ODI's list of useful sites including websites for government, disability organisations
The ODI is not responsible for the content of any of the websites linked to here, and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. The ODI cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and has no control over the availability of any of these sites.
We welcome any suggestions for further links to be added to this page.
N.B. Each site listed below opens in a new window.
You can view all the links in alphabetical order or select from the following groups
A charity that brings the benefits of computer technology to adults and children
with disabilities at home and at work. Formed by an amalgamation of The Computability
Centre and the Foundation for Communication for the Disabled. It offers a programme
of courses and seminars, an assessment service, an 0800 information and advice
line and consultancy.
The Big Disability and Health Directory of UK Disabled and Health Needs.
Disability, disabled and Health related web sites offering products, goods,
services, aids, information and advice under the convenient roof of one web
site directory.
A UK charity that aims to enable blind and visual impaired people to enjoy
equal opportunities in every aspect of their lives through work, leisure, housing
and support.
The Ann Craft Trust is a UK based organisation working with staff in the
statutory, independent and voluntary sectors to protect children and adults
with learning disabilities from abuse.
Arthritis Care is the UK's largest voluntary organisation working with
and for all people with arthritis from every section of the community. Its
mission is to empower people to take control of their arthritis, their lives
and their organisation. The site includes local contact groups.
APDA, founded in 1988, continues to be successfully managed and run by Asian
people with in depth knowledge and personal experience of disability and caring.
It is a non-governmental community organization.
With the support of the European Commission, Autism Europe is launching an
Autism Awareness Information Campaign during the European Year of People with
Disabilities 2003 (EYPD 2003).
BCAB is a self-help group of visually impaired computer professionals and
users who can help visually impaired people to access and use information and
communications technology.
Provides direct support and information to people with dyslexia, their families,
colleagues and employers and includes links to national organisations.
BILD is a charity committed to improving the quality of life of people with
a learning disability. It provides services that promote good practice in the
provision and planning of health and social care services for people with learning
disabilities.
The British Polio Fellowship (BPF) is a registered charity with over 8000
members. It was one of the first organisations of disabled people and it has
acted as a voice for people who have had polio for over half a century.
Changing Faces is a national organisation that supports and represents children,
young people and adults who have disfigurements. It also offers training, consultancy
and resources to help employers and customer-facing staff to ensure equal opportunities
in the workplace.
A Scottish charity working for an equal and better future for all deaf people.
Deaf Action raises awareness of the needs and rights of deaf people, challenges
discrimination, and provides services to promote independence and quality of
life.
Deafax aims to improve the quality of deaf, deafblind, speech-impaired and
hearing children and adults' lives by developing their communication skills,
literacy and employability using technology and other methods.
A source of information, contacts and discussion on issues related to deafness
and sign language, with a forum for exchange of ideas/experiences to foster
better links between deaf and hearing worlds, for families and professionals.
Diabetes UK is the new name of the British Diabetic Association - the leading
charity working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and
helping people live with the condition.
The Disability Law Service is a national registered charity that provides
confidential and free legal advice for disabled adults, their families and
carers. dlS also provides disabled people with a casework service.
The Disability Support Community is a support and discussion website and
forum where all people with a disability of any kind can and carers for those
with a disability, can seek support, resources and help with any issue.
Provides disabled workers, and companies that employ a significant number
of disabled workers in meaningful employment, with a FREE way of marketing
the goods and services they have to offer. This is done via our free search
tool that matches people who are looking for a particular product or service
with someone (a disabled workers) who is able to provide that service. The
website also includes an Employment section and a Website Directory.
Disabled World is an online community for disabled persons featuring the
latest news and articles for people with disabilities. Disabled World also
provides a facility which allows users to post news articles and pictures directly
to the site. It also provides a free classified service for the Disabled, the
latest news and forums to discuss news.
This site aims to provide useful and day to day information for the disabled
from the disabled. It is a resource where disabled people can recommend useful
aids and products, support groups, etc.
A national educational charity which provides assessment and tuition for
dyslexic people and training courses for specialist teachers. The Dyslexia
Institute has 25 main teaching Centres throughout Great Britain.
