FIND A SUPPORT GROUP
Brain Injury Association of Georgia (BIG)- Support Groups
Welcome! Below is a list of support groups currently meeting virtual, in-person including Peer/Buddy Programs offered by universities. Support Group information is subject to change. Please contact the support group before you attend a meeting for the first time or if you have not attended recently. Some groups may take breaks at different times during the year. Always ask to be added to their contact list to stay informed.
Why Attend a Support Group? The purpose of a support group is to learn more about brain injury and available services by meeting with others who are facing or have faced similar challenges. The essential elements of a support group are:
- Gather information
- Share common needs and strengths
- Provide a place to meet new friends and find new connections in the community
- Provide a safe place to find courage and take risks
- Provide an opportunity to socialize
- Provide an environment where positive and negative views can be expressed without being judged
We are encouraging everyone to Live BIG...Virtually. All are invited to attend any virtual support group!
To join, click on the links with your smartphone, iPad/tablet, or computer. If you are using a cell phone or tablet, please download the Zoom Cloud conferencing app.
Weekly via virtual:
- Tuesdays - 4-5 pm: Tuesday Bus Station Committee. This is a support group meeting with survivors from all over the nation. It's a time of fun and laughter! https://zoom.us/j/3249406839
- Thursdays - 9:00 am: Georgia Southern University's "Different Strokes". Online for those who cannot attend in person and at the Armstrong campus in Savannah, GA.. Currently not meeting year round, due to the university schedule. Typically meet for 13 weeks during the Fall semester; 13 weeks during the Spring semester; and 8 weeks during the Summer semester. For more information and zoom link contact:
- Brittany Patnaude, Clinical Instructor at 912-344-2735 or at bpatnaude@georgiasouthern.edu - or -
- Tory Candea, Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator at 912-344-2788 or at tcandea@georgiasouthern.edu
Bi-Weekly via Virtual:
- Fridays - 12 - 2:00 PM: A national Speech-Language Aphasia Improvement Group
Contact Mark Halvorsen, Seminole Spirit Director, at seekinmotion2012@gmail.com for zoom link.
Monthly via virtual:
- First Monday -7 pm: SMClark for Seniors. Contact Soukhy Clark at (904) 885-4426 or at smclarkforseniors@gmail.com for more information and zoom link. Statewide.
- Third Monday - 7 pm: Peace of Mind Brain Injury Support Group (survivors and caregivers)- Contact Cassandra Palmer. Forsyth/N Fulton County/Cumming and statewide. To register, click here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register
- Second Tuesday - 7 pm: Veterans, Responders, Government Service Agents (VRGSA) Brain Injury Support Group
Click here to register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register
- Second Wednesday - 7pm: BIAG Caregivers Connect Support Group - CAREGIVERS ONLY -Statewide group focused on care advocates of brain injured survivors. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87274823559. For the Saturday hybrid meeting, use this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register
- Last Wednesday - 6:30-7:30 pm: WellStar Inpatient Rehab/ North Fulton Hospital. Online only. Stroke survivor group. Contact Virginia Cunningham at virginia.cunningham@wellstar.org for more information at for zoom link. North Fulton County region & statewide
- Second Thursday - 5 pm: Side by Side Clubhouse CAREGIVERS ONLY- contact Bill Francis at bill@sidebysideclubhouse.org or at 770-469-9355 for Zoom link. Dekalb/Stone Mountain region and statewide.
