Virtual support groups

Online support groups are online communities where people with commonalities can offer support to each other. Virtual support groups allow members to ask questions, share experiences support one another in their commonality. Online support groups can be a great resource for people with similar health conditions to come together and offer resources and support to one another.

While most online support groups are closed groups, meaning only members of the group can see the information being shared, it is important to address safety and confidentiality concerns.  Many closed online support groups stress to members to maintain strict confidentiality conduct, there are limited resources to enforce this.  Be aware that the information shared in online forums is not guaranteed to remain confidential.

The administrators of the support groups can screen who they allow to be a member of the group.  While administrators do their best to only allow those who satisfy the requirements of the group, there is always the possibility that someone may be accepted into the group that has malicious intentions, does not share the commonality to the rest of the group, or has a ulterior motives.

As part of the Down syndrome community, these are the virtual support groups recommended:

Down syndrome families in Utah

           https://www.facebook.com/groups/100603996666165/

Utah Down syndrome foundation
      
          https://www.facebook.com/groups/30020936312/

Inclusion for children with Down syndrome

         https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusiondownsyndrome/

United Angels Foundation

        https://www.facebook.com/UnitedAngelsFoundation