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Support Groups
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About 54,000 Iowans are blind or low vision. If you or someone you know is experiencing vision loss, there are several support groups throughout the state to help connect those with vision loss.
Support groups generally meet once a month to network and share information on topics relating to vision loss. For specific information on a group in your area, choose the town closest in proximity to your home.
- Altoona
- Ames
- Cedar Rapids
- Clinton
- Des Moines
- Dubuque
- Fort Dodge
- Indianola
- Monticello
- Muscatine
- Spencer
- Wapello
ALTOONA
Name: Altoona White Cane Community
UPDATE: The group is currently only meeting by phone until further notice.
Date: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Location: Church of the Cross
1701 8th Street SW
Altoona, IA
Contact(s): Carrie Chapman
515-657-1461
c.chapman657@yahoo.com
AMES
Name: Ames Low Vision Support Group
Date: Third Wednesday of each month
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: VIA telephone; 712-432-5610 ext. 782#
Contact(s): 712-432-5610 ext. 782, Don Wirth 515-451-3779 and Janet Anderson 515-292-8882
CEDAR RAPIDS
Name: Lynn County Blindness Support Group
Who's Invited: Anyone who has loss of vision or has interest in this
Date: 4th Wednesday of every month
Time: 10:00 AM - noon
Location: First Lutheran Church (in narthex)
1000 3rd Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Contact(s): Jonathan Ice
319-298-2919, jkice89@q.com
CLINTON
Name: Clinton VIP (Visually Impaired Persons)
UPDATE: The group is currently not meeting, will start up again after the pandemic.
Date: 4th Tuesday of the month
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Sarah Harding Senior Living
308 South Bluff Blvd.
Clinton, IA 52732
Contact(s): Kathy Youmans Driscoll
612 5th St.
Camanche, IA 52730
(563)-259-8766
(563)-219-6740 (c)
DES MOINES
Name: Blindness Empowerment Support Team (BEST) of Greater Des Moines
Date:Meets by phone on the second, fourth, and fifth Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
Call 605-472-5428, then enter access code 837272 followed by the # sign
Date:Meets in person on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at
Vintage Cooperative of Ankeny, Community Room, 1370 SW Magazine Rd., Ankeny, IA 50023
Date:Meets in person on the third Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at
Vintage Cooperative of Beaverdale, Community Room, 3001 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310
Contact(s):Rosemary Russell, Ph. 515-802-0411 or Mary Scheetz, Ph. 515-778-3433
Name: Monthly Support Group for Visually Impaired Veterans and Families
UPDATE: The group is not currently meeting in person.
Date: 4th Friday of the month
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: VA Hospital
3600 30th St.
Des Moines, IA
Contact(s): Wes Hodgson
VA Hospital
3600 30th Street
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-699-5410
wesley.hodgson@va.gov
DUBUQUE
Name: Tri-State Independent Blind Society
Date: Support group meetings are EVERY Tuesday at 1:30 P.M.
(We have crafts, games, socials, bowling, picnics, bus trips, and other events.)
NOTE: When meals or special events are scheduled, start time will be NOON.
Come make new friends! Everyone is welcome. We are here to help any low vision or
blind person with aids and devices in the Low-Vision Center or large print and
audio books from the Used Book Store.
Any questions, contact the number listed below.
Location: Tri-State Independent Blind Society
1068 Cedar Cross Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
M-F (9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.)
Contact(s): Debbie Gagne
3333 Asbury Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52002
563-556-8746
tristateblind@gmail.com
www.tristateblind.org
FORT DODGE
Name: EyeShare Low Vision/Blind Support Group
UPDATE: The group is currently not meeting, will start up again after the pandemic.
Contact: Carol Flickinger (co-chair)
712-887-1109
INDIANOLA
Name: Low Vision Support Group
UPDATE: The group is currently only meeting by phone until further notice.
Date: 2nd Wednesday in January, April, July, and September
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: The Village
Maplecrest Building, Heritage Room
1203 N E Street
Indianola, IA 50125
Contact(s): Everett L. Laning
805 Robin Glen
Indianola, IA 50125
515-554-4546
elandmt@gmail.com
MONTICELLO
Name: Jones County Vision: A Support Group for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Date: 3rd Thursday of the month for February, April, June, August, and October
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: United Church of Monticello, Church Basement
123 N Chestnut St.
Monticello, IA 52310
Contact(s): Joy Adams,Group Leader
319-480-0898
Ruth Harms, Membership
319-465-3990
MUSCATINE
Name: Muscatine Blind and Low Vision Support Group
Date: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Does not meet January and February
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Farmer's Diner
2300 Park Ave
Muscatine, IA 52761
Contact(s): Gay Hindbaugh
3525 Hwy 22 E.
Muscatine, IA 52761
563-263-4889
563-260-6989 (preferred)
SPENCER
Name: Spencer Area Visually Impaired/Blind (SAVIB)
UPDATE: The group is currently not meeting, will start up again after the pandemic.
Date: 1st Tuesday of the month
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Spencer Public Library
21 E. 3rd St.
Spencer , IA 51301
Contact(s): Alice Dalager
712-262-4783
or
Judy Taylor
712-262-1897
WAPELLO
Name: Louisa County Visual Support Group
Date: 3rd Thursday of the month (Group does not meet during the months of November, December, January)
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Corner Market
340 N. Second
Wapello, IA 52653
319-527-6328
Contact(s): Lois Richers
424 S. 6th
Wapello , IA 52653
319-527-6280
319-850-0848 (cell)
lerichers@louisacomm.net