Ensuring Positive Futures operates a range of services in order to support
people living with HIV in employment, and to advise businesses on how to become 'Employers
of Choice'.
Epilepsy Bereaved is the leading voluntary organisation in the UK and Internationally
on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) and other epilepsy related deaths.
A voluntary organisation which promotes disability equality, the understanding
of Disability and helps improve access in the community of Harris and beyond.
The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group was set up to oversee
the Welsh Assembly Government's response to "Fulfilling the Promises" and
to provide advice on learning disability issues.
Leonard Cheshire is a leading charity provider of care and support to people
with disabilities, both in the UK and in more than 50 countries around the
world. In the UK today Leonard Cheshire provides 140 services, supporting nearly
15,000 disabled people. Leonard Cheshire has links with a wide range of constituencies
of disabled people and disability organisations. It is a founding member of
the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG). It is also a member of
the Disabilities Charities Consortium, the Disability Benefits Consortium and
the National Community Care Alliance - all actively promoting rights for disabled
people.
Macintyre Care provides services for adults and children with learning disabilities
including registered care homes, supported living schemes, accredited training
schemes, day services, and 2 residential schools which meets the needs of children
with severe learning disabilities.
A mental health charity that campaigns for a better life for everyone experiencing
mental distress. Mind works for the right to lead an active and valued life
in the community and is an influential voice on mental health issues, and can
provide training in mental health awareness. The site includes information
on regional associations.
A registered charity (1114973) based in Birmingham providing advice to disabled
people, their family, friends and carers. We cover the West Midlands but also
take calls from else where within the UK.
The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC) is a proactive and innovative
charity, passionately committed to supporting anyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis
through access to unbiased information and advice
NAT is the UK's leading HIV and AIDS policy development and campaigning
organisation. One of their key areas of work is HIV stigma and and discrimination.
They produce materials on HIV discrimination in employment and in healthcare.
The National Autistic Society champions the rights and interests of all people
with autism and aims to provide individuals with autism and their families with
help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which
can make a positive difference to their lives.
The National Disabled Workers Group is a self-organised equalities group,
part of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. It provides an
opportunity for networking, consultation, and training for disabled workers
within the Citizens advice service.
Discrimination, ignorance and fear stand in the way of people with experience
of mental distress. Want to do something about it, and meet others who feel
the same? Make Open Up your first stop: together we'll work out how to
beat discrimination for good.
The Foundation operates five specialist centres for people with complex disabilities
focusing on brain injury rehabilitation, development of life skills, mobility,
vocational training, educational and leisure activities.
A UK organisation run by and working for disabled people. RADAR campaigns
for equal rights for disabled people and provides information and advice on
issues relating to disability. The site lists disability contact groups.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People is Britain's leading charity
working with deaf people. The site provides a range of information and links
to related parts of the organisation such as Sound Advantage, which can advise
on equipment, and has links to regional offices and groups. RNID also provides
a consultancy service including an access audit.
RNIB is the leading charity working for blind and partially sighted people
throughout the UK, with over 60 different services to help people at all stages
of their lives. The site has links to the VISAGE employers website, which has
extensive information on employment issues including available technology and
workplace integration. Also links to regional groups and organisations.
Britain's leading charity working for and with people with learning disabilities
and their families. MENCAP promotes training and recruitment of people with
learning difficulties, and has a particular focus on supporting employees and
employers through the PATHWAY scheme.
The South East Disability Equality Council (SEDEC) is an initiative of Hampshire
Coalition of Disabled People (HCODP) and Southampton Centre for Independent
living (SCIL).
SENSE is the world's largest organisation working with and campaigning
for deafblind people, their families and professionals who work with them.
The site has links to regional services.
The "SITE" project intends to assist blind and visually impaired
people of working age to reach their goals, whether it is to move into further
education to acquire validated course certificates, improve their skills and
abilities to enable improvement in their job prospects, or to increase their
confidence and motivation, we will work with the individual to maximise their
potential.
