Information
Community resources for
disabled people
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Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Chief Executive: Barbara Waters
Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW
Website: E-mail:
020 7450 0620 (voice/text) 020 7450 0650 (fax)
Information service: Monday to Thursday 1.30pm – 4.30pm
0800 328 5050 (voice) 0800 068 2422 (text)
E-mail:
Skill is a company limited by guarantee (2397897) and a registered charity (801971)
Community resources for disabled people
ContentsPage
- Public Services 1
- Independent or voluntary services8
- Further information14
In your area various organisations provide services, help or advice. Your area has public bodies, for example local councils and health authorities, which have to provide certain services by law. It will also have a variety of independent or voluntary organisations, for example organisations of people with disabilities and Citizens' Advice Bureaux (CAB).
1. Public services
The following services should be available in your area. They might not be in your own town, but should be available within your county, region or district.
Education authority (England and Wales)
Education department (Scotland)
Education and library board (Northern Ireland)
These agencies have more or less the same role. They have to provide education in schools or colleges for people up to the age of 19, or 18 in Scotland. They also provide some courses for people over that age. They may also provide the following:
- educational psychologists who offer advice on extra support to meet particular needs in education, usually only available to young people under 19 and in school
- help with transport to and from school or college (practical help or money for transport)
- grants or bursaries for people in further or higher education (see Skill's leaflets on funding for students with disabilities in further or higher education for more details).
Contact:
The telephone book will have contact details for your local
education authority, education department or education and library board office
To apply for funding for higher education courses in Scotland including Disabled Students’ Allowances you should contact the Students Awards Agency for Scotland
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
Gyleview House
3 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh
EH12 9HH
Tel: 0131 476 8212 (between the hours of 8.30am and 5pm)
Fax: 0131 244 5887
E-mail:
Website:
Careers service or Connexions Service (or education guidance service)
The careers service can give information about:
- choosing a career or a job
- courses in further, higher or adult education
- training for a job.
Many services will advise adults as well as school leavers. If you are disabled, they should provide advice until you are in your chosen profession. Careers services are independently run but are government funded.
Contact:
LearnDirect (telephone 0800 100 900) can tell you where your local careers service is.
Alternatively you can visit and follow the instructions to find your local careers service. Your local phone book should also list any careers or guidance services in your area or your local library should also be able to tell you where the local careers service is.
By 2003, careers guidance in England and Wales for 13-19 year olds will be provided by the Connexions Service. Connexions partnerships are being established throughout the country. Either check your local directory for contact details or visit to establish if a Connexions Partnership or Careers Service is operating in your area,
Jobcentre
The Jobcentre can provide:
- advice to people looking for work or training
- advice on equipment and support for people with disabilities in work, and help to get the equipment or support you need
- claim forms for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Contact:
You can contact the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) who is part of the Disability Service Team at the Jobcentre. You will find your nearest Jobcentre in the telephone book under ‘Employment Service’ or ‘Jobcentre’.
The Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council replaced the Training and Enterprise Councils in April 2001. The council operates through 47 local councils in England and Wales. It is responsible for the funding, planning and quality assurance of:
- further education sector colleges
- school sixth forms
- work based training for young people
- workforce development
- adult and community learning
- education business links and
- information, advice and guidance for adults.
Local Enterprise Company (Scotland)
Each area in Scotland has a LEC which funds training that prepares people for work. They offer:
- advice and guidance about careers, training and work
- work training schemes, through Youth Credits or Training for Work.
Contact:
LearnDirect (telephone 0800 100 900) can tell you where your local LEC is. You can find their contact details in the telephone book. You can also contact the LEC through the careers service or through your disability employment adviser (DEA) if you have one.
National Health Service - Health Authority (England, Wales)
Health Board (Scotland)
Health and Social Service Board (Northern Ireland)
Your General Practitioner (GP) is usually the first person to see to get health services. Medical services under the NHS are free. Services provided by a district health authority include:
- GP services
- nursing, including community psychiatric nursing and community or district nursing (personal support eg bathing, dressing, medical help)
- physiotherapy: treatment, equipment etc
- speech therapy: for speech and language difficulties
- occupational therapy: advice about practical needs in daily life
- chiropody
- equipment eg beds, surgical equipment, hearing aids, and wheelchairs.
