A guide to sources of information in your area

Listed below are some indications of where local information might be sourced in order to complete the Local Information Template. It would also be advisable to invite local groups of people affected by neurological conditions (e.g. MS Society branches, Parkinson’s UK branches) to contribute to the completion of the template.

Choose category:

Access to education

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
For children and young adults with disabilities
DirectGov - Disability section
For adults with disabilities
University of the Third Age
For elderly people with disabilities

Adaptions to home and getting hold of equipment

DirectGov - Disability section
For help with assessment (local authority)
DirectGov - Disability section
For help with funding
MS Society branches
Local branches of the MS Society may be able to assist with funding
Neurological Alliance
For information on funding
Motability
Motability can provide financial help with adaptations to vehicles
Assist UK
Assist UK is a network of locally situated disabled living centres, and their website enables you to search for a local centre
Speakability fact sheets
Speakability produce a fact sheet on Information Technology for People with Aphasia which lists Communication Aid Centres
Abilitynet
Abilitynet can help with adapting a computer and advise on making IT more accessible and easier to use
Foundations
Foundations is the national coordinating body for home improvement agencies in England and can give details of local agencies

Benefits advice and help

Carers UK - Local Organisations
For advice on benefits
Crossroads
To find a local scheme
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has a network of local carers centres (home page has a facility to find a local centre)
Age UK and Age Concern local groups
Local Age UK and Age Concern groups may also be able to help with advice and filling in forms
DIAL UK - Find a local DIAL
Local DIAL UK offices may be able to help with benefits
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice may be able to offer help with forms and advice
Disability Alliance
Disability Alliance provides good basic online advice and a local appeals service in London
MS Society branches
Local branches of MS Society may be able to help
Parkinson’s UK
Local branches of Parkinson's UK may be able to help
Motor Neurone Disease Association
Regional Care Advisers at the MND Association may be able to help – check their service and location before completing the template
Benefit Enquiry Line
The Government-run Benefits Enquiry Line offers confidential advice and information for people with disabilities, and their carers and representatives, about social security benefits, how to claim them, and assistance with completing forms. Tel: 0800 882200

Breaks from caring

MS Society Respite Care Directory
The MS Society has an online respite care directory that gives details of approved respite care providers
MS Therapy Centres
MS Therapy Centres offer specific treatments to individuals with MS so a carer may get a break from caring during the treatment
Carers UK list of local organisations
Carers UK will help you find a local contact for support for carers - they may know about local schemes to provide a break for carers
Crossroads
Crossroads provides support and breaks for carers to find local scheme
DirectGov - Disability section
Tourism for All UK
Tourism for All UK provides holiday information for disabled people and information on respite care. There is a small charge for information sheets

Care in the home

Telecare Services Association
Local Telecare services are provided and funded through various mechanisms and organisations

Carers support group

Carers UK list of local organisations
Carers UK can help you to find a local contact for support for carers. There may also be a support group
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has a network of local carers centres
Young Carer projects
There are also a network of young carers projects
Crossroads Care providers
The Crossroads website also has a facility to find local schemes
Expert Patient Programme
The Expert Patient Programme runs courses for carers

Community matrons

Department of Health leaflet about community matrons
There is space to add local contact details and the leaflet is available in a number of languages

Complementary therapies

MS Therapy Centres
MS Therapy Centres can be good sources of information about complementary therapies. Some provide them and others are aware of good local practitioners
Institute of Complementary Medicine

Continence advice

Bladder and Bowel Foundation directory of clinics
This website can help you find the nearest clinic. Community continence nurses may be linked to continence clinics. They are likely to be based within the local PCT

Continuing care

NHS Choices - Continuing Care information

Counselling

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy supplies details of accredited counsellors, psychologists and therapists

Disability rights and entitlements

Yellow Pages
Try searching for disability advice services
DIAL UK
Disability Information and Advice Services
DirectGov - Disability section
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Disability Law Service
Disability Law Service may provide some services locally
Law Centres Federation
Law Centres are located in many areas. They provide free legal advice. Try the phone book or the Law Centres Federation website which enables you to search for local law centres

Driving

DirectGov - Disability section
Motability
Motability can provide financial help with adaptations to vehicles.
Medical rules for driving
Visit the DirectGov website for information on medical rules for drivers, including how to inform the DVLA of a medical condition or disability.

