List items for Support Groups - Accordion List
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.
Name: Altoona White Cane Community
UPDATE: Future meeting dates will be finalized after the May 6th meeting.
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Church of the Cross
1701 8th Street SW
Altoona, IA
Contact(s): Carrie Chapman
515-657-1461
c.chapman657@yahoo.com
Name: Ames Low Vision Support Group
Date: Third Wednesday of each month
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Bethesda Lutheran Church,
1517 Northwestern Ave., Ames, IA 50010
or VIA telephone; 712-432-5610 (ext. 782)
Contact(s): Don Wirth: 515-451-3779
Janet Anderson: 515-292-8882
Name: Lynn County Blindness Support Group
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 (land), 319-423-5982 (cell)
iceje89@gmail.com
Anyone with a loss of vision or interested in this is welcome.
Name: Clinton VIP (Visually Impaired Persons)
UPDATE: The group is currently not meeting, but 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 (cell)
Name: Blindness Empowerment Support Team (BEST) of Greater Des Moines
Date: Meets by phone on the first, 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 third Thursday of each month from 1:00-3:00 PM
Location: Central Iowa Center for Independent Living, Parkfair Mall
100 E. Euclid Ave. Suite 105, Des Moines, IA 50313.
Contact(s): Rosemary Russell: 515-802-0411
Deborah Caldbeck: 515-664-5527
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
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.
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.)
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
NOTE: When meals or special events are scheduled, start time will be NOON.
Name: EyeShare Low Vision/Blind Support Group
UPDATE: The group is currently not meeting, but will start up again after the pandemic.
Contact: Carol Flickinger (co-chair)
712-887-1109
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
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
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)
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
Judy Taylor: 712-262-1897
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 St. Wapello, IA 52653
319-527-6328
Contact(s): Lois Richers
424 S. 6th St. Wapello , IA 52653
319-527-6280
319-850-0848 (cell)
lerichers@louisacomm.net