The Fun Bunch Social Support Group is for adults ages 18 and up with learning disabilities or other special needs in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Fun Bunch is open to adults with disabilities who are working on becoming more independent, and to anyone with a disability who would like to meet new friends and have fun at social events.
With guidance from Mark Titus, the members make the decisions for the group, like which topics to talk about at meetings and which social events to plan.
Mark started The Fun Bunch and still runs it today. He graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda and earned a history degree from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster. Since 1992, Mark has worked for Montgomery County Public Schools with children at a special education school in Rockville.
In remembrance of the Titus family.
Joining takes three steps. The Greeting Meeting is a relaxed meet and greet, so you can decide if The Fun Bunch is the right group for you.
Get the membership forms and fill them out.
Email Mark to let him know your forms are ready.
Meet Mark, ask questions, and see if the group feels right for you.
The yearly fee is $25 per person. Members pay their own way at social events, like meals at a restaurant.
Meetings happen every other month, and there's one social event every month.
Past favorites include the B&O Railroad Museum, Fort McHenry, Mount Vernon, a monuments boat ride on the Potomac, the butterfly exhibit, and the holiday lights at Brookside Gardens.
Our board members help run the group. In their own words, here's what they enjoy about The Fun Bunch.
"I like everybody's ideas for both meetings and events!"
"At the meetings we learn something new, and on the outings we make new friends."
The group helped Jeffrey become more social, and he likes everyone in it.
"Everyone is nice and fun to have fun with. We are like one big happy family."
"I get to know new people and get along with them like family."
Roland enjoys the members and the outings, and feels like he belongs in the group.
"I enjoy being with the members and making friends I can relate to."
"Everybody is nice."
Tap a question to see the answer.
A social support group for adults ages 18 and up who have a disability. We've been around since September 1999.
Meetings are usually on the 2nd Friday of the month, every other month. They start at 7:00 pm and usually end around 9:15 pm.
In the first hour, we plan future social events. In the second hour, we talk about a discussion topic related to adults with learning disabilities.
A meet and greet with Mark. It helps you decide if The Fun Bunch is the right group for you.
Yes. There's a yearly fee of $25 per person. Members also pay their own way at social events, like eating at a restaurant.
Members are 18 years old and up.
Ask the board member how you can help. You can help any board member with something you're interested in. If you're not sure where to start, taking pictures at events is a great way to help.
Send them to katie.proia@gmail.com, thefunbunchssg@hotmail.com, or mr.cardinale@yahoo.com.
Mark's Healthy Focus Group is a Facebook group about living with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Visit the Facebook group