A new support group for burn victims, their family and friends is being formed by the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence.

The first meeting of the Burn Recovery Support Group will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday in the SADI Community Room, 121 S. Broadview Plaza Suite 10.

The meeting is being held at the request of burn victims who were driving to St. John Mercy Hospital in St. Louis once a month to meet with a support group.

"We are wanting to see what the interest is," said Miki Gudermuth, SADI executive director.

A support group would allow people who have suffered the trauma of a disabling burn to help each other.

"Everybody has different degrees of injury. By sharing, those that have recovered physically, emotionally, spiritually can help those that are still experiencing that grieving process," Gudermuth said.

The visual stigma associated with burns sometimes keeps victims from seeking help, she said.

"They isolate themselves from other people. They feel people staring at them, feel people judging them and feel another person's fear of them.

These are experiences all people with disabilities have gone through, she said. "I feel what they're feeling when I get involved with them."

At the same time, burns have their own specific consequences. Burns can cause effects beyond physical disfiguration, including mental trauma, vision impairment and emotional upset leading to ulcers, Gudermuth said

"A severe, traumatic burn can cause other disabilities besides physical appearance. People need to work through that.

Another goal of the group will be to educate the public about fire prevention.

Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should give SADI at least 48 hours notice by calling (573) 651-6464.