Employment

Expert patient courses

Expert Patients Programme
For a directory of expert patient courses around the country

Food and diet advice

Neurological Alliance
You can search for condition-specific organisations for guidance

Health and hospital services

Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)
Includes search facility to find local PALS offices
The Independent Complaints and Advisory Service (ICAS)
The Independent Complaints and Advisory Service (ICAS) supports patients and their carers wishing to pursue a complaint about their NHS treatment or care. A map is available with contact numbers for the regional offices

Help in the home

Direct Gov - Disability section
Foundations
Foundations is the national coordinating body for home improvement agencies in England and can give details of local agencies (e.g. local Care and Repair organisations)

Holidays for people with disabilities

Tourism for All
Family Holiday Association
Family Holiday Association provides financial assistance to families in need of a holiday, including those with disabilities
Direct Gov - Disability section
Neurological Alliance
Some condition specific organisations have chalets / caravans that their members can access to. See the Neurological Alliance website for a list of organisations.

Housing advice for disabled people

Leisure and relaxation

DisabledGo
The DisabledGo website provides information on accessibility to various facilities in a range of different locations (search can also be refined by selecting which aspects of access you require). Please note that only some towns and boroughs are included.
Direct Gov - Disability section
The National Trust - Information for visitors with disabilities
The National Trust has details about how to check accessibility to its sites. Also available is a comprehensive accessibility guide to all National Trust sites. This can be downloaded but it is a huge document (over 200 pages).

Memory clinic

Neurological Centres
You could also try the nearest neurological centre on the Brain and Spine Website.

Neuro-psychology

Neurological Centres in the UK
Neuro-psychologists are usually attached to neuro units. Find the nearest on the Brain and Spine Website.

Neuro rehabilitation

Neurological Centres
Try approaching your nearest neurological centre. The Brain and Spine Website allows you to search for the centre closest to where you live.

Pain relief

British Pain Society
For local pain clinics or pain management services, email the British Pain Society (clinic@britishpainsociety.org) with your full address and post code. They will send a list of the ten nearest pain clinics.

Palliative care

Sue Ryder Care
A list of Sue Ryder supportive care and hospice facilities can be found on this website.

Physiotherapy

Neurological Centres in the UK
Physiotherapists who specialise in neurological conditions will be linked to the local neurological centres.
PhysioFirst
PhysioFirst is a directory of private chartered physiotherapists (this is the trading name of the Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice).
Physio2u
Physio2u is a directory of physiotherapists offering private treatment, which is hosted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s website.It allows you to search for a neuro specialist physio. (The CSP’s general enquiry telephone number is: 020 7306 6666).

Residential care

MS Society Respite Care Directory

Safety

Telecare Service Association
Local telecare services are provided and funded through various mechanisms and organisations.

Sex and relationships

Relate
Try local Relate offices. Some offer counselling for people with disabilities and psycho-sexual difficulties.
Outsiders
Outsiders runs activities to help isolated people with physical and/or social disabilities to gain confidence, make new friends and find partners. They also offer advice on sexual problems. Outsiders has recently taken over some of the roles of Sexual Problems of the Dissabled (SPOD), including its Helpline. Updated versions of their leaflets are available on this website under the Leaflets button. They are working on providing a list of helpful books, contacts and counsellors around the country.

Social care assessments and plans

DirectGov - Disability section

Specialist nurses

Neurological Centres in the UK
A map and contact details of all neurological centres is available on the Brain and Spine Foundation website.

Speech and language therapy

Neurological Centres in the UK
For a specialist in neurological conditions try the nearest neurological centre.
Useful links for speech problems

Support groups and forums

Neurological Alliance
The Neurological Alliance has a list of organisations and links to all their websites.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support produce a Directory of Cancer self help and support, updated each year, which lists support groups by type of cancer and by county.

Transport

Dial a ride
For London Dial a ride and Taxicard schemes.
DPTAC: Door to door
A travel guide for people with disabilities.
National Federation of Shop Mobility
For a directory of shopmobility schemes.
Women's Royal Voluntary Service
The Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) also provides social car schemes in some areas.
Community Transport Association
More information can be found on the Community Transport Association website
St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance provide transport services for disabled people. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available for those who need them. However, a mileage charge is made so they can be quite expensive for longer journeys.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross also provide transport services for disabled people, including wheelchair accessible vehicles. A mileage charge is also applied.

Wheelchairs and other mobility aids

See adaptions to home and getting hold of equipment
Community Occupational Therapy Services in social services should know the local situation with regard to procuring wheelchairs.