Local Support Groups

 
This is support-group contact information for people dealing with vestibular disorders. Some of these groups may be linked to other networks or organizations. They may be led by patients, health professionals, or others. Their size, scope, and agendas vary widely. All are financially and legally independent of VEDA.
 

Alabama

Alaska
  • Anchorage
    Mike Howard
    Alaska Dizziness & Balance Center
    4001 Laurel St., Ste. 206
    Anchorage, AK 99508
    (907) 561-2102
    e-mail

Arizona
  • Phoenix
    Amy Alexander, PT
    Shelly Massingale, MPT
    Banner Vestibular Support Group
    Banner Samaritan Rehab Institute
    1012 E. Willetta, Rm. 1
    Phoenix, AZ 85006
    (602) 239-5230
    Amy: e-mail
    Shelley:e-mail

California
  • Garden Grove
    Co-leaders: Susan Davis and Michelle Lithgow
    Balance and Dizziness Support Group of Orange County
    England Physical Therapy
    12459 Lewis St., Ste. 102
    Garden Grove, CA 92840
    Susan: (949) 716-4497; e-mail
    Michelle: (562) 863-8285; e-mail
  • Mission Viejo
    Finding Balance Support Group
    Contact: Susan Wegener, MSW, LCSW
    Balance Rehabilitation Inc.
    25971 Pala, Suite 110
    Mission Viejo, CA 92691
    (949) 465-9549; e-mail
  • San Francisco and Peninsula
    John Hanson
    San Francisco Bay Area Dizzy Group
    10 Pio Pico Way
    Pacifica, CA 94044
    (650) 225-8073
    e-mail

Colorado
  • Colorado Springs
    Jenna Saunders, PT
    Colorado Springs Balance and Dizziness Support Group
    (719) 884-7853
    mailing address: LifeJourney OutPatient Rehab
    2520 international Cir.
    Colorado Springs, CO 80910
    e-mail 
    meeting location: The Inn at Garden Plaza
    2520 international Cir.
    Colorado Springs, CO

Florida
  • Jupiter
    Co-leaders: Rose Ann Curboy, MS, OTR/L and Dianna Nuquist, OTA/L
    Dizziness and Balance Support Group of South Florida
    meeting location: 210 Jupiter Lakes Blvd., Bldg. 5000, Ste. 106
    Jupiter, FL 33458
    (561) 745-0028
    e-mail 
  • Sarasota
    Vicki Alexander, LPN, PT
    Silverstein Institute
    1901 Floyd St.
    Sarasota, FL 34239
    (941) 366-9222
    e-mail

Georgia
  • Atlanta
    Gaye Cronin, OTD, OTR
    Atlanta Vestibular Disorder Support Group
    Atlanta Ear Clinic
    980 Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Ste. 470
    Atlanta, GA 30342
    (404) 851-9093
    e-mail
    Web page for support group 
    meeting location: Northside Hospital Auditorium or St. Joseph's Hospital classrooms

Hawaii
  • Honolulu
    Karen Scharff
    mailing address:
    1717 Mott-Smith Dr. #3009
    Honolulu, HI 96822
    (808) 524-1921
    e-mail

Idaho
  • Meridian:
    Gayle Hynes, PT
    Dayna Olson, PT
    Hearing and Balance Centers of the Elks
    520 S. Eagle Rd., Ste. 1225
    Meridian, ID 83642
    (208) 489-5999
     e-mail

Illinois
  • Chicago 
    Michele Kehrer PT, DPT, ATC 
    LifeStyle Physical Therapy & Balance Ctr
    3130 N. Lincoln Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60657
    (773) 525-5200
    e-mail 

Indiana

Kansas
  • Overland Park
    Co-leaders Susan Thomas and Jo O'Dwyer
    Balancing Life with Vestibular Disorders (BLVD)
    meeting location: Johnson County Library
    9875 W. 87th St.
    Overland Park, KS
    Susan: (913) 390-9859
    Jo: (816) 353-7256
  • Kansas City
    Mike Sharp
    Dizziness and Balance Disorders Support Group
    5818 Meadow Heights Dr.
    Shawnee, KS 66226
    (913) 441-0890
    e-mail

Maine
  • Brunswick
    Sue Rodgers
    HealthSouth
    12 Industrial Parkway
    Brunswick, ME 04011
    (207) 386-1550
  • Portland
    Paul Albert MS, PT
    Portland Area Vestibular and Balance Disorders Support Group
    mailing address: 43 Baxter Blvd.
    Portland, ME 04101
    e-mail
    meeting location: Woodfords Congregational Church
    202 Woodfords St
    Portland, ME 04103

Massachusetts
  • Metro Boston
    Claire Haddad
    Boston-Area Vestibular Disorders Support Group
    10 Heritage Ln.
    Cohasset, MA 02025
    (781) 383-0253
    e-mail
    meeting location: Newton-Wellesley Hospital
    Newton, MA

