Learning to cope with a spinal cord injury may be the biggest challenge ever faced by an SCI patient and his or her family. It is good to know that you are not alone in such a difficult situation. SCI support groups provide the opportunity to make friends with people undergoing similar challenges and also offer the opportunity to learn more about SCI and how to deal with it.
Different SCI groups have different focuses. For example, some groups focus on helping people recently injured cope with their altered lifestyle, while other groups focus on providing recreational activities for people with SCI. If you have the opportunity, investigate several SCI groups before deciding which you want to join. Some people may find that they benefit from belonging to more than one group.
We have endeavored to make the following list of SCI groups in Massachusetts as complete as possible. Because support groups change or disband without notice, please call ahead to get the group’s latest information before you make a trip to their meeting place.
If you cannot find an SCI group in your area, you may want to consider establishing one. The Greater Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association offers helpful information on starting your own group:
Greater Boston Chapter, NSCIA-HealthSouth
New England Rehabilitation Hospital
Two Rehabilitation Way
Woburn, Massachusetts, 01801
Contact: Kevin Gibson, Chapter Coordinator 781-933-8666
Fax: 781-933-0043
E-mail: sciboston@aol.com
Website: sciboston.com
Boston
BMC Support/Discussion Group Meeting
This group meets at 4 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
Boston Medical Center
7 West-Harrison Ave Campus
Boston, Massachusetts
Contact:
617-414-5000
Spaulding Support/Discussion Group Meeting
This group meets at 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Spaulding Rehab Hospital
125 Nashua Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Contact:
Betsy Pillsbury 857-222-5123
Springfield
Mercy Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Support Group
These meetings offer spinal cord injury survivors, their families and friends the opportunity to share experiences, challenges and successes in a supportive, caring environment. The group meets on the last Tuesday of every month. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
Mercy Medical Center’s Deliso Conference Center (lower level)
299 Carew Street
Springfield, Massachusetts
Contact:
Sharon Abdalla 413-748-6892
Westborough
Whittier Westborough Support Group Meeting
This group meets at 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
150 Flanders Road
Westborough, Massachusetts
Contact:
Deb 508-871-2000 ext. 2165