Parent Support, Playdates and Social Networking

Parent Support Meetings, Playgroups and Social Networking for Individuals with Special Needs: Events and Requests to Arrange

This is intended as a space to share information about parent support groups and playgroups for children and individuals with special needs organized by parents and caregivers across Connecticut. Please contact Shoreline Special Parents to list either an event, or a request for interested parents and caregivers to join you in organizing a support group or playdate. Events may be organized by age range, location, special need, or area of interest, for example (e.g., transition planning, birth to three services, new to the area, etc.). Hopefully the space will grow and become a useful forum for planning and growing new friendships.

PLAYGROUPS, SOCIAL GROUPS AND SUPPORT MEETINGS: REQUESTS TO ARRANGE

There is community interest in arranging playdates or a playgroup in the Fairfield area. Please respond in the comments to coordinate!

SCHEDULED PLAYGROUPS, SOCIAL GROUPS AND SUPPORT MEETINGS*

ASRC Support Group for individuals 20-40 with ASD (Wallingford) Group is intended for adults who live independently or semi-independently to discuss a variety of issues, including workplace dynamics, dating and stress. See the link above or contact 203-265-7717 for details.

Brady’s Brigade Autism Support Group (Quaker Hill). Meets twice per month. Themed, free events are generally included on the Shoreline Special Parents calendar, or visit the Brady’s Brigade Facebook page for more information.

Club Tuesday (New Caanan). Held at Garelick & Herbs, these are social events for teens and young adults with special needs and their families to meet, grab a bite and socialize in a private, casual environment. Details here or you can email Fran.Sheffmauer@gmail.com.

Darien Pizza Moms (Darien). Monthly dinner meetings for parents of children with special needs in the Darien area for support and networking. Details here or contact Nanette Jordan at nanette618@gmail.com.

Asperger Parents/Grandparents Support Group (Old Saybrook). Meets monthly and hosts topical discussions. See details here. 

Autism Parents Club of Fairfield County (Wilton). Meets monthly. Contact pattisylvia@aol.com for more information, or click here.

Connecticut Family Support Network coordinates and shares information regarding multiple support and social groups throughout the state, listed on their calendar. Groups are listed below, by type and location, and contact details are in the linked calendar.

Social Recreational Groups for adults with ASD (Wauregan), weekly on Mondays. More information available here.

Parent support group (“coffee club”) (Glastonbury), meeting at the local Panera. Details in the CTFSN calendar.

Family Focus Partnership meetings for family members of individuals with special needs and providers (Danbury). Additional information available here or email kscaplen@usmhs.org. Additional groups are in process.

L&M Parents Group for parents of children with special needs (hosts speakers, at times) (New London). Details in the CTFSN calendar. 

Danbury Area Autism Parent Group (Bethel); meetings are monthly. Details in the CTFSN calendar. 

Torrington LICC (parent group); contact peluso@educationconnection.org for details, or visit the CTFSN calendar. 

Care for the Caregiver Parent Group (Bridgeport); basic details available here, though the flier is outdated. 

East Lyme Area SEPTO (Niantic); meetings are held monthly. See details here and in the CTFSN calendar. 

Focus on Families with Older Teens and Adults (transition and adult focus; location not specified); contact pstavola@ctfsn.org for more details or see the CTFSN calendar. 

Glastonbury SEPTA meetings are monthly. For more information, click here.

Children’s Therapy Services Parent Group (Waterbury); for more details, contact jackcts01@yahoo.com or see the group FB page. Group babysitting is available upon request.

*Some “support” or parent meetings (SEPTO, SEPTA, others as indicated) also include teachers or other providers. Others are purely parent/caregiver support meetings.