Resources in United Kingdom
Organizations
- 1 Voice Communicating Together
1 Voice is a network and support group for children who use AAC and their families. It is run by a committee of parents, adults who use AAC, and professionals. Volunteers are responsible for organising and running events, as well as for all administration, policy making, fundraising, publicity, and other duties. 1 Voice holds weekend networking events and conferences for families, teens, and younger children in the United Kingdom.
- AbilityNet
AbilityNet is a national charity and one of the UK's leading providers of expertise on computing and disability. They offer a one-stop shop for need assessment, technical expertise, advice and support. They also supply adapted computer equipment for people with a wide range of disabilities. AbilityNet's services are free for UK residents who have no statutory or other funding.
- ACE Centre
The ACE Centre (Aiding Communication in Education) offers help and support to children with complex physical and communication difficulties and their parents, caregivers, and therapists. Working with parents, the child, and the child's school, it identifies communication aids and other technologies and methods that can enable the child to communicate and read. In addition to assessment and training services, it also develops software and participates in research projects.
- Advocacy Partners
This organization pairs a person with a disability with another person who will serve as their advocate in society.
- Autism Society
The Autism Society was started by parents of a boy with autism. The site links to resources in the U.K. and throughout the world that provide information on autism and parenting a child with autism. The site also encourages members of the public to register for free on the site and to contribute content.
- A-Z to Deafblindness
This site is hosted by James Gallagher, who is deafblind himself. It offers information on, and links to, services and other resources for people who are blind, deaf and deafblind.
- Berkshire Disability Information Network
Information for people with disabilities and caregivers in Berkshire.
- Better Living Through Technology
"Better Living Through Technology is a web site that aims to promote the use of technology to help people with disabilities. The information is written with special educational needs in mind, but the information can be useful for helping older people too. This site is targeted towards professionals working with pupils and students with special educational needs. It is mostly aimed at teachers, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, assistive technology assessors, and parents. Better Living Through Technology is entirely independent of any commercial company and can therefore offer unbiased advice on the specialist software and hardware available. The author is an experienced disability consultant, assessor and trainer named Charlie Danger who lives in South London."
- Bunnyfoot Ltd.
Bunnyfoot Ltd. is a consultancy in the United Kingdom that offers professional testing and evaluation of web site and software accessibility and usability. Its services include expert evaluation and user testing. Bunnyfoot has offices in Oxford, Edinburgh, London, Reading, Sheffield, and Hong Kong.
- CALL Centre
A service and research unit within the University of Edinburgh, the CALL Centre (Communication Aids for Language and Learning) provides specialist expertise in technology for children who have speech, communication and/or writing difficulties, in schools across Scotland.
- Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds
CDS is an interdisciplinary centre for teaching and research in the field of disability studies at the University of Leeds (England).
- Communication Matters (ISAAC UK)
Communication Matters is a UK national charitable organization of members concerned with the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs of people with complex communication difficulties. Communication Matters is also known as ISAAC (UK), the United Kingdom chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). Communication Matters values and promotes the individual's right to participate in all aspects of life by using their most appropriate means of communication to express their thoughts, feelings, needs and desires. Members include people who use AAC, family members and carers of people who use AAC, speech and language therapists, teachers, social care workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation engineers, programmers, lecturers, researchers, manufacturers and suppliers, social workers, psychologists and doctors.
- Computer Centre for People with Disabilities, University of Westminster (UK)
CCPD supports the needs of disabled students within the University of Westminster as well as being a major provider of 'Needs Assessments' and specialist IT training for all UK students pursuing claims under the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).
- Consequential Ideas
Sam Challenger of the U.K. hosts this site to publicize his greeting card/t-shirt designs that touch on the humourous side of living with SCI.
- Dan Welchman Productions
This privately-run site offers Mouse Trial, animated exercises for children with autism. The site also offers an autism software database and autism-related links.
- Deafblind International
DbI is an international organization which promotes the civil rights of those affected by deaf blindness, research regarding the condition, as well as working to enable interaction between deaf blind people and their families, friends, and the general public.
- Disability Awareness in Action
Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) is an international human rights network, run for and by disabled people. The DAA site passes information and news to disabled people - and representative organisations - around the world. DAA’s efforts are particularly focused on people in developing countries.
- Disability Now
A monthly newspaper covering disability issues in the UK. All of the content is available online.
- Disability Rights Commission
The Commission was established by the British Government to eliminate discrimination against disabled people and promote equal opportunities for disabled people. Beyond the information on rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in the U.K., the site also offeres a good links page.
- Disability World
A one-stop site for people with disabilities in Scotland. This site provides hundreds of links to disability sites in the U.K., Europe and around the world.
- Disabled Living Foundation
"The mission of the Disabled Living Foundation is to make everyday life easier for people with disabilities, older people and carers, by giving impartial advice about equipment for overcoming problems in daily living." The DLF site provides series of fact sheets on selecting a wide variety of assistive products. The DLF is a member of the Alliance of Assistive Technology Information Providers.
- DisabledGo
DisabledGo provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the United Kingdom. DisabledGo access guides to goods and services have been specially designed to answer the everyday questions of disabled people, their careers, family and friends.
- EnjoyBedAndBreakfast.com - Accessible B&B Collection
This site provides a list of bed and breakfast inns in England and Scotland that identify themselves as having accessible accommodations. Most establishments provide a detailed Access Statement under "Facilities" in their respective listings.
