Visual Impairment

Chatter-Post – links visually impaired young people 6-20 by freepost.
020 8946 1441

Deafblind UK
01733 358100
01733 358858 Text phone
0800 132320 Help line

Kent Association for the blind
01622 691357

National Library for the Blind
0161 355 2000

Royal Institute for the Blind
0845 702 3153

Sense – National Deafblind and Rubella Association
020 7272 9648
020 7272 9648 Text phone

Talking Newspaper Association of the UK
01435 866102

Useful Information

BT Free priority fault repair service
Freephone:150

Department for transport
0207 944 5281

The home energy efficiency scheme
0800 316 6011

Medical Devices Agency
020 7972 8000

National Centre for Independent Living(NCIL)
020 7587 1663
020 7587 1177 Text phone

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
020 7713 6161
020 7278 1289 Textphone

National Federation of Access Centres
01752 232696
01752 232278 Text phone

National Information Forum
020 74026681

Ricability (RICA: Research Institute for Consumer Affairs)
020 7427 2460
020 7427 2469 Text phone

Support for Families

Contact a family ~ Helpline for parents/carers of children with disabilities
0808 808 3555
email: info@cafamily.org.uk

Disabled Parents Network (DPN)
0870 2410450 Help line
0800 0189949 Text phone

Homestart provide family support for parents of children under 5
08000 68 63 68

Link family scheme
01634 331424

Parentline plus
0808 8002222

Relparent service for parents who are separating or divorced
01634 846914

SNAAP Special Needs Advisory and Activities Project (for families and children within the Canterbury and coastal area).
01227 768526

Support for Children

Action for sick children (healthcare support for children)
020 7843 6444

Childline– helpline for children only
0800 1111

Counselling children with chronic medical conditions
0116 254 9568

KIDS – helping children and young people with disabilities and special needs develop their skills and abilities
020 7359 3635

Kidscape - charity which provides support and guidance for bullied children
020 7730 3300 Helpline

National Children’s Bureau - provides support for children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs
020 7843 6000

Youth Access details of young peoples counsellors throughout the UK
020 8772 9900

Support & Help

AbilityNet (information and advice on technology)
01926 312847
0800 269545 Freephone

Age Concern
0800 009966

ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices) formerly SATFA
020 7631 0285

Birth Defects Foundation
08700 70 70 20

British Council of Disabled People (BCODP)
01332 295551
01332 295581 Text phone
01332 298288 Info line

British Red Cross Society
020 7235 5454

Changing Faces Facing Disfigurement with Confidence
020 7706 4232

Citizens Advice Bureau
020 7833 2181

Cruse Bereavement Care
0870 167 1677

DIAL-UK – Paediatric medicine Information Advisory line
01302 310123 Tel/textphone

DIAL - Disabled information and advice line
01474 537666 NW Kent
01227 771 155 Whitstable

Disability Alliance
0207 247 8776 Tel/textphone
0207 247 8763 Helpline

DISK - Disability Information Service Kent
01303 226 464

Disability law service
020 7791 9800
email: advice@dls.org.uk

Disabled Living foundation
020 7289 6111
0845 1309177 Helpline
0870 6039176 Textphone

Disability Rights Commission
0845 7622633 Helpline
0845 7622633 Textphone

Eating disorders Association
01603 621414 Helpline
01603 765050 Youth line

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD)
0207 802 0300

Foundations (The national coordinating body for home improvement)
01457 891909

HoDis (National Disabled Persons Housing Service)
01904 653888

Home Farm Trust - enables people with learning disabilities to develop their potential
0117 927 3745

John Grooms Association for Disabled People
020 7452 2000

Joseph Rowntree Foundation - independent social policy research and development UK charity
01904 629241

Kent Information Federation
0808 808 5050
email: enquire@kip.cix.co.uk

L’Arche - An international federation of communities for people with learning disabilities and assistants.
01535 656186

Leonard Cheshire – providing various services for disabled people in the UK and overseas.
020 7802 8200

MacIntyre Care – supporting people with learning disabilities
01908 230100

Macmillan Cancer Relief
020 7840 7840
0808 8082020 Cancer line
0808 8080121 Textphone

