona, Bedford room
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 7 - 8 p.m.
Contact: 412-942-4800
Location: Christ United Methodist Church (44 Highland Rd., Bethel Park, PA 15102) OR Bridgeville Public Library (505 McMillen St., Bridgeville, PA 15017)
Date: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Contact: 724-834-6351
Location: Mental Health America of Westmoreland County (409 Coulter Ave., Suite 4, Greensburg, PA 15601)
Date: Twice a month (see below)
Time: First Tuesday of the month from 11am - 1pm; third Thursday of the month from 7 - 9pm
Contact: Butler NAMI office: 724-431-0069
Location: Passavant Retirement Community Center (105 Burgess Dr., Zelienople, PA 16063)
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time 5:30 p.m.
Location: Mental Health Association, Voyagers room
Date: Last Wednesday of the month
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Violet Ludwig, 412-373-7977
Location: Penn State Greater Allegheny, Frable Bldg. Rm 122 (4000 University Dr., White Oak, PA 15131)
Date: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 7 p.m.
Contact: 814-889-2141
Location: Hoss’s Restaurant (621 Valley View Blvd., Altoona, PA, 16602)
Date: Last Monday of the month
Time: 11 a.m.
Contact: Jessica Valko (jessica.valko@healthsouth.com), 412-828-1300 x7710
Location: HealthSouth Harmarville (320 Guys Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Date: Last Wednesday of the month
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Contact: Lynne Gotham, 814-899-3030
Location: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital (143 East 2nd St., Erie, PA 16507)
Date: Fourth Sunday of the month (unless it is a holiday)
Time: 2 p.m.
Additional Details: Consult their monthly newsletter or Facebook page for schedule changes.
Contact: JoAnn McElroy, 412-901-6277 OR Tom & Carol Reid, 412-704-7533
Location: Forbes Regional Hospital (2570 Haymaker Rd., Monroeville, PA 15146)
Date: Second Friday of the month
Time: 1 p.m.
Contact: Karl Mormer, 412-422-2200
Location: UPMC East (2775 Mosside Blvd., Monroeville, PA 15146)
Date: Second Monday of the month
Time: 7 p.m.
Contact: Randy Shreckengast, 724-515-5427 OR Don Davis, 724-276-5234
Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (501 Fairfield Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601)
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 1 p.m.
Contact: Janet Altman, 724-658-8377
Location: Jamison Health System, Neshannock Rehab Center (3410 Wilmington Rd, New Castle, PA 16105)
Date: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 10 a.m.
Contact: Tracie A. Nguyen, 412-232-4070
Location: UPMC Mercy South Side Outpatient Center, Conference Center #1
Date: Third Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Contact: 412-749-2255
Location: HealthSouth of Sewickley, Library (303 Camp Meeting Road, Sewickley, PA 15143)
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 3 p.m.
Contact: 412-828-1300 ext. 2743
Location: HealthSouth Harmarville (320 Guys Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Date: Second Wednesday of the month
Time: 3:30 - 5 p.m.
Contact: Marshall Lee Tempest (tempestml@upmc.edu)
Location: Mercy Hospital East Wing, 7th floor, PT/OT Gym
Date: 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Contact: 814-889-4463 (Physician referral required)
Location: Station Medical Center, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. (call to make appointment)
Contact: Rachael Hofrichter, 412-784-5505
Location: UPMC St. Margaret Conference Center C
Date: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 1 - 2 p.m.
Contact: Patty, 814-889-2141
Location: Access Center, located in the Blair Medical Center, 501 Howard Ave., Building C, Altoona
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Contact: Valerie Bucek (valerie.bucek@healthsouth.com), 412-826-2784
Location: HealthSouth Harmarville (320 Guys Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Date: On a Wednesday each month
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Contact: 724-258-1455
Location: Mon Valley Hospital, Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center (1163 Country Club Rd., Monongahela, PA 15063)
Date: Last Thursday of the month
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Contact: Lori Matthews, 724-430-5212
Location: Uniontown Hospital (500 W. Berkeley St., Uniontown, PA 15401)
Date: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Contact: Kathy Seiler, 412-232-8738
Location: UPMC Mercy, Sister M. Ferdinand Clark Auditorium ()
Date: Second Saturday of the month
Time: 10am - 12 p.m.
Register for this support group's meetings at the UPMC Classes and Events website.
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