Michigan
  • Rochester
    Meniere's and Dizziness Support Group
    Kelly Ratowski, Director
    (248) 651-5051
    e-mail
    meeting location:
    Michigan Ear, Head, & Neck Clinic
    1349 Rochester Rd., Ste. 100
    Rochester, MI 48307

Minnesota
  • Minneapolis
    Treva Paparella (under the auspices of the International Hearing Foundation)
    701 25th Ave S LL6
    Minneapolis, MN 55454
    (612) 339-2120
  • Minneapolis
    Co-leaders: Jane Gilbert, MA; Scott Bunnell, MA
    Balance Function Program
    Minneapolis Neuroscience Institute Ste 39304
    800 E. 28th St.
    Minneapolis, MN 55407
    (612) 863-3200

Mississippi
  • Hattiesburg
    Co-leaders: Ramona Ridley, PT; Leigh Howell, PT
    Balance and Dizziness Support Group
    Health Management Connection
    5909 US Hwy. 49, Ste. 40
    Hattiesburg, MS 39402
    (601) 288-3860

Nevada
  • Las Vegas (Summerlin) 
    Brian K. Werner, MPT
    Vestibular Support Group
    Werner Institute of Balance and Dizziness
    7660 West Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 114
    Las Vegas, NV 89129
    (702) 880-1515
    e-mail

New Jersey
  • Morris County
    Tracy Rubinetti, CMM, CMA (Facilitator)
    Vestibular Disorders Support Group
    e-mail
    (973) 584-1282
    meeting location:
    St. Clare’s Hospital, Dover Campus
    Jardine St., Dover, NJ
    First floor (accessible location) 

New York
  • Albany
    Gail L. Steslow
    Capital District Ménière's Disease Support Group
    59 Virginia Blvd.
    Scotia, NY 12302
    (518) 393-5229
  • Buffalo
    Randy S. Atlas
    Dizziness & Balance Support Group of Western New York
    PO Box 466
    Buffalo, NY 14215
    (716) 838-3730
    e-mail
    Web page for support group
  • Great Neck
    Stephen Silverman, MD
    Lifeline Rehabilitation
    560 Northern Blvd.
    Great Neck, NY 11021
    (516) 482-4060
    e-mail

Ohio
  • Beachwood (Cleveland)
    Mohamed A. Hamid, MD, PhD
    Diane Kish, RN
    Meniere's Support Group of Cleveland
    Cleveland Hearing and Balance Center
    24755 Chagrin Blvd., Ste. 310
    Beachwood, OH 44122
    (216) 292-3100
  • Cincinnati
    Sharon Hepfner, MA, FAAA
    Steady
    mailing address: VENTS
    222 Piedmont Ave., Ste. 5200
    Cincinnati, OH 45219
    meeting location: Madeira Public Library
    Miami & Euclid
    Madeira (Cincinnati), OH
    (513) 475-8453
  • Euclid (Cleveland)
    Larry Maurer
    Tinnitus Support Group - Cleveland
    meeting location: Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital
    18901 Lake Shore Blvd.
    Euclid, OH
    mailing address: 9680 Glenstone Dr.
    Kirtland, OH 44094
    (440) 256-8023
    e-mail
  • Parma (Cleveland)
    Larry Maurer
    Tinnitus Support Group - Cleveland
    meeting location: Health Education Center
    7300 State Rd.
    Parma, OH
    mailing address: 9680 Glenstone Dr.
    Kirtland, OH 44094
    (440) 256-8023
    e-mail

Oregon
  • Eugene
    Co-leaders: Linda Diáz and Claudia Bark
    Eugene Vestibular Support Group
    mailing address: 250 Ferndale Dr.
    Eugene, OR 97404
    (541) 345-3212
    e-mail
    meeting location: Atrium Building
    99 W. 10th Ave., Room 325
  • Portland
    Inner Ear Disorders Support Group
    Legacy Community Health Education Services
    Good Samaritan Medical Bldg.
    1040 NW 22nd Ave., Conference Rm. N & S
    Portland, OR 97210
    (503) 413-7348