Medic-alert Foundation
020 7833 3034

Mencap - provide support for those with learning difficulties
020 7454 0454

Migraine Trust
020 7831 4818

National Asthma Campaign
0845 701 0203

National Autistic society
020 7833 2299
0870 6008585 Helpline

National Eczema Society
020 7281 3553
0870 2413604 Helpline

NHS Direct 24 hr health advice service
0845 6060 4645
0845 6060 4647 textphone

Nystagmus Network provide support for those with Nystagmus a condition characterised with rapid, jerky eye movements
01392 272 573

RADAR (Royal Association for disability and rehabilitation)
020 7250 3222
020 7250 4119 Textphone

Samaritans
08457 90 90 90

Scope
020 7619 7100

Voice UK - supporting people with learning disabilities who have experienced crime or abuse and supporting their families carers and professional workers
0870 0133965

Wheelchair Users Group provides advice and information on all aspects of life
0800 0740948

Write Away - pen friend club for young people aged 8-18 with special needs
020 8964 4225

Sports

British Blind Sport
0980 0789000

British Deaf Sports Council
0161 273 3415 Tel/textphone

British Paralympic Association
0207 662 8882

British Ski Club for the Disabled
01892 542921 Contact Mark Green

British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
01296 395995

Cerebal Palsy Sport
0115 982 5352

Disability Sport England DSE
0208 801 4466

Federation of Sports Associations for the Disabled (FSAD)
029 2030 0500

Kent Sports Development Unit – offers details on a wide range of sporting activities across Kent.
Contact Michael Bishop Sports Development Officer for disabled people:
01732 525389

Riding for the Disabled Association
024 7669 6510

Sport and disabled people

UK Sports Association for People with a learning disability
0870 7702466

Spine & Related Conditions

ASBAH The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
01733 555988

Backcare (formerly National Back Pain Association)
0208 977 5474

British Chiropractic Association
0118 950 5950

British School of Osteopathy
020 7407 0222

European school of osteopathy
01622 685989

Scoliosis Association UK –organisation providing information and advice to those with abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
020 8964 5343

Spinal Injuries Association
0800 980 0501

Speech & Language

AFASIC (unlocking speech and language)
0845 35555577

I CAN –helps children with speech and language difficulties
0870 0104066

Makaton Vocabulary Development Project
01276 63190
01276 681368 Fax

Speakability – supporting adults with aphasia
020 7261 9572

Speech therapy
Referral via Health Visitor or Community Nurse

Sexuality

Association to Aid the Sexual and Personal Relationships of people with a disability (formerly SPOD)
0207 607 8851
0207 607 8851 Counselling hotline

Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood, International (DPPI)
0800 0184730 Helpline
0800 0189949 Textphone

Family Planning Association
020 7837 5432
0845 3101334 Helpline

Neurological & Related Conditions

ASBAH The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
01733 555988

Cerebra - provide a support service for those caring for a child with a condition related to the brain
0800 328 1159

Cerebral Palsy care
01634 2220120
email: cerebral_palsy@lineone.net

Child Brain Injury Trust
01865 552467

Dyslexia Institute
01784 463851

Epilepsy Action
0113 210 8800
0808 805050 Helpline

Headway - National Head Injuries Association
0115 924 0800

Hemihelp provide support for those with Hemiplegia and their families
020 8672 3179

National Society for Epilepsy
01494 601300

Neurological Alliance
020 7793 5907

Scope
0808 800 3333
email: cphelpline@scope.org.uk

Stroke Association
020 7566 0300
0845 3033100 Helpline

Mobility

DART- Driving Assessment Rehabilitation Team provide a driving assessment and advice centre
01622 795719

Disabled Drivers Association
01508 489449
0870 7703333 Helpline

Disabled Drivers Motor Club Ltd
01832 734724

Disabled Motorists Federation
01914 416 3172 Tel/fax
email: jkillick2214@compuserve.com

MAVIS (Mobility Advice & Vehicle Info Service)
01344 661000 Tel/textphone
01344 661066 Fax

Motability
01279 635666
01279 632273 Textphone
01279 635666 Mobility Choice Helpline

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation Mobility Centre
020 8770 1151

Legal Help

The Disability Law Service – charity which provide free legal advice and casework for disabled people, carers and their families
020 7791 9801

Insurance

Please check that these details are still current and that the policy suits your individual needs before taking out an insurance policy. N.B. It is up to you to disclose any “material facts” to the insurance company which may affect their offer of cover

