Helpful organisations

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Organisations working with and for disabled people and carers

Ability Superstore

Ability Superstore offers over 12,000 disability, mobility and healthcare products all in one place together with friendly customer support. There’s a printed catalogue of best sellers too.

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Ableize – disability information and resources

An online disability directory of UK needs and services. Includes access, recreation and sports, arts and education, information on specific disabilities and news. Run by disabled people for disabled people.

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Action for Blind People

Action for Blind People is one of the largest charities in the UK providing practical, free and confidential support for blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of their lives. The charity is driven by the needs of visually impaired people and has a reputation for talking less and doing more.

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Alzheimer’s Society

The Alzheimer’s Society has expertise in information and education for carers and professionals. It provides helplines and support for carers, runs quality day and home care, funds medical and scientific research and gives financial help to families in need. It campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of all aspects of dementia.

Vitalise runs dedicated Alzheimer’s weeks at our Centres throughout the year. For details of these please see Find a break.

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Bladder and Bowel Foundation

The Bladder and Bowel Foundation provides information and support for all types of bladder and bowel related problems, including incontinence, prostate problems, constipation and Diverticular disease, for patients, their families, carers and health care professionals.

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Carers Direct

A national online information service offering a wealth of information, advice and support for carers. Also offers free, confidential information and advice by email or telephone.

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Carers UK

Carers UK is the voice of carers. Carers UK fights to end the ill health, poverty and discrimination faced by carers as a direct consequence of caring. Carers UK improves carers’ lives by providing information and advice on carers’ rights and campaigning for changes that make a real difference for carers.

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Caring with Confidence

Caring with Confidence is a free programme, funded by the Department of Health, for adult carers. It aims to make a positive difference to carers and the people they care for. Support for carers is provided through sessions where they can learn skills, get advice and information, talk and share experiences.

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Contact a Family

A UK-wide charity providing support, advice and information for families with disabled children.

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Dementia Action Alliance

The Alliance is made up of 49 national organisations committed to improving quality of life for people with dementia and their carers in England by 2014.

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Directgov Disability

A government website providing a range of public information for disabled people and carers.

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Disability Essex

Disability Essex supports disabled people, their carers, and families, in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. They have 120 member clubs, regular newsletters, a disability information helpline, disability related training, and outreach health and art projects.

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Disabilitnet.com

Free to join, Disabilinet.com is the exciting new social media site just for people living with, or affected by disability.

Disabilinet is a unique community which delivers a new way to share and directly engage with people living with, or affected by disability by posting blogs, pictures, videos, events, groups and so much more. Why use more mainstream sites when you can instantly communicate with friends safely who truly understand your interests? Developed to also launch the charitable Disabilinet Foundation, join this vibrant community today and begin making a real difference to the world of disability.

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Disability Talk

A forum to voice your views on all matters regarding disability.

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Disabled Motorists Federation

The Disabled Motorists Federation (registered charity No.1012874) was established approximately 40 years ago with the original intention of giving advice to some of the United Kingdom's 12 million disabled people (and their carers) on motoring issues. However, over the last eight years, the federation has substantially diversified and it is now gaining much international recognition and receiving awards for issues relating to social inclusion, equality and diversity.

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Durham Information Guide

Durham Information Guide (DIG) is an online database which allows you to search for information on adult social care services, health groups and other community information on a countywide, regional and national basis.

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for dementia

for dementia is a national charity, committed to improving the quality of life for all people affected by dementia. One of the charity's key activities is to promote and develop specialist nursing intervention (Admiral Nursing) focused on meeting the needs of carers and families of people with dementia.

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Headway - the brain injury association

Headway is a charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury. Call 0808 800 2244 for their free and confidential helpline service, available to anyone with a question about brain injury – from survivors and carers to students and professionals.

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Leonard Cheshire Disability

Leonard Cheshire Disability supports thousands of disabled people in the UK and works in over 50 countries. They campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way.

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Liberty Child

Liberty Child provides holidays for children and young people with disabilities. A Liberty Child holiday often gives children their first taste of independence, and a chance to get together with others of the same age. The children’s parents and carers also get a very important and much-needed break, confident that the children are well looked-after and enjoying a holiday in a safe environment.

Vitalise and Liberty Child are working together to provide free holidays for disabled children during summer 2009.

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Motability

The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to use their government-funded mobility allowances to obtain a new car, powered wheelchair or scooter. Motability also works with Rough Guides to produce the Rough Guide to Accessible Britainwhich is free for Blue Badge holders. The guide contains details of over 175 of the UK’s best attractions catering for disabled people.

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Parkinson's Disease Society

The Parkinson's Disease Society campaigns for a better quality of life for people with Parkinson's, provides expert information on all aspects of the condition and funds research into finding the cause of, and a cure for, Parkinson's. The Society has local groups across the UK for anyone touched by Parkinson's.

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Priory Grange Potters Bar

Specialist physical disability service for adults with complex needs. We offer a home and treatment for physically disabled adults who may have a mental health diagnosis and demonstrate challenging behaviour. We provide intensive, highly flexible care programmes in safe, caring environments for residents with complex care needs that cannot be met within conventional hospitals or care homes. Individuals’ conditions are often the result of organic, degenerative or neurological problems.

Call 01707 858 585 or find out more on their website

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Refresh

Refresh is a charity based at St Thomas’s Hospital, London. They provide planned breaks, convalescence and respite care for people who are severely disabled and ventilator-dependent, at the Refresh Wing at Vitalise Netley Waterside House.

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Sirus Automotive

Sirus offer vehicle conversions and adaptations, specialising in drive from wheelchair vehicle solutions offering freedom and independence

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The Mobility Superstore

The Mobility Superstore is home to a huge range of innovative, high quality mobility aids that are designed to give people the freedom to make their own way in life.

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The Sequal Trust

Providing communication aids to people of all ages within the UK, with speech, movement or severe learning difficulties

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The Wheel Life

A social and lifestyle website created for wheelchair users and their wider community.

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Tourism for All

Tourism for All UK is a national registered charity which provides:

Other helpful organisations

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Working Holidays from Best Web Jobs

A website providing the best gap year courses, work placements, and travel opportunities available.

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