Traumatic brain injury affects different people in different degrees, but everyone with TBI experiences similar emotions. Dealing with TBI is challenging for both the patient and his or her family, but sharing your experiences with people who have had similar experiences can help. TBI support groups provide the opportunity to make friends and learn more about TBI.
Different TBI support groups have different focuses, so check out several, if possible, to see which one best meets your needs. Some TBI support groups emphasize learning about TBI, while others emphasize offering adaptive recreational opportunities for TBI patients. Some groups have meetings for patients and separate meetings for caregivers and family members, while others invite any one interested in TBI to the same meeting. Some groups are only for caregivers and family members and not for TBI patients.
We have tried to make the following list of support groups in Michigan as complete as possible. Since support groups change or disband without warning we advise you to call before traveling to the group’s meeting place for the first time. If you cannot find a group in your area, you may wish to start one. Information about starting your own TBI support group can be obtained from the Brain Injury Association of Michigan: https://www.biami.org/ phone: 810- 229-5880
Alma area
TBI Support Group
This group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Coe Township Hall
309 W. Wright Ave.
Shepherd, MI 48883
Contact:
Tracy Crawford 989-773-0138
Ann Arbor
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
3941 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Contact:
James Briggs 734-668-6404
Charlevoix area
Petoskey TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
Community Health Ed Center Bldg, Room 4,
Tip of the Mitt at Northern MI Hospital
Connable Ave., Petoskey, MI
Contact:
Harriet Graham 231-537-4697
Chelsea
TBI Support Group
This group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. every Wednesday.
Meeting place:
Chelsea Brain Injury Program,
Chelsea Community Hospital
775 S. Main St
Chelsea, MI
Contact:
Dr. Dana Bowers 734-475-4138
Detroit
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Meeting place:
Rehabilitation Institute of MI
261 Mack Blvd., Board Room 813
Detroit, MI
Contact:
Roderick Arnold 313- 567-3779
Downriver
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 2 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month.
Meeting place:
Wyandotte Hospital, Room A
2333 Biddle
Wyandotte, MI
Contact:
Sheri Fricke 734- 281-3960 or 734-552-6077
Flint
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
McLaren Rehabilitation Center
Bristol Place, G-4466 W. Bristol Road
Flint, MI
Contact:
Ron Krueger 810-953-9854
Grand Rapids
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.
Mary Free Bed Rehab Hospital
2nd floor conference room
235 Wealthy Street
Grand Rapids, MI
Contact:
Maggie Koch 616-940-0040 ext. 250
TBI Survivors Support Group
This group meets at 7 pm on the third Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Disability Advocates of Kent Co
3600 Camelot Dr. SE,
Grand Rapids, MI
Contact:
Maggie Koch 616-940-0040 ext 250
Holland
TBI Support Group
This group meets at7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, (from September to May).
Meeting place:
3235 N. Wellness Dr. Bldg 2
Holland, MI
Contact:
Scott Southard 616-355-3994
Lansing
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Office:
3498 E. Lake Lansing Rd. Suite 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
Contact:
Brian Beaumont 517- 321-8899 Call M-F, 1:00-5:00 pm
Lenawee Co
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 4:30 pm on the third Monday of the month.
Meeting place:
The Hoagie Man Restaurant,
103 Sand Creek Hwy
Adrian, MI 49221
Contacts:
Mary Forche 517-443-5315
Betty Phillippi 517-263-2401
Macomb area
TBI Support Group
This group meets at7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month. (It will meet the third Wed. in November and December – due to the holidays.) There is also a recreation group with different activities – including dinner/movies, concerts, etc.
Meeting place:
Education Service Center
44001 Garfield Road
Mt. Clemens, MI
Contacts:
Marty Zobrovitz 586-774-0135
Jim Woodman 586-823-9297
North Oak area
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of month.
Meeting place:
Gagliardi Room, Anthony M. Franco Communications Room, Lower Level.
St Joseph Mercy Hospital
44405 Woodward
Pontiac, MI
Contact:
Greg and Karen Wolfe 248-652-7924
Dennis Winchell 586- 651-4334
Southwestern
TBI Support Group
This group meets for the Chapter business meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The survivor support group meets on the first, third, and fourth
Thursdays of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Disability Resource Center
517 Crosstown Parkway
Kalamazoo, MI
Contact:
Bill Short 269-461-3589
Tri-County (Saginaw/Bay City/Midland)
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month.
Meeting place:
Health Source
3340 Hospital Road
Saginaw, MI
Contact:
Mark Wilson 989- 673-5697
Wayne
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month
Meeting place:
Botsford Administration Building
20850 Grand River
Farmington Hills, MI
Contact:
Sol Baltimore 248- 569-3633
West Michigan
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, September through June.
Meeting place:
Roosevelt Community Center
3106 Roosevelt Road
Muskegon, MI 49441
Contacts:
Mark Parrish
231-301-0340
Traverse City
TBI Support Group
This group meets from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
Meeting place:
Memory and Attention Training Center
5123 N. Royal Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Contact:
Carol Lesperance or Maureen Bastian 231-935-0388
Upper Peninsula
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the first Monday of the month.
Meeting place:
Non-Profit Commons Meeting Room
120 W. Baraga Ave, (next to the UP Children’s Museum)
Marquette, MI
Contact:
Jen Elsenbroek 906-439-5148
Ypsilanti
TBI Support Group
This group meets about every two months. Call for specific information.
Meeting place:
Rainbow Rehabilitation Center
5570 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti, MI
Contacts:
Dr. Colin King 800-968-6644
Dr. Mariann Young 248-427-1310