Feeling Isolated? How Peer Group Helps People with Disabilities in Mercer & Hunterdon County, NJ

Feeling isolated can be especially hard during the winter months. 

Cold weather keeps people indoors. Days feel shorter. Routines change. For many people, especially people with disabilities in New Jersey, winter can quietly increase feelings of social isolation and loneliness. What may start as staying home a little more often can slowly turn into feeling disconnected from the world around you. 

Identifying Isolation in People with Disabilities

Isolation does not always look the same for everyone and can be difficult to recognize in others and sometimes even yourself. You may simply feel tired, withdrawn, or less motivated. It may be accepting fewer invitations or finding fewer reasons to leave the house. A person may still show up to appointments or activities but feel emotionally disconnected. It can feel like you’re watching life happen around you without being part of it. Someone who once enjoyed being social may slowly pull back. Some people describe it as feeling lonely, unsure of where to turn or whether support even exists.  Often, isolation hides behind a simple “I’m fine,” even when support is needed. It can become harder to reach out, harder to explain what you are feeling, and harder to believe that connection is still possible. 

When isolation is not addressed, it can begin to affect mental health, confidence, and overall well-being. Over time, people may stop looking for opportunities to connect, especially if past attempts felt inaccessible or unwelcoming. Independence can begin to feel harder, not because ability has changed, but because connection has faded. 

For many people with disabilities in Mercer County and Hunterdon County, New Jersey, isolation is shaped by real barriers. Cost can make adult support groups feel out of reach. Transportation challenges can limit access to community spaces. Some people search online for “support groups near me” or “groups for adults with disabilities near me” and feel discouraged when the options don’t feel accessible, affordable, or inclusive. 

There is also the emotional barrier of uncertainty. People may wonder whether a group will truly understand their experience or whether they will feel out of place. These concerns can make it easier to stay home, even when the desire for connection is strong. 

Peer support exists to help remove these barriers. 

How Peer Group Can Help Isolation

At Progressive Center for Independent Living, peer groups are designed to be accessible community groups for adults with disabilities, not clinical programs or one-size-fits-all solutions. There is no cost to attend, removing a financial barrier that often prevents people from seeking disability support groups in NJ. The environment is welcoming and flexible, allowing people to participate in a way that feels comfortable for them. 

Peer groups bring together people with many different lived experiences, including physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic illness, and disabilities that are not always visible. What connects people is not a diagnosis, but a shared understanding of navigating the world with a disability. 

To make peer support more accessible, PCIL offers two peer group locations. One meets in Hamilton, NJ, serving Mercer County, New Jersey. The other meets in Lebanon, NJ, serving Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Anyone from any county is welcome to attend either group. Offering two locations helps reduce transportation barriers and allows people to choose a space that feels closer to home or easier to reach. 

Inside a peer group, conversation grows naturally around everyday experiences. Topics often include independence, relationships, stress, confidence, and navigating systems. Curiosity develops as people listen to others who understand life with a disability from lived experience. Connection builds over time, without pressure to speak or share more than feels right. 

Peer support does not replace mental health support in NJ, but it can complement it by offering emotional support, understanding, and community. For many people, simply being in a space where they feel understood helps reduce feelings of isolation and builds confidence to engage more fully in life. 

Join Our Peer Group

If you are feeling isolated this winter, or if you are searching for adult support groups or disability support groups in NJ, our peer support groups may be a meaningful step forward. PCIL’s peer groups serve people with disabilities across Mercer County and Hunterdon County and are open to anyone looking for connection, understanding, and community. 

You do not have to navigate isolation alone. 

To learn more about peer support groups in Hamilton, NJ and Lebanon, NJ, and to see upcoming meetings, visit pcil.org/events. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming peer group events soon! 

Mercer Peer Group

Hunterdone Peer Group