ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Maine Resources
MaineHealth | Peer Groups - MaineHealth's peer support groups offer a welcoming environment for adults dealing with mental health and substance use challenges. These groups, run by peers without clinical oversight, focus on mutual support and building community. Services include art, LGBTQIA+ support, employment assistance, and more, aiming to foster a sense of belonging and recovery. Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialists, who have personal experience with similar challenges, lead these groups, promoting shared power and social justice.
MaineHealth | Support Groups - Maine Medical Center offers various support groups for patients and caregivers dealing with conditions such as ALS, cancer, chronic pain, infertility, and more. Meetings are primarily virtual, with some in-person options, and cover a range of topics to provide emotional and informational support. For specific group details and contact information, visit their website.
NAMI Maine | Support Groups - NAMI Maine offers free, peer-led support groups for individuals living with mental health conditions and their loved ones. These groups provide a structured, confidential environment to share experiences and gain support. The groups, led by trained facilitators with lived experience, meet both in-person and online, making them accessible and convenient.
Peer Support Group & Visual Gestural Communication - Disability Rights Maine offers a Peer Support Group (PSG) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who communicate using signs and gestures. The group aims to enhance communication skills through activities and is open to friends, caregivers, and families. They also provide Visual Gestural Communication (VGC) classes, teaching non-verbal communication techniques using gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
Regional Resources
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Epilepsy Community Groups - The Epilepsy Foundation New England offers various virtual support groups through their SHARE program, providing a platform for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. The program includes over 35 unique groups each month catering to different needs, such as public speaking, socializing, and specific support for women, men, young professionals, and parents. These groups aim to foster a sense of community and provide resources to help participants manage their condition.
EDS and CTD New England/MA Support Group - The EDS and CTD New England/MA Support Group provides support, education, and advocacy for individuals with Ehlers-Danlos, Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and other rare connective tissue disorders. They host regular meetings, both in-person and via Zoom, featuring top professionals in the field. The group also distributes a monthly newsletter with updates on research and initiatives. Membership includes access to resources and a supportive community for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
National Resources
Disability Trading Zone | Facebook - This is a fantastic nationwide Facebook group for buying, selling, and exchanging various types of adaptive sporting equipment, mobility aids, disability accessories, and more. The group has been vetted and verified by a staff member at Ability Maine. However, please exercise extreme caution when joining online communities to purchase adaptive equipment, as many scam groups exist on Facebook. To stay safe, only participate in exchange groups that have been vetted by a reputable peer or organization.
CareCure Forums - This early-internet style website offers a community forum for support, discussions on research and treatments, and information on living with spinal cord injuries. It includes articles, personal stories, and advice on health, rehabilitation, and adapting to life after injury. The site aims to provide both emotional support and practical guidance to help users navigate their challenges. You’ll need to create an account to access most of their features. There is also an equipment exchange forum on the website, but it takes some effort to locate and requires an account to view.
Inspire | Groups - Inspire.com offers support groups and online communities for individuals dealing with various health conditions and challenges. Members can join specific groups to connect with others facing similar issues, share experiences, seek advice, and offer support. The platform provides a safe space for discussions and offers resources to help members manage their health. Users will need to create an account before they are able to gain access to the group forums.
Pain Connection | Support Groups - Pain Connection, a program of the U.S. Pain Foundation, aims to empower individuals with chronic pain by improving their quality of life, reducing isolation, and encouraging active participation in their treatment. They offer a national network of support groups, evidence-based education, resources for clinicians, and specialized groups for specific populations. Pain Connection also provides educational events and compassionate support to help people manage their pain effectively.
Pain Matters Podcast - AAPM - While this is not specifically a support group, we found that the Pain Matters podcast could be a useful supportive resource for some folks. While this podcast is targeted towards healthcare professionals, chronic pain patients can find some good information as well. Each episode shares the latest innovations and practical applications in pain management, aiming to improve patient care and outcomes. Topics range from spinal cord stimulation and racial disparities in pain medicine to the impact of COVID-19 on pain management.
Reddit Resources
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If you’re not already aware, Reddit is an online platform where users share and discuss content in various topic-based communities called subreddits. It's a diverse forum for news, entertainment, and information on virtually any topic, driven by user-generated content and interactions. The links in this section will take you to different subreddits that focus on chronic illness, disability, and provide community support. The subreddit’s description and/or tagline will be listed beside each link. This is not a complete list, but it will get you started with some of the most popular communities on Reddit geared toward people with disabilities. If you have any additional subreddits or resources you would like us to mention, Contact Us!
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r/accessibility - “Links and discussions about access and inclusion. Both atoms (built environment) and bits (digital accessibility).”
r/AdaptiveSports - “All things adaptive sports and recreation. Join to share your experiences, ask a question, or learn more about incredible sports like power soccer, sled hockey, and wheelchair rugby!”
r/amputee - “...is designed to be a safe place for amputees, their family members, friends, and caregivers to feel welcome and safe to discuss anything amputee related.”
r/Blind - “Welcome to the hub for blind and visually impaired redditors. We are a support community for people who are blind or visually impaired, their friends and family, those who work with the blind, and those who are just curious. Don't be scared to ask (while respecting the rules) and be glad that there is a community for you from retirees to young guns to specialist. We're here for you! Also check out our website: https://ourblind.com!”
r/ChronicIllness - “A place of support for those living with, or affected by, chronic illness. Open and welcoming to all. This subreddit is for social and community support, not medical advice.”
r/ChronicPain - “For the broken, malfunctioning, pained people of the world and their friends/family. Got pain? This is the place to be. Bitching, complaining, whining, and otherwise venting about your condition is encouraged. Stop by the chat and say hi!”
r/covidlonghaulers - “A community for individuals suffering from the effects of COVID-19 longer than the estimated 4 weeks, also known as PACS, PASC, and Long Covid.”
r/Disability - “News, resources, and perspectives pertaining to individuals with disabilities.”
r/dysautonomia - “Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for conditions in which the autonomic nervous system malfunctions.”
r/POTS - “Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia that is estimated to impact between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 Americans, and millions more around the world. POTS is a form of orthostatic intolerance that is associated with the presence of excessive tachycardia and many other symptoms upon standing. Learn more at [Dysautonomia International](http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30)”
r/spinalcordinjuries - “Welcome to the r/spinalcordinjuries subreddit where the community can discuss, share, and help each other. If you need urgent medical advice, please seek help from a medical professional. This subreddit is for spinal *cord* injuries. No one here is your doctor, so do not ask your medical diagnosis questions here.”
r/TBI - “This is a subreddit devoted to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). There is not enough known about TBI's in general, and research is ongoing. Let's provide one another with support, advice, whatever might help.”
r/wheelchairs - “A sub all about chairs on wheels. Here you can discuss your wheelchair, experiences, anecdotes and sob stories, purchase tips, wheelchair sports, accessibility concerns, pitfalls, tips, pictures, wheelchair concepts, travel advice, etc.”