- Third Thursday - 6:30 pm: The Young and Restless in Atlanta Young (at heart) Stroke/TBI Peer Engagement Group https://emory.zoom.us/j/97106460800 Contact- Roger L Brathwaite (678) 804-5995 roger.brathwaite@mac.com Dekalb/Fulton region & statewide
- Fourth Thursday - 11:00 – 12:00 pm: Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Stroke Survivors’ Club. Any questions, please call Sherrill Rucker-Peoples at (404) 712-5512. Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here: https://emoryhealthcare.zoom.us/j/87959007798 DeKalb/Fulton County region & statewide
- First Friday -1:30 – 2:30 pm: New Beginnings BI Support Group, Annandale Village- Gwinnett, Contact Sue Edmonds psueedmonds@gmail.com for Virtual Invite. Gwinnett County/Suwanee & statewide
In-Person:
Augusta and Richmond County region
- Second Thursday - 6 pm: Augusta Brain Injury Support Group. Meet in-oerson at NeuroRestorative Georgia, 3648 Walton Way Ext, Augusta, GA 30909. Contact Marti Hanson for more information at LoysMartina.Hanson@sevitahealth.com
Cobb and surrounding counties:
- Every Friday Social: Unlimited Possibilities. Breakfast social every Friday at 10am - IHOP, 1950 Cobb Pkwy., NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152
- First Tuesday of each Month: Unlimited Possibilities. Monthly on the first Tuesday at 7 pm at First Step Physical Therapy, 965 Piedmont Road, Suite 200, Marietta, GA, 30066. All are invited to attend. Contact Kelly Campbell at (678) 677-2589 or kellymc620@gmail.com
Coweta and surrounding counties:
- Last Tuesday of each Month at 2-3 pm: Encompass Health FOR OLDER STROKE SURVIVORS. For more information and directions, email marsha.morgan@encompasshealth.com or call (678) 552-6253. Located at Encompass Health
Chatham and surrounding counties:
- Third Thursday of each Month at 5:30-6:30: Grey Matters Support Group. Memorial Health, 4700 Waters Avenue, Building 100, 3rd floor, Savannah, GA 31405.
- For registration and questions, please contact Jennifer Jolley, Speech Therapist at (912)350-7274 or jennifer.jolley@hcahealthcare.com
**PLEASE NOTE: Support Groups listed are for your information only and to assist you in locating a group. Support groups have been established and are run by persons with brain injury, family, professionals and/or staff from other organizations serving people with brain injury and do not necessarily reflect the views or official position of BIAG. As social media grows, so does the ability to locate groups on-line, Facebook … etc. Use caution with sharing personal information
If you are interested in starting a support group and consideration for Brain Injury Association of Georgia affiliation, please send an email of interest to our Support Group Liaison Roger Braithwaite at gethelp@biaga.org
Support Groups, which are volunteer administered, provide an opportunity for those individuals and family members affected by brain injury not only to learn more about brain injury but to be present in a safe and encouraging venue to discuss the challenges they face.
Brain Injury Identification Card - It is recommended that brain injury survivors carry with them an ID Card that helps them share with others in time of crisis how their injury and challenges affects them. The card quickly identifies who to call for more information or help; helps 1st responders or law enforcement identify them as an individual with a brain injury. Click HERE
PEER and BUDDY SUPPORT PROGRAMS at Universities and other
Georgia State University
BrainSignal Peer Support Meetings
synapsegsu@gmail.com
Synapse at Georgia State University (formerly BrainSignal at GSU). Our mission is to provide a powerful social support network for individuals with brain injury through the facilitation of peer support groups, a buddy program, and guest speaker events featuring physicians or researchers to spread awareness about brain injury.
Throughout this semester, we plan to host multiple peer support meetings to provide a safe space for individuals affected by brain injury to interact and connect with each other. During these meetings, individuals may share their journeys and learn about various topics discussed.
Our first peer support meeting will be Saturday, October 1st, 2022 from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM and we would like to invite you to attend our meeting. Please refer to the flyer for more information. Here's the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/sMoU8S9ziucff2fP9
BrainSignal Peer Support Meetings
synapsegsu@gmail.com
Synapse at Georgia State University (formerly BrainSignal at GSU). Our mission is to provide a powerful social support network for individuals with brain injury through the facilitation of peer support groups, a buddy program, and guest speaker events featuring physicians or researchers to spread awareness about brain injury.
