Support Groups
We offer a variety of support groups for our MOGAD Community. Support groups help us connect to others who have similar experiences. So many find comfort in simply sharing their overall journeys as well as offering insight into many aspects of managing their health including how they solved problems getting the right treatment to stabilize their disease, the best way to navigate insurance and how to choose the right doctor, just to mention a few.
We offer a variety of support groups and support programs – all virtual through Zoom. Join one today!
Support for Parents and Caregivers of MOGAD Kids
Led by our Support Group Leaders, Dawn and Brian Groves, this program is designed to educate and share experiences between parents and caregivers of kids with MOGAD.
This program is designed as a peer-to-peer support system as part of our MOG Mentor program. It provides parents, in need of one-on-one support on their own timetable, individual mentoring by pairing them with another parent or caregiver of a child with MOGAD.
This is a wonderful way to connect with other parents and caregivers of our little Moggies!
Time permitting throughout the year, there may also be a Q&A Zoom event with a guest appearance by one of our experts in pediatric MOGAD! During the special support group event, our expert will answer questions for parents. The second part of the meeting will be an open discussion among the attendees. You must register to attend.
"Lean into community. There is strength, understanding, and real encouragement in connecting with other families who truly get this journey. Support is the power of community — families showing up for one another with empathy, honesty, and hope."
To connect to a Peer-2-Peer Support Group Member, please email:
In late September 2023, Lana Harder, PhD, ABPP joined us for a Special Q&A Event! She presented on neuropsychology in MOGAD and then did a 1 hour Q&A session. To protect the privacy of our attendees, only the presentation was recorded and is shown below.
Lana Harder, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Harder earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed post-doctoral fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Harder has served as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist at Children’s Medical Center since 2008. In 2009, she was a founding member and is the current Co-Director of the Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Demyelinating Diseases Clinic. Inspired by her work evaluating children with rare disorders, Dr. Harder published the first study on pediatric tele-neuropsychology. Her research interests include brain imaging correlates of neuropsychological functioning in demyelinating disorders including pediatric MOG antibody associated disease (MOGAD), transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, neuromyelitis optica, and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Harder also participates in a multi-site longitudinal investigation on the impact of cancer and its treatment on early development in infants and toddlers.
Dr. Harder leads the Neuropsychology Service and Neuropsychology training program at Children’s Medical Center. She holds dual faculty appointments as Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at UT Southwestern. Dr. Harder is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and is a board certified Subspecialist in Pediatric Neuropsychology. Nationally, Dr. Harder was elected President-Elect of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors of APPCN. Dr. Harder serves on the Board of Directors and Medical and Scientific Council of the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association. Dr. Harder is a fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
Support for ADULTS of ALL AGES
This US-based support group meeting held virtually over Zoom is open to adult patients and hosted by Kevin Jaffe and Scott Tarpey.
2026 Meeting Dates: First Wednesday of Each Month at 4:45 PM Eastern
January 7
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
October 7
November 4
December 2
Join us for this recurring meeting the first Wednesday of each month in the evening at 4:45 PM Eastern Standard Time.
This virtual meeting over Zoom is a great place to get together and talk about the issues that younger adults face, leaning on each other for support.
Since this meeting is a monthly recurring meeting, you will need to register only once using the REGISTER button below.
Save the link for future meetings. If you want to be removed from the reminder list, just let us know at info@mogproject.org
"Don’t underestimate the value of hearing from others who understand what you're going through. MOGAD can feel isolating because it’s rare, but learning and sharing with others is one of the strongest ways to overcome that. Support compliments clinical care. The healthcare professionals help manage the disease and the community helps you manage the experience of living with it."
NOTE: Each year on January 1, all participants will need to register for a new session. Please follow the link below for the current session:
Dr. Lauren Tardo from UT Southwestern joined us in late September 2024 to answer questions about MOGAD, including the clinical trials going on at her clinic. She presented on MOGAD and then did a 1 hour Q&A session. To protect the privacy of our attendees, only the presentation was recorded and is shown below.
Hosted by our MOG Squad members: Executive Director Julia Lefelar and Director of Blind Resources Andrea Mitchell. As all of our meetings, this is held virtually over Zoom, and this US-based support group meeting is open to patients 18+ years of age globally.
2026 Meeting Dates: Third Tuesday of Each Month at 7 PM Eastern
January 20
February 17
March 17
April 21
May 19
June 16
July 21
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15
Join us for this recurring meeting every third Tuesday evening of the month at 7:00 PM Eastern Time!