NHS Direct
The NHS have also launched a helpline called NHS Direct which can answers questions that you may have about health issues. You can contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Contact:
You should usually contact your doctor (GP) for referrals or your social worker if you have one. You can call the local Health Information Service (telephone 0800 665 544)to find out what is available locally or to get a GP if you don’t have one.
Social services department (England, Wales)
Social work department (Scotland)
Health and Social Service Board (Northern Ireland)
Social services or social work departments are part of the council (local authority). They have to (they have a ‘duty’ to) provide some specific services, and there are other services they can (they have the ‘power’ to) provide as well.
They have a duty to assess the needs of people with disabilities and carers for any of the following:
- practical help in the home (eg a home help or laundry facilities)
- providing a TV or radio, and help to use a local library
- help in getting to a place of education, to games, to outings, to day centres etc
- adaptations to your home or specialist equipment to make it safer or more comfortable (eg ramps, toilets etc)
- help to go on holiday
- meals at home or at a day centre
- providing a telephone or any other equipment needed to use the phone
- giving advice and support through a social work department
- offering facilities to help rehabilitate people who become disabled, for example mobility training or communication help
- providing daytime services, for example day centres or lunch clubs.
Social services can provide a wide range of other services, although they don’t have to. The local authority will either provide the services you need directly, fund a voluntary organisation to provide them or give you a direct payment for you to get the service yourself. They are required by law to provide information about the services that they offer and to let people know if other organisations provide similar services.
Not everyone will be able to get all of the above services. The local authority will assess what your needs are. Local authorities charge for many services, but they must take into account your ability to pay. If the assessment says you need certain services, the authority can’t refuse to give them because you don’t have the money to pay the usual charges. However Social Service Departments can take their own finances into account when deciding whether to provide a service and can refuse to provide a service if they believe it is too costly.
Some of the staff you may have contact with are: social worker, specialist disability worker, occupational therapist, welfare rights officer, rehabilitation officer.
Contact:
Contact your social worker if you have one. You can find the social services or social work department of your local authority in the telephone book under the name of the local authority.
The Housing Department
The housing department is part of the local council. It provides housing and housing advice. If you are disabled you may be able to get a grant to adapt your house. They also provide specialised housing for disabled people. They can tell you about independent housing associations in your area, and which ones have specialised housing for people with disabilities.
Contact:
You can contact your housing department direct or through social services. You can find their details in the telephone book under the name of the local authority.
Social Security Agency (Northern Ireland)
Benefits Agency (England, Wales, Scotland)
Many people are entitled to cash benefits if they fulfil certain criteria, eg they have care or mobility difficulties, or if they are on a low income. You may not be getting all the benefits you are entitled to. Skill produces information booklets on specific benefits. It might also be worth getting independent advice on what you can claim. Make an appointment with:
- your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
- a local advice centre
- your student advice service.
Contact:
You can look on the web for details of benefits ( and to find the location of your local benefits agency ( To claim benefits contact the benefits agency or the social security agency (their details will be in the telephone book), or ring the benefits enquiry line:
England, Wales, Scotland: Tel: 0800 882 200. Text: 0800 243 355.
Northern Ireland: Tel: 0800 220 674. Text: 0800 243 787.
2.Independent or voluntary services
Not all of the following services are available locally everywhere in the UK, but most can be found in larger towns.
Centres for independent living or centres for integrated living
These centres provide support and information to enable people with disabilities to lead fully independent lives.
Contact:
You can find out if there is a local independent living centre from The National Centre for Independent Living, 250 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5RD. Tel: 020 7587 1663.
Textphone: 020 7587 1177. Fax: 020 7582 2469.
E-mail:
The Directory for Disabled People contains a full list of the centres available around the country (see ‘further information’).
Disabled living centres
Disabled living centres provide exhibitions, demonstrations and advice about equipment for disabled people to use in everyday life. Some can give advice about wider aspects of daily living.
Contact:
You can find out your nearest disabled living centre by contacting The Disabled Living Centres Council, Redbank House, 4 St Chad’s Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8QA.
Tel/textphone: 0161 834 1044. Fax: 0161 839 0802.
E-mail: . Website:
A Practical Guide for Disabled People contains a list of centres around the country (see ‘further information’).
Communication aids centres
These centres are usually found in hospitals. They offer assessments, advice and training in the use of communication aids. You usually need a referral to this type of centre from your social worker, speech therapist or doctor.
Contact:
You should usually get a referral from your doctor or social worker if you have one. To find out if there is a centre near you contact The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, 2 Whitehart Yard, London SE1 1NX. Tel: 020 7378 1200.
