Family Support Groups

Raising a child or caring for a family member with a disability can be isolating, and connecting with other families who understand your experience can be profoundly helpful. Family support groups bring together parents, siblings, and other caregivers to share experiences, exchange practical advice, learn from guest speakers, and build lasting friendships.

Support groups come in many forms. Some are diagnosis-specific (autism parent groups, Down syndrome family circles, epilepsy support networks) while others welcome families across all disability types. Formats include in-person meetings, virtual sessions, social media communities, and family events. Many groups are facilitated by professionals such as social workers or family therapists, while others are peer-led by experienced parent advocates.

In the Bay Area, family support services are offered by Family Resource Centers (often connected to Regional Centers), parent training and information centers, disability-specific nonprofit organizations, and hospital family support programs. Many of these programs also offer parent-to-parent mentoring, where a veteran parent is matched with a family that is new to the disability community. In addition to emotional support, these groups are often the best source of practical, real-world information about local providers, navigating systems, and accessing services.