Other help

The organisations listed below provide a wide variety of services, advice and other help for children with disabilities and their carers.

 

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AbilityNet

AbilityNet is a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. Their special expertise is ensuring that whatever your age, health condition, disability or situation you find exactly the right way to adapt or adjust your ICT to make it easier to use.

 

ACT (Association for Children’s Palliative Care) ACT is a charity working across the UK to achieve a better quality of life and care for every child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their family. ACT offers information and has a national helpline for families and professionals.
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) ACE offers guidance and advice on all aspects of state education, including special educational needs.
Aidis Trust

The Aidis Trust website has been developed to help disabled people make best use of information and communication technology by giving information, help and support on all aspects of disability computing.

 

 

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British Red Cross The British Red Cross has a volunteer-led medical equipment service that provides wheelchair hire and short-term loans of equipment in almost 1,000 outlets in the UK.
 

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Carers Direct – part of NHS Choices Carers Direct offers free, confidential information and advice from the NHS to help carers.
Carers UK A UK-wide membership organisation run by carers for carers, providing information and advice to all carers.
Cerebra Cerebra is a unique charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through researching, educating and directly supporting children and their carers. They also provide practical assistance with grants and have also helped meet the costs of speech therapy.
Child Bereavement Charity This organisation offers support to families and young people who have lost a child. There is a searchable database of support in your area on their website.
Child Death Helpline The Child Death Helpline is for adults and young people affected by the death of a child whatever the time period since the death. The Child Death Helpline is staffed by bereaved parents. All volunteers are trained, supervised and supported by professionals within Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, and the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Children’s Hospice UK Children’s Hospice UK provide specialist care and support to children who are not expected to live to reach adulthood – and their families – from the moment of diagnosis onwards. This support is provided under one roof or in the comfort of the family’s own home. They have listings of hospice services for children throughout the UK.
Contact a Family Contact a Family are a national charity providing advice, information and support for any family with a disabled child, whatever the child’s condition. Their helpline staff can answer queries on all aspects of raising a disabled child, from providing medical information about a diagnosis, giving advice about benefits and services, through to schooling and assessments and statements of special educational needs.
Contact a Family Wales / Cyswllt Teulu Cymru

Contact a Family Wales offer information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any special need or disability as well as professionals working with families. In Wales, CaF organise workshops and conferences for parents (which professionals can sometimes attend) based on local interest. These are an opportunity for parents to come together and share their experiences. 

 

Council for Disabled Children The Council for Disabled Children is the umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector in England and has links to the other UK nations.
Crossroads Caring Scotland This organisation provides short breaks and practical support for carers in Scotland regardless of the age, disability or illness of the person receiving care.
Crossroads – caring for carers Crossroads provides a range of services to give carers in England and Wales a break from their caring responsibilities.
Cruse Bereavement Care Cruse Bereavement Care provides a free counselling service for bereaved families, including children and young people, over the telephone or through local offices providing one-to-one support or group work, plus forums for children/young people. See www.rd4u.org.uk for the young person’s website.
 

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Directgov Directgov is a single point of online access for information, including information for carers on money issues, care and support services, employment and carers’ rights as well as information for disabled people on employment, education and learning, transport, rights and leisure. See also www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/index.htm
Disability Grants

Do you have a Disability? Are you a parent or carer of a Disabled child or adult? If so, use this website to save time finding Disability Grants. Charities and Trusts provide funding towards the high cost of disability equipment, holidays, housing, days out, in fact anything above and beyond the normal costs of everyday living.

Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) DLF gives impartial advice and information on all aspects of daily living equipment for children, including a UK-wide directory of suppliers. The DLF also has a website, self assessment, rapid access (SARA) site at www.asksara.org.uk
 

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FledglingsFledglings is a national charity which aims to assist parents and carers of disabled children by identifying, sourcing and supplying practical, affordable products to address everyday issues.
 

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Genetic Alliance UK A national alliance of patient organisations with a membership of over 130 charities that support children, families and individuals with a genetic disorder. They provide a wide range of information on genetics, including a comprehensive glossary.
Grandparents Plus Grandparents Plus is the national charity which champions the vital role of grandparents and the wider family in children's lives - especially when they take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances.
Gransnet

Gransnet is an online social network developed by the team behind Mumsnet. There is a Special Needs forum as well as discussion on other topics such as Grandparenting, Health, Relationships, Style & beauty, Book Club, Work, Food & recipes, Learning & courses, Television & radio, Hobbies & interests, Homes & gardens, Money, Arts & culture, Travel, Chat etc.

 

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Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) IPSEA gives independent advice to parents who are uncertain about, or disagree with, the Local Educational Authority’s interpretation of their child’s special educational needs.
 

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MedicAlert A charity providing an internationally recognised life-saving identification system for people with hidden medical conditions and allergies, supported by a 24-hour emergency telephone service (from within the London Ambulance Service).
Mumsnet

Mumsnet make parents' lives easier by pooling knowledge, advice and support. The Mumsnet Special needs web guide provides links to useful organisations and there are also discussion forums especially for parents of children with disabilities and related topics.

 

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National Parent Partnership Network (NPPN) Parent Partnership Services (PPS) are statutory services offering information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN). PPS are also able to put parents in touch with other local and national organisations. The services they provide are confidential and impartial.
National Voices National Voices is a coalition of national health and social care organisations representing users of health and social care in England.
Netbuddy

Netbuddy is a website full of handy tips and bright ideas from parents, carers, teachers and therapists with experience of learning disability.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children Newlife gives practical support for disabled children throughout the UK. They provide equipment-grant services to help individual children, and nurse-led support services offering information and support to parents, including an online chat service.
NHS Choices NHS Choices provides information and advice about health, illness and health services 24 hours a day, including search features to find local health services. You can speak to a nurse on the helpline if you need medical advice and help to make complaints. There are links to equivalent services in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
 

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Parentline Plus Parentline Plus is a national charity that works for, and with, parents with any problem around a range of issues affecting parents and their families from having a new baby, starting a new relationship and disagreements in the family, to issues with teenagers, school, homework, sleep or eating patterns.
 

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Sibs Sibs provides information and support for siblings and how parents can support them. In addition, they provide information and advice for professionals supporting young carers.
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Skill is a UK independent charity that promotes equality in education, training and employment for disabled people across the UK. The charity help young people and adults over 16 years of age with any kind of impairment including physical and sensory disabilities, learning and mental health difficulties.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) SSAFA is a national charity helping serving and ex-service men and women and their families, including widows and widowers in need.
 

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The Compassionate Friends This organisation has local befrienders who listen to and support all bereaved parents and their immediate families, a helpline staffed by bereaved parents, forums, a website for siblings and a legal helpline.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers The Trust is a charity providing independent carers’ support services in the UK through its network of carers’ centres, young carers' services and interactive websites.
Turn2UsTurn2Us provides a comprehensive online service to help find sources of financial support based on particular needs and circumstances. Their helpline provides free, confidential information given by trained professional advisers on welfare benefits entitlement and applying for grants.
 

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Warm Front

The Warm Front scheme installs insulation and heating improvements to make homes more energy efficient. Find out more about the Warm Front scheme, including who qualifies and how to apply.

Whizz-Kidz

Whizz-Kidz is a charity that is all about giving disabled children the chance to lead a more independent life by providing the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods.

 

 

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Young Carers Net A website for siblings/young carers with discussion boards and chat rooms (moderated by adults who have been police-checked), an ‘Agony Aunt’ page for young people’s questions plus where to find local young carers’ projects around the UK.
 
 

This information was last updated in April 2011. If you have any problems accessing these organisations please contact us.