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Support Groups
Approximately 69,000 Iowans are blind or visually impaired. 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.
- Cedar Falls
- Cedar Rapids
- Clinton
- Council Bluffs
- Davenport
- Denison
- Des Moines
- Dubuque
- Fairfield
- Ft. Madison
- Indianola
- Mason City
- Monticello
- Muscatine
- Sioux City
- Spencer
- Spirit Lake
- Wapello
- Waterloo
CEDAR FALLS
Name: Macular Degeneration Support Group
Date: 2nd Monday of every-other month (on the odd months: January, March, May, and so on).
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Location: Kimball Ridge Center – Board Room
Kimball and Ridgeway Avenues in Waterloo
Contact(s): Barb Lamfers
2541 W 9th St.
Waterloo, IA 50702
319-233-4959 or 319-230-4499
Barb111482@hotmail.com
Name: Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) --Local Support Group for Those With or Interested in Vision Impairments
Date: 2nd Sunday of Each Month
Time: 2 - 4 PM
Location: Covenant Hospital - Meeting Room 2
3421 W. Ninth St.
Waterloo, IA
Contact(s): Rebecca Barrionuevo
319-266-8511
rbarrionuevo@cfu.net
CEDAR RAPIDS
Name: Linn County Support Group
Date: 1st Wednesday of the month
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Country Kitchen
3130 16th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA
Contact(s): Shirley Wiggins
1225 42nd St SE, #112
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
319-550-6096
shirley4200@mchsi.com
CLINTON
Name: Clinton VIP (Visually Impaired Persons)
Date: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Gils Restaurant
2620 Manufacuring Drive
Clinton, IA 52732
Contact(s): Judy Schaaf
PO Box 23
Camanche, IA 52730
563-259-1177
Kathy Youmans Driscoll
612 5th St.
Camanche, IA 52730
563)-259-8766
COUNCIL BLUFFS
Name: Council Bluffs Blind Information Group (CBIG)
Date: 4th Tuesday of the month during the months of April through November
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Location: The Center (Council Bluffs Senior Center)
714 S. Main
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Contact(s): Adrian Verbrugge
515 S 4th Street, Apt. 4
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
712-322-8027
DAVENPORT
Name: Low Vision
Date: 1st Thursday of every month
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: CASI
1035 W. Kimberly Rd.
Davenport, IA
Contact(s): Ben Lorenzen
22320 140th Av
Davenport, IA 52804
563-285-5323
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DENISON
Name: Support Group for the Visually Impaired
Date: 2nd Thursday of the month
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Oakwood Manor
311 N 12th St.
Denison, IA 51442
Contact(s): Delphine Shives
1807 4th Avenue N
Denison, IA 51442
712-263-3995
DES MOINES
Name: Monthly Support Group for Blind Veterans and Families
Date: 4th Friday of the month
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: VA Hospital
3600 30th St.
Des Moines, IA
Contact(s): Bonnie Whitson
VA Hospital
3600 30th St.
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-699-5410
Bonnie.Whitson@va.gov
Name: VIST Bowling
Date: Thursdays
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Plaza Bowling Center
2701 Douglas Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310
Contact(s): Joe Padilla, Recreation Therapist
VA Hospital
3600 30th St.
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-699-5999, ext. 4032
joe.padilla@med.va.gov
Name: Sightseekers Low Vision Support Group
Date: 3rd Thursday in January, March, May, July, September and November
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Theater Room
Wesley Acres Retirement Community
3520 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
Contact(s): Mary McCarthy, Wellness Director
515-271-6596
Morgan Paulson, Wellness Coordinator
515-271-6720
DUBUQUE
Name: Tri-State Independent Blind Society
Date: Support group Meetings are Every Tuesday at 1:30 pm.
* Note: If if there is an outing or support event that includes a meal - the start time will be scheduled for NOON.
Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, social, games, crafts, movies are scheduled at 1:30 pm. For questions, contact the number listed below.
Location: Tri-State Independent Blind Society
3333 Asbury Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52002
Contact(s): Debbie Gagne
3333 Asbury Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52002
563-556-8746
tristateblind@qwestoffice.net
www.tristateblind.org
FAIRFIELD
Name: Support Group for Visually Impaired Individuals Serving Van Buren, Jefferson and surrounding counties
Date: 2nd Wednesdays every month
Time: 10 AM to Noon (if school cancelled in Fairfield, the meeting will be held the following Wed)
Location: Methodist Church, Fairfield, Back Door East Access
Contact: 319-498-4474 or 641-919-5642
- Networking with other visually impaired individuals
- Information and resources
- Ongoing discussion of specific medical eye problems
- Fun group activities including fishing, hunting, dining out, etc.
FT. MADISON
Date: 2nd Tuesday of the month
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Sunnybrook Assisted Living
5025 River Valley Rd.
Fort Madison, IA
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INDIANOLA
Name: Sightly Impaired
Date: 2nd Tuesday in Feb., Apr., June, Aug., Oct., and Dec.
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: The Village
Conference Room
1203 N E St.
Indianola, IA 50125
Contact(s): Everett L. Laning
816 Robin Glen
Indianola, IA 50125
515-962-5200
ruev@wesleythevillage.net
Mary Middents
707 W. Robin Glen #317
Indianola, IA 50125
MASON CITY
Date: Last Tuesday of the month
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: 304 1st St. SE
Contact(s): Kaari Kleinow
(641) 529-2936
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
Monticello, IA
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: Button Factory Restaurant,
Muscatine, IA 52761
Contact(s): Bob Wilson
1393 Ripley Ct.
Muscatine, IA 52761-8935
563-262-5510
SIOUX CITY
Name: Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind
Date: 2nd Tuesday of the month
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Northern Hills Assisted Living - Country Store Room
4002 Teton Trace
Sioux City , IA
Contact(s): Greg Hanson
721 Noltze Dr. Apt. 3
Sioux City, IA 51103-3750
712-258-1311
blinddragon@earthlink.net
SPENCER
Name: Spencer Area Visually Impaired/Blind (SAVIB)
Date: 1st Tuesday of the month
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Spencer Public Library
21 E. 3rd St.
Spencer , IA 51301
Contact(s): Kay Monkelien
1907 W. 10th St.
Spencer, IA 51301
712-264-8911
SPIRIT LAKE
Name: Spirit Lake Low Vision Support Group
Date: 3rd Wednesday of every month except July and December. No meetings during those 2 months.
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Homestead
2351 27th St
Spirit Lake , IA 51361
Contact(s): Bev McGlothlen - Chair
2311 27th St.
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
712-336-4591
Bev Cother - Secretary/Treasurer
2370 135th St.
Spirit Lake, IA 51361
712-336-4407
bcother@mchsi.com
WAPELLO
Name: Louisa County Visual Support Group
Date: 3rd Thursday of the month
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
319-527-2630
319-850-0848 (cell)
lerichers@louisacomm.net
WATERLOO
Name: Macular Degeneration Support Group
Date: 2nd Monday of every other month (on the odd months: January, March, May, and so on).
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Location: Kimball Ridge Center - Board Room
Kimball and Ridgeway Avenues in Waterloo
Contact(s): Barb Lamfers
2541 W 9th St.
Waterloo, IA 50702
319-230-4499
Barb111482@hotmail.com
Name: Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) -- Local Support Group for Those With or Interested in Visual Impairments
Date: 2nd Sunday of each month
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Covenant Hospital - Meeting Room 2
3421 W. Ninth St.
Waterloo , IA
Contact(s): Rebecca Barrionuevo
319-266-8511
rbarrionuevo@cfu.net