All Clear Travel for those with disabilities or existing conditions no age limit
0870 7779339

City Bond Travel Consultants- their spectrum policy covers those up to and including age 60 with life threatening illnesses or serious physical disabilities
0870 4446431

Co-op Insurance Society does not have a specific policy but will assess applications individually
Telephone your local branch for details

Direct Line travel insurance does not have a specific policy but will assess applications individually.
0845 246 8910

Fish Insurance offer a wide range of policies
0500 432141

Free Spirit Insurance does not have a specific policy but will assess applications individually.
0845 230500

J & M Insurance Services (UK) Ltd Their “Travelbility” policy is designed for disabled people their families and carers
020 7446 7626

B J Knibbs Ltd
01271 346711

Marrs Insurance Brokers Ltd Offers travel insurance for both disabled travellers and their able bodied companions. There is no age limit or exclusion for pre existing conditions. 24 hour emergency medical service is written within the cover
020 8366 2222

Nationwide Building Society does not have a specific policy but will assess applications individually.
0500 30 20 12

Housing

DPPA Disabled persons accommodation agency - provides accommodation matching service for anyone living in Kent with either a physical disability or sensory impairment
01634 819922

HoDis (National Disabled Persons Housing Service)
01904 653888

Hearing Impairment

British Deaf Association
020 7588 3520
0207 588 3529 Textphone
0207 496 9539 Videophone
0870 7703300 Helpline (voice)
0800 6522965 Helpline (text)

Deafblind UK
01733 358100
01733 358858 Textphone
0800 132320 Helpline

Deaf Services Bureau
01622 221826

Deaf Education through listening (DELTA)
01440 783689

Hearing Concern (British Association of the Hard of Hearing)
020 8743 1110 Tel/textphone
0845 0744600 Helpline

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
01844 348100 Tel/textphone

Hi Kent
01622 691151 voice or text line

National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS)
020 7490 8656
0808 800 8880 Helpline: (voice/text)

RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
020 7296 8000
0870 6050123 Infoline
0800 0853210 Textphone

Royal Association in aid of deaf people (RAD)
01206 509 509 Head office
01206 577090 Head Office Textphone
0870 774 3579 Local office
01634 577191 Local Office Textphone

Sense – National Deafblind and Rubella Association
020 7272 9648
020 7272 9648 Textphone

Sign – The National Society for Mental Health and Deafness
01494 687600 Tel/textphone

Signalong
08707 743752

Health & Social Services

Community health council
01634 577935

Department of Health
0207 210 4850 Public enquiries
0207 210 5025 Textphone

Department of Health Publications
0870 15554555
0800 555777 Health literature line
0800 9177711 Advice line

Social Services
01622 696364 / 01622 696363 Headquarters
01843 860000 East Kent
01233 652144 Mid Kent
01732 525000 West Kent

Social Services ~ Medway
01634 334466

Funding

Action for Kids - Charitable Trust provides grants for children and young people with disabilities towards equipment and mobility aids
0845 3000 0237

Children Today - Charitable Trust makes grants towards equipment for disabled children
01244 335622

The Child Care Action Trust provides equipment which isn’t available via the NHS
01444 891195

Dave Lees Happy Holidays for sick, disabled or underprivileged children
01227 371022

EDF Energy Trust may be able provide financial assistance with energy bills provided by EDF Energy
EDF ENERGY Trust, PO BOX 42, Peterborough PE3 8XH

Family Fund Trust - The Family Fund helps families of disabled and seriously ill children under the age of 16 by providing grants for holidays or short breaks
01904 621115
01904 658085 Textphone
0845 1304542 Helpline

Handicapped Children’s Action Group
provides grants for mobility and other equipment for children with disabilities
01472 240075

Motability Finance Limited - may be able to help provide a grant towards a motorability vehicle adaptations
For an application for Financial Help Form contact customer services
01279 635666

Sense arrange holidays for those with sensory disabilities
020 7272 7774

The Family Holiday Association provides grants via professionals for families for holidays that cannot secure funds from any other sources
020 7436 3304

3H Holiday Fund arrange subsidised holidays and also provide grants for those on low incomes with disabled dependents to have modest UK breaks
01892 547474

Variety Club help towards mobility equipment for those aged 19 and under
020 7428 8100

Whizz Kidz provide help with the provision of mobility equipment for children and young people
020 7233 6600