Throughout this semester, we plan to host multiple peer support meetings to provide a safe space for individuals affected by brain injury to interact and connect with each other. During these meetings, individuals may share their journeys and learn about various topics discussed.
Our first peer support meeting will be Saturday, October 1st, 2022 from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM and we would like to invite you to attend our meeting. Please refer to the flyer for more information. Here's the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/sMoU8S9ziucff2fP9
Emory Synapse
Emory College of Arts and Sciences
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to encourage participant safety, we will be holding peer buddy and support meet ups over Zoom. Please email emorysynapse@gmail.com for the link to join or call 404-919-5753 for an update to our program.
The mission of Synapse is to provide individuals who are living with brain injury the opportunities to connect with and learn from one another in order to improve their access to resources. Synapse also aims to provide students with opportunities to serve as community leaders while learning about the patient perspective of living with a brain injury. We hope to accomplish these goals through our three core programs. Through these staple events, we hope to foster a network of patients, students, faculty, and physicians to spread awareness of the resources and needs of those living with brain injury as well as their overall well-being.
Learn more click HERE
Three Core Programs include:
Peer Support Groups: Bringing together individuals with brain injury, allowing them to share experiences and resources with each other. During COVID we will meet virtually, contact us for more information.
Buddy Program: We pair brain injured individuals with a buddy. These buddies can serve as mentors, friends and role models. While before we met in person, sadly due to the COVID 19 epidemic we encourage all current buddies to maintain contact virtually through an online platform. Contact us for more information.
Lectures and Events: Synapse brings in physicians, researchers, and other professionals to inform and educate those with a brain injury and the broader community.
Emory College of Arts and Sciences
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to encourage participant safety, we will be holding peer buddy and support meet ups over Zoom. Please email emorysynapse@gmail.com for the link to join or call 404-919-5753 for an update to our program.
The mission of Synapse is to provide individuals who are living with brain injury the opportunities to connect with and learn from one another in order to improve their access to resources. Synapse also aims to provide students with opportunities to serve as community leaders while learning about the patient perspective of living with a brain injury. We hope to accomplish these goals through our three core programs. Through these staple events, we hope to foster a network of patients, students, faculty, and physicians to spread awareness of the resources and needs of those living with brain injury as well as their overall well-being.
Learn more click HERE
Three Core Programs include:
Peer Support Groups: Bringing together individuals with brain injury, allowing them to share experiences and resources with each other. During COVID we will meet virtually, contact us for more information.
Buddy Program: We pair brain injured individuals with a buddy. These buddies can serve as mentors, friends and role models. While before we met in person, sadly due to the COVID 19 epidemic we encourage all current buddies to maintain contact virtually through an online platform. Contact us for more information.
Lectures and Events: Synapse brings in physicians, researchers, and other professionals to inform and educate those with a brain injury and the broader community.
Best Buddies in Georgia
georgia@bestbuddies.org
Best Buddies International Headquarters
Expansion Team: Georgia
100 Southeast Second Street, Suite 2200
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 1-800-89-BUDDY (28339)
BESTBUDDIES.ORG/GEORGIA
Director, Mission Advancement (GA) – Katie Shahzade
Best Buddies is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living. Best Buddies serves, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
One-on-One Friendship Programs click HERE
georgia@bestbuddies.org
Best Buddies International Headquarters
Expansion Team: Georgia
100 Southeast Second Street, Suite 2200
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 1-800-89-BUDDY (28339)
BESTBUDDIES.ORG/GEORGIA
Director, Mission Advancement (GA) – Katie Shahzade
Best Buddies is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living. Best Buddies serves, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
One-on-One Friendship Programs click HERE
© Brain Injury Association of Georgia.
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Mailing address:
2300 Bethelview Rd., Ste 110-343 Cumming, GA 30040 Our direct number: 404-712-5504 Email: gethelp@biaga.org
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