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 Tennessee as complete as possible, but currently there appear to be only three support groups specifically for SCI in Tennessee. The Tennessee Spinal Cord Injury Association has temporarily suspended operation.
If you cannot find an SCI group in your area, you may want to consider establishing one. The National Spinal Cord Injury Association can provide helpful information on starting your own group: http://www.spinalcord.org/chapters/listing.php?stateid=43
Chattanooga
Siskin Hospital Spinal Cord Support Group
Meets the second Tuesday of the month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor dining room.
Meeting Place:
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation
One Siskin Plaza
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37403
Contact:
Danny Curvin 423-634-1204
Jackson
Spinal Cord PLUS
This group is sponsored by West Tennessee Rehabilitation Center for persons living with spinal cord injuries, their families and caregivers. Call for specific meeting days and times and location.
Address:
West Tennessee Rehabilitation Center
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital
620 Skyline Drive,
Jackson, Tennessee 38301-3956
Contact:
Kaye Higdon 1-888-425-6930
Nashville
Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support Group
This group meets every third Wednesday evening of the month from 6 to 7:30pm (Belmont Classroom, 3rd floor). We typically have a guest speaker at each meeting. Refreshments will be served.
Meeting Place:
Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation
2201 Children’s Way (across from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital)
Nashville, Tennessee, 37212
Contact:
Carrie Redmon 615-963-4051 E-mail: Carrie.Redmon@healthsouth.com