Texas Support Group

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 Texas as complete as possible; unfortunately there are not many groups specifically for SCI in Texas.

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 support group: https://unitedspinal.org/ The NSCIA Rio Grande Chapter can also provide information on starting a support group in Texas.

Rio Grande Chapter
Highlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital

1395 George Dieter

El Paso, Texas, 79936

Contact:

Sukie Armendariz 915-532-3004

Ron Prieto 915-298-7241

College Station

College Station Adults with Disabilities Support Group

This group is just starting. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, individuals with disabilities along with family members, caregivers and support staff are invited to come and hear about the group. REGULAR MEETINGS: The organizers request that for the rest of the meetings, only individuals with disabilities attend.

Oct. 27
Nov. 17
Dec. 1 & 15

Meetings will be held from 6:30–8:30 pm. Light snacks will be served. Please bring your own beverage.

Meeting Place:

College Station Conference Center
1300 George Bush Dr
College Station, Texas

Contact:

Jordyn Frank 214-763-3590 E-mail: jordyn3787@gmail.com

Dallas

Support Challenge Inspire- Support/Networking Group for spinal cord individuals/family

This group meets the second Tuesday of each month on the 2nd floor physical therapy gym of Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation. These gatherings entail education, support, social interaction, sporting events and more! If you are interested in receiving a mail out to inform you of the topics and locations of meetings, contact Lea Stewart.

Meeting Place:

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation
909 N. Washington Ave
Dallas, Texas, 75246

Contact:

Lea Stewart, CTRS 214-820-9578

AIM: Ability in Motion (Parkland Hospital)

A Support Group Provided for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and Their Families

This group meets monthly. Please call for current information. This group assists individuals with SCI and their families to reach the point that disability is no longer the focus of their lives. Information and support sharing between group members, caregivers, health care professionals, and guest speakers will be facilitated to educate individuals with SCI and their families, as well as the public on all aspects of spinal cord injury care, availability of services, and how to maximize the potential for full participation in all areas of life.

AIM welcomes individuals, caregivers, and families who have experienced a spinal cord injury or spinal cord related disease. Professionals anticipated being involved: Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy, Physicians, Nursing, Psychiatry, Dietary, and Social Work.

Meeting Place:

Parkland Hospital

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.

Dallas, Texas 75390-8853

Contact:

Tish Gist, OTR 214-590-8139 Fax: 214-590-2791

Houston

Center for Research on Women with Disabilities

Not a support group, but the center is a helpful resource for those in the Houston area. A research center that focuses on issues related to health, aging, civil rights, abuse and independent living. CROWD’s purpose is to promote, develop, and disseminate information to expand the life choices of women with disabilities . Researchers develop and evaluate models for interventions to address specific problems effecting women with disabilities

Address:

Baylor College of Medicine, Dept of Physical Medicine & Rehab
3440 Richmond Ave, Suite B
Houston, TX 77046

Contact:

800-442-7693 or 713-960-0505
Website: https://www.bcm.edu/research/centers/research-on-women-with-disabilities/