ALS Support Groups
The Les Turner ALS Foundation provides free ALS support groups online throughout the year. Our support groups are open to:
- People living with ALS
- ALS caregivers
- People who have lost a family member, friend, or a loved one to ALS
Many people find a peer support group to be a safe space to help navigate and manage the difficulties in their lives. A support group can help its members cope better and feel less isolated as they are surrounded by others who are experiencing a similar situation.
Faced with similar challenges, support group participants understand, on a deeper level, what other members are feeling and experiencing without the need for explanation. Group members typically share their personal experiences and offer emotional comfort and moral support to one another.
All groups are led by professional facilitators from the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Facilitators provide guidance and education, and ensure a positive, beneficial experience for attendees.
For more information, please contact us at supportgroup@lesturnerals.org.
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Navigating ALS Together
Saturday
Second Saturday of Each Month
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Karen Raley Steffens, RN, CHPN, CCM
RSVP: Please register here.
Monday
Third Monday of Each Month
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 2 - 3:15 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please register here.
Saturday
Fourth Saturday of Each Month
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Rochelle Walwer, LCSW
RSVP: Please register here.
Newly Diagnosed ALS Support Series
Next Session Dates TBA
An ALS diagnosis is difficult to process. People often feel shocked and isolated by the news, whether the diagnosis was for themselves or a family member. It’s hard to move forward or figure out what comes next.
Set in a relaxed and supportive virtual environment, this support series will allow you to connect with others who have received an ALS diagnosis within the last nine months. Each session will address a topic and provide resources and education to consider. There will also be an opportunity to connect with others and ask questions.
Please join our email list to be notified when dates for the next session are announced.ALS Caregivers Support Group
This group offers a time to talk about all the issues caregivers face in a non-judgmental, accepting atmosphere without their loved one, who is living with ALS, present. Caregivers share a common experience; life has become so tumultuous that they often feel exhausted and overwhelmed, hungry for emotional comfort.
Together, with the guidance and encouragement of a devoted facilitator, caregivers can find the strength to persevere. And, by feeling heard and understood, caregivers become more equipped to face another day with new coping strategies.
Monday
Third Monday of Each Month
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please register here.
Thursday
Third Thursday of Each Month
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 3 - 4 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please register here.
Bereavement Groups
Moving Forward After Loss: Spouse/Partner
Select Thursdays
A closed, six-week therapeutic bereavement group for spouses or partners of people who have died from ALS within the past six to nine months.
This group provides support, validation, and education in a supportive setting to those who are grieving the loss of their loved one.
Winter Session - January 25 – February 29, 2024
Spring Session- April 11- May 16, 2024
Summer Session- June 27 – August 1, 2024
Fall Session - Sept 12 – Oct 17, 2024
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Easton Stevenson, LCSW
RSVP: Please register here. This group is invite only.
Living After Loss
Fourth Monday of Each Month
An open, supportive monthly bereavement group for anyone who has lost a family member, friend, or a loved one to ALS. This group will provide a place to connect with others who have experienced a loss.
Stories will be told, feelings will be explored, and information will be shared about how to remain connected to the memory of a loved one.
Visit our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates.
Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m. C.S.T
Facilitator: Easton Stevenson, LCSW
RSVP: Please register here.
Support Group Facilitators
Anne Lidsky, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Karen Steffens, RN, CHRN, CCM
Registered Nurse
Easton Stevenson, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Rochelle Walwer, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The Jill and Dennis Smith ALS Education and Awareness Fund
Even as he battled ALS, Dennis Smith of Bourbonnais, Illinois, was described by family members as “a man of keen intellect, gentle humor and extraordinary character.” As the disease progressed and Dennis lost his ability to speak, he was introduced to the Les Turner ALS Foundation which provided him an augmentative communication device, enabling him to continue communicating with family and friends. In 2007, at the age of 56, Dennis lost his life to ALS.
Shortly before Dennis’ death, his wife Jill, and extended family members created The Dennis J. Smith Legacy Foundation, raising money for the Foundation through their annual golf outing, “The Denny” to show their gratitude for the care and services they received during Dennis' life.
After Jill passed away in 2014, the Foundation became a grateful beneficiary of the Jill and Dennis Smith ALS Education and Awareness Fund. Thanks to Jill and Dennis’ desire to create a legacy, their generosity will support the Foundation’s Education and Awareness Programs, including professional development in the field of ALS, patient and family education and public awareness, for years to come.