- Even Keel Project
Through its adaptive sailing program, The Even Keel Project provides sailors with and without disabilities with the opportunity to participate together in sailing. The project's philosophy stems from the importance of accessibility, the idea of breaking down barriers and creating a fun and functional environment that will increase participation. Even Keel uses the Artemis20 boat, which was designed and built to be accessible to all by Vizual Marine Ltd. of the United Kingdom (http://www.vizmarine.com).
- Global Dialysis
Global Dialysis is a resource for dialysis patients who want to travel. Its major resource is a directory of over 11,800 dialysis centers in 127 countries. In addition, there are lists of accommodation, travel agents, tours and cruises and travel insurance companies that cater to dialysis patients. There is also a directory of kidney patient associations around the world.
- I CAN
I CAN is a children’s communication charity in the United Kingdom. It works to foster the development of speech, language and communication skills in all children, with a special focus on children with communication disabilities. It has programs to create communication friendly settings for children in their early years; deliver specialist therapy and education for children with the most severe and complex difficulties; help professionals from across the children’s workforce to better support children’s communication needs through training and information services; and help parents access the information that they need to support their child. I CAN also works to ensure that the needs of children with communication disabilities are taken into account in all children’s policy, and it carries out research to find the best ways to support these children.
- Independent Living Events
Wondering about conferences and other events about independent living in the UK? Check out this site for the details.
- Independent Living, UK
General Disability Information site for the United Kingdom focusing on products and issues for independent living including health and legislation. The site also offers advice and a job finder feature.
- International Foundation for Disabled Sailing
The International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) has been authorized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to be responsible for disabled sailing around the world. IFDS works with its members to promote and support sailing for people with physical disabilities, blindness, deafness, and learning difficulties, including recreation, training, and racing. The IFDS works in close partnership with the ISAF and since April 2001 the IFDS Secretariat has been based within the ISAF Secretariat at Ariadne House in Southampton, UK.
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
Leonard Cheshire Disability provides a wide variety of services in the UK to support people with disabilities. These services include care homes, supported living, domiciliary support, day services, resource centres, rehabilitation, respite care, personal support and training and assistance for those looking for work. They also actively campaign for the civil and human rights of disabled people.
- Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network
A great site on PPS resources in the UK and the rest of the world.
- MatchingHouses.com
This membership organization enables individuals with similar accessibility needs to swap houses to provide accessible lodgings for travel.
- Mobility and Disability Today Magazine
UK-based web site with information and guidance for drivers with disabilities. Readers can find answers to questions on the Q/A Helplines pages and contribute their own thoughts on issues that affect them on the Letters and Forums pages. Information is provided on the UK's Motability Scheme, where to find Shopmobility centers, and accessible holidays around the UK. A Suppliers Guide gives links to the websites of product and service providers.
- Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme is a program in the United Kingdom that enables individuals qualified for disability benefits in the UK to use their government-funded mobility allowances to obtain a new car, powered wheelchair, or scooter.
- Number 1 Stair Lifts
Launched in 2004, this site seeks to provide comprehensive, impartial advice for consumers seeking information prior to purchasing a stair lift.
- Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People
Queen Elizabeth's Foundation is a British organization that promotes equality for disabled people through eight specialist centres for disabled people in the United Kingdom. Services include job training and services for people with brain injuries.
- RECAL Information Services
RECAL Information Services provides bibliographic information about the literature of prosthetics, orthotics and related physical medicine and rehabilitation engineering.
- Red Bee Media Limited
With offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, China, and Singapore, Red Bee Media is a business providing subtitling, audio captioning, and sign language captioning for both live and recorded media, including live television, pre-recorded programs, and DVDs.
- Ricability
Ricability is a British national research charity dedicated to providing independent information of value to disabled and older consumers. Ricability researches and publishes consumer reports. The reports are based on rigorous research and provide practical information needed by disabled and older consumers. Ricability staff also work with manufacturers, service providers, regulators and policy makers to improve products and services.
- Royal National Institute of Blind People
The Institute provides services to people in the United Kingdom who are blind or have low vision. RNIB offers information, support and advice through a national Helpline; produces and distributes braille and talking books; and supports research into the causes and latest treatments of eye conditions. RNIB's Online Shop sells over 1000 products and publications. Some products are available for sale in other countries such as the United States; contact the Online Shop Export Department for information.
- Snowdrop
Snowdrop is a consultancy in child development which specialises in providing programmes of rehabilitation for children who suffer developmental difficulties. Those difficulties may be caused by brain injury or by sociocultural sources and might express themselves in many ways, such as cerebral palsy or autism, or more specific problems such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia or specific language impairment (SLI).
- Soundings
Soundings is a free, impartial and editorially independent monthly information service for anyone in the United Kingdom who is blind or partially sighted - whether they are registered or not. Soundings information, including Soundings Magazine, is available on cassette, on audio CD and on the Internet.
- Talking Point
Talking Point is an informational web site on communication development and disability. Talking Point's Parent Point section includes information on how to support a child's communication development, and how to support a child with communication disabilities. It includes information on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA). The Professional Point section includes information, FAQs and resources for professionals who work with children with communication disabilities.
- Tiresias
This site "is an information resource for professionals who work in the field of visual disabilities. The site has evolved from work carried out by Dr Janet Silver of Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and Dr John Gill of the Royal National Institute of the Blind."
- Unique Sport Training Systems International Ltd.
Unique Sport offers martial arts and fitness training systems for people with disabilities.
- YoureAble.com
An Internet-based disability information and news service. Youreable was founded by Joe Rajko, a charity worker from Leeds, UK, after winning the Channel 4 eMillionaire show in July 2000. Youreable has integrated information, products and services into a community-based website.
