Disabled Peoples Services

This section provides a range of information for those who have a disability and also for their parents and carers. Subjects range from help with finding a job, to health condition information, to leisure ideas. The information on the left will help you in selecting services that suit your needs and you can begin planning next your steps.

The following organisations can help you do this, if you so wish:

The Right to Control Project

The Right to Control Project in Essex
This page gives details on what The Right to Control Project is and how it will benefit those who are disabled and over the age of 18 living in Essex.

Launch of the Essex Right to Control trailblazer  (PDF)
This document gives details on the launch of the Essex Right to Control trailblazer and how The Right to Control project will benefit service users.

Local advice and support organisations

ECDP (Essex Coalition of Disabled People)
This is an organisation run by and for disabled people in Essex. The organisation's vision is to enhance the everyday lives of disabled people in Essex. They currently provide a wide range of support, information, advice and guidance services to anyone covered under disability law.
View their monthly update
Telephone: 01245 392300

Chelmsford Mencap
This is a registered charity that helps adults and children with learning disabilities within Essex. They cover a wide range of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, sensory impairment, speech and language difficulties.

Disability East
This is a partnership between charities for disabled people, bringing experience and knowledge together to maximise funding and help avoid duplication. They work to improve services for disabled people, their carers and dependants.

Disability Essex
A County charity which, since 1949, has provided help, advice and support to disabled people, their carers and dependants. It provides a disability information advice line which is manned by disabled volunteers and operates from Monday to Friday. View their latest newsletter
Telephone: 0844 412 1770

Essex Down's Syndrome support group
They aim to bring families and professionals together, to help inform and support them in a social environment. They encourage the development of self-advocacy skills amongst children and young people with Down's Syndrome, and their parents and carers.

Centre for Disability Studies
They are dedicated to keeping you up to date on the latest developments of Disability Essex's pioneering eco-building, which will form the charity's operational headquarters and professionally accredited training centre. Disability Essex is a registered charity with a simple cause and positive, visible results providing a range of services to 'enable people with disabilities in Essex to enjoy more fulfilling and independent lives.'

Check the Map  
This has been set up to make it easy for everyone to find out what events and services there are for people with Learning Difficulties / Disabilities in their local area by clicking on the map. The more services that are added the more useful the site will become, so please tell people about you Learning Disability service or resource at no fee by clicking the add button.

DotComUnity
This website is a resource and directory for finding out about community services, care information and social activities for adults and children with a learning or physical disability in your local community.

Moulding Futures
The aim of the organisation is to challenge the stigma and discrimination of those people who are disadvantaged. They aim to raise awareness, increase self esteem and signpost you to useful resources.

Emergency services

999 Text Service
The emergency services are trialling a service that allows Deaf people and those with hearing or speech impairments in the UK to send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard. Simply by sending an SMS message to 999 you can request help and the emergency services will be able to reply to you. If this trial service is a success then the service will be launched during 2010. You will need to register your mobile phone before using the trial emergency SMS service, use the link above and then click on the 'Registering your phone' link at the top of the page for more information.

National advice and support organisations

The Office for Disability Issues
They are working towards equality for disabled people. By 2025, disabled people in Britain should have the same opportunities and choices as non-disabled people to improve their quality of life and be respected and included as equal members of society.

The Cinnamon Trust
This charity provides support for those who have pets and are disabled, elderly or have a long term illness.

Disability Alliance  
This is a national registered charity with the principal aim of relieving the poverty and improving the living standards of disabled people. They provide information to disabled people, their families, carers and professional advisers; undertake research into the needs of disabled people. They are best known as the authors of the Disability Rights Handbook that is available online, which provides clear and concise information on the issues relevant to disabled people and their families.

Independent Living Advocacy Ltd
This is an independent formal advocacy service managed by disabled people.
Telephone: 01245 380888

NCIL (National Centre for Independent Living)
This is a non profit organisation that is run and controlled by disabled people. They campaign for the rights of disabled people.

UKDPC (United Kingdom disabled peoples council)
This was set up by disabled people to promote their full equality and to strengthen the voice of disabled people within the UK.

Online advice and support

Net Buddy
This is a site for swapping practical tips and information on all aspects of supporting people with disabilities.

Teenagers

Directgov
This offers advice for disabled teenagers on the transition to adult services and provides information on the choices you have to make on education and employment options and independent living.

Children

Circles of support
This is a project which works with young people who are making the challenging transition from school to adult life in the community and have a learning disability.

Contact a Family  
This charity provides support, advice and information for families with disabled children, no matter what their condition or disability. Contact a Family's mission and purpose is to remove the barriers imposed by society which prevent families with disabled children achieving their full potential, and to empower these families to live the lives they want to lead.

Makaton
Makaton uses speech and gesture, facial expression, eye contact and body language. It is a language programme which is based on a selected list of everyday words, such as Daddy , Door , Fall and In . This Charity provides information on this form of communication and advice for parents and carers.

SNAP (Special Needs and Parents)
They are a registered charity that helps Essex families who have children aged 0-25 years with special needs and disabilities.