Disability groups and networks

Connecting with other people who have a disability, and with their families, can be a good way to get informal advice and support. You can meet others through local support groups, disability organizations or online forums. Reaching out to an organization or community group that supports people with your particular disability is often a good way to make friends, get advice and share experiences.

Support groups and social activities#

Many national and regional disability organizations run regular support group meetings and social activities. Some are also active on social media or host online discussion forums, where you can connect with other people who have the same disability. Many of these groups also offer support for families and carers.

When you are looking for a group, it can help to start online. Searching for organizations linked to your specific disability, or to a broad category such as vision impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual disability or a particular health condition, will usually point you toward relevant networks in your area.

Self-advocacy groups#

Self-advocacy groups are run by people with disabilities who have come together to have their voices heard and to support one another. They work to make sure people with a disability have the same rights, choices and opportunities as everyone else. Some self-advocacy organizations also run conferences and events that bring people together to share their experiences and learn from one another.

Types of organizations you may find#

A wide range of disability organizations exists in most countries. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find groups that focus on:

• Networks and advocacy that represent the rights and interests of people with disabilities to government and the wider community, including organizations led by and for women with disabilities, and for people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Vision impairment — services and advocacy for people who are blind or have low vision, including orientation and mobility support.
• Hearing impairment — advocacy, information and referral for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, including children and young people, and support for participation in sport and the arts.
• Deafblindness and multiple disabilities — support for people living with more than one disability.
• Intellectual disability — advocacy and self-advocacy groups for people with an intellectual disability and their families.
• Acquired brain injury (ABI) — support services and self-advocacy for people with a brain injury and their families and carers.
• Mental health — information, peer support and community mental health services, including support for specific conditions such as anxiety, depression and dementia.
• Communication difficulties — support for people on the autism spectrum, and for people affected by conditions that affect speech and communication, as well as services that promote communication-accessible businesses.
• Learning and education difficulties — support and teaching solutions for people with dyslexia, Down syndrome or other learning disabilities.
• Physical disabilities and long-term conditions — support and information for people with conditions such as spinal cord injury, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, stroke and the after-effects of polio.

Key points#

• Connecting with others who share your disability can offer informal advice, support and friendship.
• Many disability organizations run support groups, social activities and online forums, and also help families and carers.
• Self-advocacy groups, led by people with disabilities, work for equal rights, choices and opportunities.
• Searching online for organizations linked to your specific disability or condition is a good starting point.