Pennsylvania
  • Center Valley
    Lee A. Weidner
    Lehigh Valley Ménière's Support Group
    meeting location: Heller Homestead
    Friedensville Rd.
    Lower Saucon Township
    mailing address: PO Box 184
    Center Valley, PA 18034
    (610) 282-4819
  • Darby
    Robert Slater, MD
    Hearing & Balance Center
    Mercy Fitzgerald Outpatient Center
    1500 Lansdowne Ave, Floor 2
    Darby, PA 19023
    (610) 237-4388
  • Doylestown
    Wendy Webb Schoenewald, PT
    meeting location:
    Wendy Webb Schoenewald Physical Therapy
    1456 Ferry Rd. Ste 601
    Doylestown, PA 18929
    (215) 489-3234
    e-mail
  • Philadelphia
    Glenn Knox, MD
    Meniere's Support Group
    University of Pennsylvania Balance Center
    (215) 662-6017
    e-mail
  • Pittsburgh
    Lois Boyles, RN, MNEd
    Dizziness & Balance Disorders Support Group
    St. Clair Hospital, Public Relations Dept.
    1000 Bower Hill Rd.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15243
    (412) 344-6600, ext. 2594
    e-mail
  • Willow Grove
    Margaret Fitzpatrick, PT, DPT, OCS
    Dizziness & Imbalance Support Group
    Willow Grove Physical Therapy
    1001 Easton Rd., Ste. 101M
    Willow Grove, PA 19090
    (215) 659-7759
    e-mail

Texas
  • Austin
    Bridgett Wallace, PT
    Dizziness & Balance Disorders Support Group
    360° Balance
    7900 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 200
    Austin, TX 78757
    (512) 345-4664
    e-mail
    Web page for support group

Virginia
  • Norfolk
    Marlene Kuntz, PT
    Dizzy Doers, DePaul Medical Center
    150 Kingsley Lane
    Norfolk, VA 23505
    (757) 889-5201

Washington
  • Seattle
    Seattle Vestibular Disorders Support Group
    Facilitator: Cheryl Rowe
    meeting location: Pacific Balance & Rehabilitation Clinic
    400 Mercer, Ste. 302
    Seattle, WA 98109
    e-mail
    Web page for support group
    This group meets at noon on the first Saturday of each month.

Wisconsin
  • Hales Corners
    Steven Millen, MD
    11035 W. Forest Home Ave.
    Hales Corners, WI 53130
    (414) 529-3215
  • Kenosha
    Kelly DeMelle, MPT
    3921 30th Ave., Ste. A
    Kenosha, WI 53144
    (262) 925-0311
    e-mail

 
Australia
  • New South Wales
    Jennifer Wilson Scott, Secretary
    Meniere's Support Group of NSW, Inc.
    PO Box 2414
    Bowral, New South Wales 2576
    (02) 4861-3751
    e-mail
     
  • Victoria
    Lynn Polson, Secretary
    Meniere's Support Group of Victoria 
    4/ 18-20 Skye Road 
    Frankston, Victoria 3199
    Tel/TTY: (03) 9783 9233
    Fax: (03) 9783 9208 
    Resource Centre at Rear - Cobb Road in Mt. Eliza
    e-mail
    http://www.menieres.org.au

Canada
  • Halifax, NS
    Anna Parkinson
    Acoustic Neuroma Group
    27 Feldspar Crescent
    Halifax, NS B3R 2M2
  • Mississauga, ON
    Helen Regueiro
    643 Thamesford Terrace
    Mississauga, ON L5R 2B8
    (416) 314-7428 (work)
    (905) 890-8057 (home)
    e-mail

  • Sudbury, ON
    The Canadian Hearing Society
    Meniere's Information and Discussion Group
    1233 Rue Paris St.
    Sudbury, ON P3E 3B6
    Voice: (705) 522-1020
    TTY: (705) 522-1090
    Fax: (705) 522-1060
    e-mail
     
  • St. John's, NL
    Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, Newfoundland and Labrador (CHHA-NL)
    136 Crosbie Rd., Ste. 103
    St. John's, NL A1B 3K3
    (709) 753-3224
    Fax: (709) 753-5640
    email
  • Toronto, ON
    Co-leaders: Heather DesRoches, RN; Don Lynch
    Meniere's Support Group
    The Toronto Hospital EN7-209
    200 Elizabeth St.
    7 Eaton 213
    Toronto, ON M5G 2C4
    (416) 340-3665
    Fax: (416) 340-3745
    e-mail
    meeting location: 30 Gloucester St.
  • Vancouver, BC
    Muriel Kauffman
    B.C. Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society
    325 - 5525 West Blvd.
    Vancouver, BC V6M 3W6
    (604) 878-8383
    http://www.balanceanddizziness.org
    email
  • Winnipeg, MB
    Winnipeg Meniere's Support Group
    c/o Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (Manitoba Chapter)
    825 Sherbrook St.
    Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5
    (204) 975-3037
    chha-mb.ca 
    email 


     

Europe
  • United Kingdom
    Glen Swanwick, Chair
    Wendy Hales, Fundraiser
    Dizzy Self Help Support Group
    12 Ridgewood Drive, Chilwell
    Nottingham, England NG9 5NW
    meeting location: Self Help Nottingham UK.  Meetings held bi-monthly
    e-mail

 
New Zealand
  • Wellington
    Meniere's Support Group 
    PO Box 19-038
    Courtenay Place
    Wellington