Employment

Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
020 7481 2727 Tel/textphone

Department for work & pensions
0207 712 2171 Public enquiries

Education otherwise (advice on home education)
08707 300074

Home education advisory service
PO BOX 98, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6AN

Job Centre
Disability Employment Advisers are available at local job centre’s to advise on employment/training and benefits available to people with disabilities

REMPLOY
024 7651 5800
0845 8452244 Helpline

The Shaw Trust - practical advice and guidance with employment, training etc
01225 716350

Education

Advisory centre for education
0808 8005973

Centre for studies on inclusive education
0808 800 5793

Childcare information service
08000 32 32 30

Deaf Education through listening (DELTA)
01440 783689

Department for Education & Skills ~ public enquiries
0870 0012345
0870 0002288 Help line
0845 6022260 For national information about SEN

Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
0800 0184016
01394 380518 General Enquiries

Kent County Councils website for details on the Local authority education policy for special educational needs

Learn Direct Helpline
0800 100 900

The Learning Centre
01634 220540

Learning and Skills Council (LSC)
0845 019 4170

Learning Disability Helpline (England)
0808 808 1111
0808 808 8181 Textphone

National Portage Association – provides home learning scheme for children with special needs
01322 428238 North West Kent
01227 772992 East Kent
01303 267771 Mid Kent
01634 331194 Medway/North Kent

New deal for lone parents
Via the Lone Parent Adviser at your Local Job Centre

Network81 - a national network of parents of children with special educational needs
01279 647415

Parents for Inclusion
020 7735 7735
020 7582 5333 Textphone
020 7582 5008 Adviceline

Partnership with parents ~ Enquiries
01622 350640
01622 755515 Helpline for parents

Open University
01908 653745/2178
01908 655978 Textphone:

Pre School Learning Alliance
01732 363 070

Skill (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities)
020 7450 0620 Tel/textphone
0800 3285050 Info line
0800 0682422 Textphone info line:

Days Out ~ Holidays

Access Travel – holidays abroad for disabled people
01942 888844

Accessible Travel & Leisure Ltd
01452 729 739

Activenture holiday
01342 822625

Artsline (access to arts)
020 7388 2227

Bendrigg Trust (based in Cumbria) offer activity holidays for disabled people of all ages
01539 723766

Bluebell Railway (Enquiries)
01825 720800
01825 720800 For information on their accessible coach

Break – offers short breaks for all ages with or without accompanying carers. Facilities are based in either Norfolk or Devon
01269 822161

British Polio Fellowship offer details of accommodation at a reasonable price for all disabilities
0800 0180586

Calvert Trust Outdoor Activity Centre
01768 772254 / 01434 250232 / 01598 763221

Camping for the Disabled provides information on camping and camp sites in the UK and Europe
01743 463072

Contact A Family publishes a free fact sheet on holidays
0808 808 3555

Dave Lee Happy Holidays ~ General enquiries:
01227 371022
01227 728240 Holiday Hotline:

Grooms Holidays
Email: holidays@johngrooms.org.uk
08456 584478

H.E.L.P – Holiday Endeavour for Lone Parents
01302 728791

Holiday Care Service for info all types of holidays for those with special needs
0845 1249971
0845 1249976 Textphone

The Kentish Lady II – wheelchair accessible boat trips around Maidstone
01622 753740 Tel/fax
07973 866971 Mobile Number

The Kingcombe Centre, Dorset – offering a range of courses and activities for both adults and children
01300 320684

The Lyneal Trust based in Shrewsbury offer holiday cottages and canal boat trips for disabled people
01743 252728

Phab England – Making More of Life Together
020 8667 9443

Positive future workshops (residential activity breaks for 13-17 yr olds)
01727 825841

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre
023 8040 4844

RADAR - compiles fact sheets and holiday guides
020 7250 3222

Red Ridge Centre based on the welsh border offer activity holidays for all abilities
01938 810821

Tripscope (planning journeys and travel advice)
0117 939 7782
08457 585641 Helpline/textphone:

Transport for London ~ 24hrs
020 7222 1234
020 7941 4600 Tel/textphone:

The Wingate Centre
01270 780456

Winged Fellowship Trust - (providing holidays for visually impaired and disabled people and breaks for carers).
020 7833 2594

3H Fund Holidays for disabled people Respite for Carers
01892 547474