Skill promotes opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of
disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. It
also provides individual support to disabled people, their families/enablers
or people working with disabled people by offering an information service by
phone, minicom or letter, and by publishing books, booklets and information
leaflets.
Speakability is the national charity that works with people with aphasia.
Around a quarter of a million people in the UK suffer from aphasia, also known
as dysphasia, as a result of stroke, head injury or other neurological condition.
For those wanting to know more about spinal cord injury and to read about
the experiences of other paraplegics, tetraplegics and Walkers. This two thousand
page web site has a dedicated Chat Room, a Message Board and factsheets about
living with life with paralysis.
The Rowan Organisation is a registered, non for profit organisation that
provides support and services to disabled people centred around independent
living, helping people to set their own aims and objectives to plan for their
future. They assist disabled people to take control of their lives by managing
their own support arrangements with funding from Social Services to meet their
agreed needs.
United Response's mission is to encourage individuals with learning disabilities
or mental health problems to plan for and take control of their lives in the
community.
The Big Disability and Health Directory of UK Disabled and Health Needs. Disability, disabled and Health related web sites offering products, goods, services, aids, information and advice under the convenient roof of one web site directory.
Access to Work (AtW) provides practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. As well as giving advice and information to disabled people and employers, AtW pays a grant, through the Jobcentre Plus, towards any extra employment costs which result from disability.
AccessibleNet.org is an independent, online directory of links and resources about Web accessibility. Included are some of most popular, well-researched resources available in this field. New resources are always welcome and those that are accepted will be added to the directory. The database is updated daily with news, resources, reviews or ratings.
Adviceguide is packed with information and impartial advice about a wide range of subjects including the Disability Discrimination Act. The disability discrimination section includes helpful advice regarding what is considered to be discrimination and what you can do about it. The employment section offers advice about basic rights at work, including pay and redundancy. In addition, the site has achieved the Community Legal Services "Quality Mark for Websites" which ensures that users are accessing a high quality service with accurate and up-to-date information.
ADR Group is a specialist mediation provider and commercial dispute resolution service, helping to resolve disputes without the need to resort to the courts.
ATLA is the professional association for teachers of lipreading to adults who become deaf or hard of hearing. The site contains information about lipreading classes and training to become a lipreading teacher.
This is a UK charity, and is the information and training body on the accessibility of the built environment for disabled people. It is committed to the provision of buildings and spaces that are safe, convenient and enjoyable to use by everyone, including disabled and older people and, as the centre of excellence on the technicalities of access provision, offers a range of services including consultancy.
Use this website to access free quality legal help and information. You can find a solicitor or legal adviser in your area, check if you are eligible for legal aid, or find advice from one of over 300 carefully selected websites. You can also view legal information leaflets, or find out how to contact the Telephone Helpline.
Deafax aims to improve the quality of deaf, deafblind, speech-impaired and hearing children and adults' lives by developing their communication skills, literacy and employability using technology and other methods.
Defeating Deafness is a research charity dedicated to supporting medical research into deafness and other hearing problems. The website has news stories alongside resource and medical information. The different sections cover a wide range of topics.
Information and Advice for Disabled People: DIAL UK is the national organisation for the DIAL network, which provides services to disability information and advice providers.
Disability Advice Bradford (DaB) is an independent registered charity offering free and impartial information and advice to people with disabilities and carers of all ages in the Bradford Metropolitan District.
The DISinHE site offers information and advice on how information systems can be used to support staff and students with disabilities, and includes reports and materials, applications and procedures for supporting studies.
Provides disabled workers, and companies that employ a significant number of disabled workers in meaningful employment, with a FREE way of marketing the goods and services they have to offer. This is done via our free search tool that matches people who are looking for a particular product or service with someone (a disabled workers) who is able to provide that service. The website also includes an Employment section and a Website Directory.
A national educational charity which provides assessment and tuition for dyslexic people and training courses for specialist teachers. The Dyslexia Institute has 25 main teaching Centres throughout Great Britain.
The FPA is the only registered charity worlking to improve the sexual health and reproductive rights of all people throughout the UK. The FPA work with the public and professionals to ensure high quality information and services are avilable to everyone who needs them.