This virtual meeting over Zoom is a great place to get together and navigate through everything MOGAD together.
Since this meeting is a monthly recurring meeting, you will need to register only once using the REGISTER button below.
Save the link for future meetings. Keep the link to jump into each meeting whenever you can! If you lose the link, we will email a reminder prior to the next meeting. If you want to be removed from the reminder list, just let us know at info@mogproject.org
"Never stop looking for answers. Advocacy work is very important because you'll not only meet others with the disease, but make new friends in the process."
"Support comes in many forms for MOGAD that are needed by patients. While proper support from the medical community for physical well-being is necessary, support in the form of continual peer interaction through a community of people who share a common experience provides the basis for self advocacy and emotional wellness. It builds confidence, softens anxiety, crushes feelings of isolation, and provides hope. It is a vital part of navigating through tough and questionable times brought on by this disease. Therefore, is what I think of when I think of support."
NOTE: Each year on January 1, all participants will need to register for a new session. Please follow the link below for the current session:
Hosted by Kathy Ferella. As all of our meetings, this is held virtually over Zoom, and this Australian-based support group meeting is open to patients 18+ years of age living in Australia & New Zealand.
In 2026, the session will start in February. We appreciate your understanding and we hope this does not cause any inconvenience. If you need support in January, we invite you to sign up for another meeting or contact us at info@mogproject.org.
2026 Meeting Dates: Third Tuesday of Each Month at 7 PM Melbourne Time
7February 17
March 17
April 21
May 19
June 16
July 21
Aug 18
Sep 15
Oct 20
Nov 17
Dec 15
Join us for this recurring meeting every third Tuesday evening of the month at 7:00 PM Melbourne Time! This virtual meeting over Zoom is a great place for those in Australia & New Zealand to get together and navigate through everything MOGAD together.
Since this meeting is a monthly recurring meeting, you will need to register only once using the REGISTER button below. Save the link for future meetings. Keep the link to jump into each meeting whenever you can! If you lose the link, we will email a reminder prior to the next meeting.
If you want to be removed from the reminder list, just let us know at info@mogproject.org
"As someone living with MOGAD and facilitating the Australian & New Zealand MOGAD Support Group each month, I've learned this: we are stronger than the uncertainty. Support isn't about fixing each other. It's about sitting together in the 'in-between,' being heard, and reminding one another that we are not alone."
NOTE: Each year on January 1, all participants will need to register for a new session. Please follow the link below for the current session:
Hosted by Sandra Jessop. As all of our meetings, this is held virtually over Zoom, and this Canadian-based support group meeting is open to all patients living in Canada.
2026 Meeting Dates: Second Wednesday of Each Month at 8 PM Eastern Time Zone
January 14
February 11
March 11
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 8
Aug 12
Sep 9
Oct 14
Nov 11
Dec 9
Join us for this recurring meeting every second Wednesday evening of the month at 8:00 PM Eastern Time! This virtual meeting over Zoom is a great place for those in Canada to get together and navigate through everything MOGAD together. Since this meeting is a monthly recurring meeting, you will need to register only once using the REGISTER button below. Save the link for future meetings. Keep the link to jump into each meeting whenever you can! If you lose the link, we will email a reminder prior to the next meeting. If you want to be removed from the reminder list, just let us know at info@mogproject.org
"You might feel like you are on this journey alone, but you are not alone. Reach out and share your story because it makes it easier to go through. Sharing your story doesn't just help you; it helps others as well to realize and understand they are not alone."
NOTE: Each year on January 1, all participants will need to register for a new session. Please follow the link below for the current session:
Hosted by Luz Adriana Hernandez. As all of our meetings, this is held virtually over Zoom, and this Spanish-language support group meeting is open to all Spanish-speaking patients.
2026 Meeting Dates: Third Sunday of Each Month at 7 PM Eastern Time Zone
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 16
September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20
Join us for this recurring meeting every third Sunday evening of the month at 7:00 PM Eastern Time! This virtual meeting over Zoom is a great place for Spanish-speaking MOGAD patients to get together and navigate through everything MOGAD together. Since this meeting is a monthly recurring meeting, you will need to register only once using the REGISTER button below. Save the link for future meetings. Keep the link to jump into each meeting whenever you can! If you lose the link, we will email a reminder prior to the next meeting. If you want to be removed from the reminder list, just let us know at info@mogproject.org
NOTE: Each year on January 1, all participants will need to register for a new session. Please follow the link below for the current session: