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Voluntary Organisations |
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Gateway to Services in the UK |
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National Agencies.
This site contains references to help you can obtain from organisations which serve particular needs, such as Arthritis Care, Carers National Association, MENCAP, RADAR (the Royal Association for Disability and rehabilitation), MIND (the National Association for Mental Health , the Multiple Sclerosis Society, RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind), RNID (the Royal National Institute for Deaf People), SCOPE and the Spinal Injuries Association.
Some organisations have networks of local groups which offer a range of activities and act as a channel for the services of the parent organisation. Just as important, they provide the support of people who share and understand your particular disability.
Disability Scotland
Through campaigning, training and information programmes, this national voluntary organisation seeks to improve services and opportunity for, and to promote the well being of, disabled people in Scotland. National committees represent disability interests in access and mobility, the arts and leisure.
Research and information services provide a national disability information resource for Scotland.
Directories on 26 topics are updated regularly and are used by staff in health boards, social work departments and voluntary organisations
Databases on aids and equipment, Scottish stockists, accessible holiday accommodation, transport, employment, grant-making, trusts, arts venues, accessibility, voluntary organisations and accessible museums are available on CD-ROM
The Enquiry Service answers calls on all aspects of disability Tel: 0131 229 8632
Disability Wales - Anabledd Cymru
This independent voluntary group works to promote the recognition, rights and support of disabled people in Wales through:
*a comprehensive information service accessed through central and mobile units and networks of local and national information agencies;
*encouraging new local disability groups and developing new information resources, training services and action packs for local groups;
*providing advice and consultation on access issues through its central Access Unit and a national network of local access groups;
*working with central and local government and professional bodies to encourage, develop and put into action effective policies and law. Tel/textphone: 02920 887 325
Local groups
You are probably just a phone call away from an active group working in the interests of disabled people. You can obtain details by getting in touch with the national headquarters listed in ‘Addresses’ or 'Links' or through contacts given under:
Coalitions of disabled people These are support, campaigning and lobbying groups run by disabled people for disabled people. Your local group may have a resource centre which can lead you to the right equipment, services, benefits, grants and advice. They are linked to The British Council of Disabled People (BCODP), representing over 100 independent organisations run by disabled people. Tel: 01332 295551; textphone: 01332 295581
Disability organisations The names of local groups supplying information and services vary from one area to another, for example: disability Advice Centre, Council for Disability or disability Forum. Some may have local authority support. A Disability action Group or Centre for Independent Living provides a focus for self-help independent living groups. There are also disabled women’s groups and associations for particular disabilities.
Yellow pages under ‘Disabled
- Information and Services’
will list local Disability Associations.
Your public library or information centre will give you information on the work of groups in your area and how to contact them.
Your local Disability Information Advice Line (DIAL) will have full details of all groups and services in your neighbourhood . See phone book for your local DIAL or call DIAL UK on 01302 310 123
Councils of Community Service or Councils of Voluntary Service may have directories of local self-help and disability support groups.
The Disabled Living Centre for your city or region will also have full details
Disability Scotland and Anabledd Cymru - Disability Wales will have details of organisations in their respective countries.
Citizens Advice Bureaux can give advice about money, housing, legal and a wide range of other problems.
The Health Information Service will give
you information about groups specialising in particular disabilities.
Phone free: 0800 66 55 44
The
Health Information Service tel. 0800 66 55 44 no longer exists. Health
information is now provided nationally by NHS Direct tel. 0845 4647.
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