HCP-Disability (Healthcare Professionals with Disability) is a site dedicated to promoting, supporting and providing information about disabled people as healthcare professionals in the UK.
Help the Aged is committed to addressing the issues that matter to older people. They have four main priorities: Combating Poverty, Reducing Isolation, Defeating Ageism, Challenging Poor Care Standards. working together with older people they campaign, research and develop practical solutions to these issues.
Independent living Schemes provide support, advice and information for disabled people in York who want to live independently and have more choice and control over how their individual needs are met.
The Disability Rights Project is the result of a partnership between the Disability Rights Commission and the Law Centres Federation providing 14 Disability Rights Workers in Law Centres in the regions of the country.
The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group was set up to oversee the Welsh Assembly Government's response to "Fulfilling the Promises" and to provide advice on learning disability issues.
The bureaux provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice on a range of subjects. The site provides access to CAB service evidence and recommendations for reform across a wide range of social policy issues.
Need2Know is the new portal for 13 - 19 years olds. It provides a 'first-stop-shop' for everything in life, with relevant sign-posts to valuable web sites in the public, private and charitable sectors. It covers areas of life such as health, relationships, law, money, travel.
Pluss is the website for the Industrial Services Group who seek to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities through commercial activities and recruitment services.
Ricability is a national research charity that tests products and services. It publishes independent consumer reports for disabled people on: assistive technology, central heating controls, childcare products used by disabled parents, community alarms, digital tv, and motoring.
Advice online contains over 600 pages of information and advice on a wide range of issues related to housing and homelessness, including discrimination.
Shopmobility is a scheme which lends manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and powered scooters to members of the public with limited mobility to shop and visit leisure and commerical facilities.
The IRS delivers an independent review of discretionary Social Fund decisions made in Jobcentre Plus offices. They share information and expertise with those who have an interest in the discretionary social fund and its review. They also participate in social policy research that contributes to the wider debate about the social fund and related issues.
Victim Support is the independent charity which helps people cope with the effects of crime. We provide free and confidential support and information to help you deal with your experience.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) accessibility site focuses on issues and developments relating to implementing accessibility on the Web for disabled people.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) accessibility site focuses on issues and developments relating to implementing accessibility on the Web for disabled people.
Information and Advice for Disabled People: DIAL UK is the national organisation for the DIAL network, which provides services to disability information and advice providers.
Brain injury association that promotes public awareness of all aspects of head injury and provides information, support and services to people with head injuries and the people around them. lists local groups and branches.
The inaugural Paralympic World Cup will take place in Manchester from 12th - 15th May 2005. Over 350 atheletes from 49 countries have been invited to the games which will be the biggest elite level disability event outside the Paralympic Games.
A charity that brings the benefits of computer technology to adults and children with disabilities at home and at work. Formed by an amalgamation of The Computability Centre and the Foundation for Communication for the Disabled. It offers a programme of courses and seminars, an assessment service, an 0800 information and advice line and consultancy.
USA site, run by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, that contains information about a wide range of assistive technology.
AccessibleNet.org is an independent, online directory of links and resources about Web accessibility. Included are some of most popular, well-researched resources available in this field. New resources are always welcome and those that are accepted will be added to the directory. The database is updated daily with news, resources, reviews or ratings.
BCAB is a self-help group of visually impaired computer professionals and users who can help visually impaired people to access and use information and communications technology.
Deafax aims to improve the quality of deaf, deafblind, speech-impaired and hearing children and adults' lives by developing their communication skills, literacy and employability using technology and other methods.
GAWDS is a vehicle for "legitimising" and promoting accessible web design, - and for providing a support mechanism individuals and organisations providing services and products related to accessible web design.
Ricability is a national research charity that tests products and services. It publishes independent consumer reports for disabled people on: assistive technology, central heating controls, childcare products used by disabled parents, community alarms, digital tv, and motoring.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) accessibility site focuses on issues and developments relating to implementing accessibility on the Web for disabled people.
,