Mobility centres
These centres give assessments of ability to drive and advice on mobility, eg where to learn to drive, choosing and buying cars and adaptations.
Contact:
Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service (MAVIS)
'O' Wing, Macadam Avenue, Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne, Berks RG45 6XD. Tel: 01344 661 000. Fax: 01344 661 066.
E-mail:
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
A local CAB can give information and advice on many issues. You can go to them with any query and they should pass you on to someone who can help if they can’t help you themselves. They can give:
- advice about financial matters including social security benefits
- advice about local services
Other useful local services are consumer advice centres, and other independent advice services, eg welfare rights advice centres.
Contact:
You can look in the telephone book to find out what is available locally.
Law centres
Law centres give free legal advice to people living in the area. They can advise whether you can take legal action if you think a public agency has done something wrong.
Contact:
You can look in the telephone book to find out what is available locally, or contact: Law Centres Federation, Duchess House, 18/19 Warren Street, London W1P 5DB.
Tel: 020 7387 8570. Fax: 020 7387 8368.
E-mail: Website
Counselling services
There are many local and national counselling services, offering either counselling for any problem or aimed at specific problems. Most offer telephone services, appointments and/or drop-in facilities. They can be a good source of support or information. Services include:
- marriage guidance or relationship counselling
- pregnancy advice/family planning
- health counselling services, e.g. mental health, HIV
- bereavement services
- drug and alcohol counselling
- young people’s counselling services
- women’s organisations
- Samaritans.
Contact:
You can look in the telephone book to find out what is available locally.
Community health councils (England, Wales)
Local health councils (Scotland, Northern Ireland)
These organisations put the views of the public to local health authorities. They can help with complaints about the health service.
Contact:
Contact details will be in the telephone book.
Community relations councils
Some areas have these information resources for people from minority ethnic groups. There may also be other similar local projects that can help you.
Contact:
You can look in the telephone book to find out what is available locally.
Volunteer bureau/council for voluntary service
The local volunteer bureau or the council for voluntary service (CVS) can tell you about local volunteering opportunities. Students can also volunteer through university Student Community Action groups.
Contact:
National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service, 3rd Floor,
Arundel Court, Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2NU.
Tel: 0114 278 6636. Fax: 0114 278 7004.
E-mail:
Website:
It can help you find your local (CVS). You can also look in the telephone book to find out what is available locally or find out by contacting the students’ union.
Voluntary organisations - local
There are many voluntary organisations that can offer help and advice about a specific disability or particular issues, such as benefits. Many are registered charities. In your area you may find there is an organisation of disabled people. Most give information and advice about local services. Some provide support or services themselves. They may be able to offer benefits advice. They may also run other activities, eg social groups and campaigns to improve local services.
Contact:
You could look in the telephone book or contact British Council of Organisations of Disabled People, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA.
Tel: 01332 298 288. Textphone: 01332 295 551.
Fax: 01332 295 580.
E-mail:
Website:
There should be a local Disability Information and Advice Line (DIAL). DIALs give information and advice to people with disabilities about many issues. They can usually refer you to the right agency if they can’t help you themselves.
You can find your local DIAL service by looking in the telephone book or contacting DIAL UK, St Catherine’s Hospital, Tickhill Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 8QN.
Tel/textphone: 01302 310 123. Fax: 01302 310 404.
E-mail: Website
Dial Scotland: 01506 33468. Dial Belfast: 01226 325 506.
You can also get names and addresses of local organisations from:
- social services or social work departments
- public libraries
- yellow pages/local directories
- national organisations that give information.
Voluntary organisations - national
Some national voluntary organisations have regional offices or offices in different UK counties as well as a head office. Many can put you in touch with relevant local organisations or local branches. A list of national voluntary organisations of and for people with disabilities is available from the Skill Information Services.
There are national organisations for people with a specific disability. Some examples are Royal National Institute for the Blind, Scope (for people with cerebral palsy), Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and Arthritis Care. There are also national organisations that give specific advice or services for people with disabilities. Examples are Community Service Volunteers (offer independent living schemes), Disability Law Services (offers legal advice) and Tripscope (offers advice about transport).
3. Further information
General
Directory for Disabled People (8th edition, 1999) £17.95
Gives full details of services available to disabled people and the relevant laws. Charge. Published by Prentice Hall Europe in association with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation). Available from RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF.