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You are here: Home / Advice and information

Advice and information

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This page is a work in progress – it is intended to provide contact details for some of the organisations that can provide free advice and support to disabled people, on issues such as benefits, housing, independent living, and how to become involved in disability rights campaigning and activism.

There are also many good sources of paid support, but this page is only for those organisations and networks that do not charge for their advice or support.

Please get in touch via [email protected] if there are any organisations you would like added to this page or if you would like to suggest any amendments.

 

Coronavirus

Here are some links to good sources of information and support during the coronavirus pandemic:

Real

Inclusion London

Disability Rights UK

The Department of Health and Social Care

National Survivor User Network

Spinal Injuries Association

COVID Mutual Aid UK

Disability North

Disability Wales

Citizens Advice

Inclusion Scotland


Activism and campaigning

If you want to campaign against government cuts or otherwise fight for independent living for disabled people or other issues of disability rights, these are some of the organisations of disabled people you could contact:

Black Triangle Campaign

Disabled People Against Cuts

Mental Health Resistance Network

The Alliance for Inclusive Education

WinVisible (campaigns and supports disabled women): 

WOWcampaign

If you would like to discuss concerns online with other disabled people and allies, these are some of the forums that you might consider joining:

Disabled People Against Cuts

The Disability Hate Crime Network


Disability hate crime

If you believe you have been the victim of a disability hate crime:

If you are in immediate danger, a crime is happening now, or a suspect for a serious crime is nearby, phone the police on 999 or 18000 on textphone

Visit the True Vision hate crime website, which is run by The National Police Chiefs’ Council

You can report a hate crime in some parts of England through the Stop Hate UK website

If you are in Waltham Forest or Newham in London, visit Stay Safe East

For advice and support from other disabled people and allies with experience in this area, try visiting the Disability Hate Crime Network Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/disabilityhatecrimenetwork/

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland


Discrimination

If you believe you have been discriminated against because you are a disabled person – for example on public transport, in a shop, pub, or at work – you could try these resources:

Inclusion London has a useful guide, which includes advice on what to do if things go wrong. Its Disability Justice Project also has an excellent page on how to source legal advice

Contact the Equality Advisory Support Service, a government-funded helpline that replaced the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline and covers England, Scotland and Wales

Contact your local Law Centre. Here is a list of Law Centres

Here is a page with details of Scotland’s Law Centres

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

For mental health-related issues around discrimination, visit the Mind website

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland


Education

If you are over 16, and the course is in England, contact Disability Rights UK for advice and support through its Disabled Students Helpline

Contact your local Law Centre. Here is a list of Law Centres

Here is a page with details of Scotland’s Law Centres

For sources of information and advice on special educational needs (SEN) issues, visit Advicenow

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland

DABD, a charity in Barking and Dagenham, offers advice and support with education, skills and employment to disabled people in those and neighbouring boroughs


Employment

If you are not receiving the support you need as a disabled person at work, or you believe you have otherwise faced discrimination:

For information, visit the Advicenow website

Inclusion London’s Disability Justice Project has an excellent page on how to source legal advice

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland

Contact your local Law Centre. Here is a list of Law Centres

Here is a page with details of Scotland’s Law Centres

Visit Scope’s free helpline

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

DABD, a charity in Barking and Dagenham, offers advice and support with education, skills and employment to disabled people in those and neighbouring boroughs


Housing

If you have housing-related problems, these are some of the steps you could take:

Visit Scope’s free helpline

Contact Shelter’s helpline

Inclusion London’s Disability Justice Project has an excellent page on sourcing legal advice

Contact your local Law Centre. Here is a list of Law Centres

Here is a page with details of Scotland’s Law Centres

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland


Human rights

If you believe that your rights as a disabled person have been breached, these are some of your options:

Contact the Equality Advisory Support Service, a government-funded helpline that replaced the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline and covers England, Scotland and Wales

Inclusion London’s Disability Justice Project has an excellent page on sourcing legal advice

For advice on human rights issues in England and Wales, contact Liberty

For mental health-related issues around human rights, contact Mind

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland

Inclusion London has a useful guide, which includes information about disability rights


Independent living

If you do not believe you are receiving the support you need to live independently:

Inclusion London has a useful guide, which includes advice on what to do if things go wrong. Its Disability Justice Project also has an excellent page on sourcing legal advice

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

For information and advice on social care personal budgets and direct payments, contact the Disability Rights UK helpline or email service

Visit Scope’s free helpline

For mental health-related issues around independent living, visit Mind’s website

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland  

DABD, a charity in Barking and Dagenham, offers advice and support with social care and mobility and transport to disabled people in those and neighbouring boroughs


Mental health

If you need urgent support with your mental health:

Mind has information if you need advice or support with your mental health

Papyrus provides free, confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide

Rethink has a page with advice on who to contact

Samaritans can be contacted free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by calling 116 123 or emailing [email protected]

SOS Silence of Suicide provides email and telephone support for those who need ’emotional support, understanding, compassion and kindness’


Social security and poverty

If you need support or advice on a claim for social security/benefits, you can:

Contact your local Law Centre. Here is a list of Law Centres

Inclusion London’s Disability Justice Project has an excellent page on sourcing legal advice

Here is a page with details of Scotland’s Law Centres

Contact your local Citizens Advice office

Contact the non-profit benefits advice service Fightback4Justice for advice on PIP, DLA, ESA and universal credit (some services are free, some are chargeable)

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

Visit Scope’s free helpline

For information on benefits, visit the Advicenow website

In Scotland, visit Disability Information Scotland 

RNIB is working with HMRC to support blind and partially sighted people with tax and benefit issues. The service is free and confidential

 

If you have applied for disability-related benefits and are not happy with how your claim has been dealt with, some of the options include:

Contacting your local MP to ask them for their support. You can find your local MP here

Contact your local Citizens Advice office

Or in Scotland, visit the Citizens Advice Scotland website

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

Contact the non-profit benefits advice service Fightback4Justice for advice on PIP, DLA, ESA and universal credit (some services are free, some are chargeable)

 

If you are a disabled person and have problems related to poverty or debt, you can contact these organisations:

Rethink Mental Illness’s Mental Health and Money Advice service

Visit the website Turn2us for your nearest sources of information and advice, and for written information and advice, visit this Turn2us page

DABD,a charity in Barking and Dagenham, offers advice and support with benefits and financial independence to disabled people in those and neighbouring boroughs

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