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.
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. We have endeavored to make the following list of SCI groups in Ohio as complete as possible.
If you cannot find an SCI group in your area, you may want to consider establishing one. The Northeast or Northwest Ohio Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association can help you start a SCI support Group:
Northeast Ohio Chapter, NSCIA
Mailing Address:
Northeast Ohio Chapter, NSCIA
PO Box 934
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
Phone: (440) 442-5550
Fax: (440) 442-5789
Contact:
Jeff Schiermann at jjscpajd@aol.com
Northwest Ohio Chapter, NSCIA
Address:
Northwest Ohio Chapter, NSCIA
13745 Archbold Whitehouse Rd.
Swanton, Ohio 43558
Web site: http://www.nwonscia.org/
Contacts:
Hank Burney at (419) 875-4029 or bjbiii77@windstream.net
Becky Gay at (419) 531-6401 or beckkevn1@aol.com
Cincinnati
BrightSide
This group meets the first Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. and again at 6.30 p.m. in Room E with the same speaker at both meetings.
Meeting Place:
Drake Center,
151 W. Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45216
Contacts:
Linda Dunnigan at (513) 418-4382 or lcdunnigan@cinci.rr.com
Dr. Austin Nobunaga at (513) 418-2707
Cuyahoga Falls
Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute Spinal Cord Injury Support Group
When: Meetings held the 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30pm
Where: Meetings are held at the Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute
405 Tallmadge Rd. Cuyahoga Falls, 44221
(Enter from the parking lot on Tallmadge Rd. and Cook St.)
Meetings are held in the gym.
No cost or registration needed. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information contact: Stephanie Adamov, LISW 330-436-0966
Lima
St. Rita’s Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Support
This group is not currently active but a one-on-one peer support program is available for those wishing to connect with others with a spinal cord injury.
Meeting Place:
St. Rita’s Medical Center
730 W. Market Street,
Lima, Ohio
Web site: http://www.ehealthconnection.com/regions/st_ritas/content/1598.asp
Contact:
Angie Dadfar at (419) 226-9765
Warren
Hillside Rehab SCI Support Group
This group meets the second Monday of each month at 5 PM in the Occupational Therapy room. All are welcome.
Meeting Place:
Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital
8747 Squires Lane
Warren, Ohio 44484
Contacts:
Rebecca Lebron (hospital contact) at (330) 841-3856 or rlebron@forumhealth.org
Rick Ackerman (peer contact) at (330) 889-2158 or bird196@aol.com