WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND A TBI SUPPORT GROUP
Living with a brain injury can be lonely. It helps to know you are not alone – whether you are an individual who’s been affected by a brain injury or a family caregiver. Many people who go to a support group express relief in finally finding others who “get it.”
- Be accepted for who you are now – not for who you were before
- Learn information that is relevant and understandable
- Express your feelings in a place where they will be supported, accepted, and understood
- Provide others an opportunity to be understood
- Practice social skills with people who will be OK with “slip-ups”
- Find a forum for problem-solving
- Get a better handle on managing cognitive & behavioral changes
- Discuss and learn about individual and family adjustment issues
- Attend the support group at least twice before deciding if it’s for you. The mix of people who show up at any given meeting will influence the feel of the get-together.
- Introduce yourself to the leader or facilitator and let them know if you have any special needs such as difficulty speaking, hearing or if you just feel shy.
- Try more than one group if you have a choice in your community. Every group has its own style.
Benefits of a Support Group
For individuals affected by a brain injury:
For family members and loved ones:
Finding the right support group:
There are support groups throughout Kansas and the Greater Kansas City Metro area. Support group leadership varies—some are run by individuals who’ve been affected by brain injury, or have a family member with a brain injury. Some support groups are led by healthcare professionals working in the brain injury field. Although groups may receive technical assistance from BIAKS-GKC, they are independent and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of BIAKS-GKC. See below for a list of virtual and statewide support groups.
Facing a brain injury is a difficult challenge. The Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City is here to help. Call 800-444-6443 or (913) 754-8883.
Kansas Brain Injury Support Groups
Due to the constant Changes in Support groups, we recommend calling or emailing the contact person to verify group location and to get answers to any questions you may have regarding the group.
Virtual Groups Only
Name: Survivors and Their Families
Meeting Date and time: 2nd Tuesday
Contact Person: Brent Clark
Phone: 913 -269 2574
Email: tbicoach4u@gmail.com
To join by video: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/supportgroups0
To join by phone: 1-844-855-4444. When prompted, the access code is 455 241 followed by the # sign
IN Person and May have Virtual option
EMPORIA
Name: Emporia State Brain Injury support group
Meeting Date and time: Only meets while the college is in session. Contact for Date and Times
Contact Person: : Emporia State University School of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation
Phone:620-341-5799
Email or web address:
Location: The Earl Center
Address: 1601 State Ave, Emporia, Kansas 66801
In person
Hays
Name: Brain Injury Support group
Meeting Date and time: 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, 2pm-3 pm
Contact Person: Celia Earle
Phone: 785-625-6942
Email or web address: or celiae@linkinc.org
Location: Linc Inc:
Address: 2431 E. 13th Hays, KS 67601
In person
Hutchinson
Name: Hutchinson Brain Injury Support group
Meeting Date and time: 2nd Wednesday of every month 1:00-2:00 pm
Contact Person: Emily Ptacek
Phone: 620-680-0508
Email or web address: emily.ptacek0348@gmail.com
Location: Hutchinson Public Library, Room 2
Address: 901 N Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501
In person /Virtual
Independence
Name: Males Only Brain injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: Meets Third Wednesday of the month 6:30-8pm
Contact Person: Jason Miller
Phone: 816- 509-1463
Email or web address: jasonflc@hotmail.com
Location: CenterPoint Medical Center Room – Auditorium
Address: 19600 East 39th Street, Independence, Missouri 64057
In person/Virtual
Name: Independence Support group
Meeting Date and time: First Tuesday of the Month 6-7:30pm
Contact Person: Brain Injury association of Mo
Phone: 1-800-444-6443
Email or web address: info@biamo.org
Location: CSL
Address: 103 N Main St, Independence, 64050
In person
Kansas City MO
Name: Whole Person Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: Second Thursday of each month at 1p.m.
Contact Person: Sarah Carlson
Phone:
Email or web address: scarlson@thewholeperson.org.
Location: The Whole Person
Address:3710 Main St KC, MO 64111
In person /Virtual: Also has virtual option, Contact Sarh for information and Link.
Lawrence
Name: Lifestreams Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: 4:00 – 6:00, second Friday of Each Month
Contact Person: Audrey Campbell
Phone: 913-945-1215 ext. 4
Email or web address: audrey@mylifestreams.com
Location: Lawrence Public Library, downstairs meeting room
Address:707 Vermont ST Lawrence, KS
In person /Virtual: Both
Zoom Meeting ID: 810 5731 6851
Passcode: 791551
Manhattan
Name: Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: 4th Thursday of every month, 5:30 pm
Contact Person: Carrie Fratecelli – K-State Speech and Hearing Center
Phone: 785-256-0408
Email or web address: TBIgroupMHK@gmail.com
Location: College Avenue United Methodist Church
Address: 1609 College Ave., Manhattan, Kan
In person
North KC
Name: TBI Support Group North Kansas city
Meeting Date and time: Meetings Dates Change
Contact Person: Brain Injury Association Of Mo
Phone:
Email or web address: info@biamo.org
Location: Recreation Parks and Rec Maple Room,
Address: 201 Clark Ferguson Dr, North Kansas City, MO 64116 from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
In person /Virtual: In person contact info@biamo.org: for date and Time
Overland Park
Name: Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: 1st Saturday of each month, 10:00 am – 11:00am
Contact Person: Barbara Allen or Matt Hendricks
Phone:
Email or web address: allen_barbj@yahoo.com, m.hendricks.hr@gmail.com
Location: Mid America Rehabilitation Hospital- Cafeteria
Address: 5701 W. 110th, Overland Park, Kansas 66211
In person
Name: Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting Date and time: Every 4th Wednesday of the month
Contact Person: Briana
Phone:
Email or web address: briabri13@icloud.com
Location: Study Room 1, Johnson County Library (Blue Valley Location)
Address: 9000 W. 151st , Overland Park, Kansas 66211
In person
Paola
Name: Heads Up Brain Injury support group
Meeting Date and time: Meetings are last Thursday of every month 6:30pm -9:00pm
Contact Person: Jeanne Woolsey and/or Rosemary Bergeron
Phone: 913 406-1116, 913-731-1632
Email or web address: rosemarybergeron@yahoo.com
Location: Paola Senior Center
Address: 121 W. Wea St., Paola, Kansas 66071
In person
Topeka
Name: Brain Injury Support group
Meeting Date and time: Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the month, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Contact Person: Faye Miller or Randy Williams
Phone: 785- 207-2606 or 785-232-8553
Email or web address: movingahead2014@gmail.com
Location: Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital, employee cafeteria on the first floor of the hospital
Address: 1504 SW 8th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66606
In person
St. Joseph
Name: Brain Injury Support group
Meeting Date and time: Third Monday of Month at 5:00 pm
Contact Person: Michael Smith
Phone:
Email or web address: michaelsmith@luinc.org
Location: Life Unlimited MERIL
Address: 4420 S. 40th Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503
In person
Wichita
Name: Lifestreams Brain Injury Support group
Meeting Date and time: Fourth Friday 4pm-6pm
Contact Person: Audrey Campbell
Phone: 913-945-1215 x4
Email or web address: amy@mylifestreams.com
Location:
Address :225 N Waco St. Wichita, KS
In person /Virtual: Both
Zoom Meeting ID:993 7436 3899
Passcode: 050399
