Useful Links Directory

Children's Commissioner

The role of the Children's Commissioner was created by the Children Act 2004 and is there to promote the views of children and young people from birth to 18 (up to 21 for young people in care or with learning difficulties).

Childrens' Society

We are committed to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including safeguarding children in care and young runaways. We give a voice to disabled children, help young refugees to rebuild their lives and provide relief for young carers.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention follows decades of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It takes to a new height the movement from viewing persons with disabilities as "objects" of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing persons with disabilities as "subjects" with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

Disability Rights UK

Disability Rights UK’s vision is of a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens. By joining us and being part of Disability Rights UK you will be helping realise this vision. Membership is open to organisations and individuals

Disabled People

Enable Scotland

ENABLE Scotland is a dynamic charity run by its members. We campaign for a better life for children and adults with learning disabilities. We support people who have learning disabilities and their families to live, work and take part in their communities.

Leonard Cheshire Disability

t Leonard Cheshire Disability, we work for a society in which every person is equally valued. We believe that disabled people should have the freedom to live their lives the way they choose - with the opportunity and support to live independently, to contribute economically, and to participate fully in society. Leonard Cheshire Disability service users chatting Leonard Cheshire Disability supports thousands of disabled people both in the UK and in more than 50 other countries. We help people with physical impairments, learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, as well as their carers, friends and families. The needs and aspirations of disabled people are at the heart of what we do. By providing services and helping everyone to understand disability and combat discrimination, we aim to remove the barriers that can stop people with disabilities from pursuing their goals and living their lives to the full.

Respond

We aim to make a real difference to people with learning disabilities by providing effective and flexible support to help them to improve their lives. Respond works with children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others, through psychotherapy, advocacy, campaigning and other support. Respond also aims to prevent abuse by providing training, consultancy and research.

Scope

We're all about changing society for the better, so that disabled people and their families can have the same opportunities as everyone else. We work with disabled people and their families at every stage of their lives. We offer practical support – from information services to education and everyday care. We challenge assumptions about disability, we influence decision makers and we show what can be possible. Everything we do is about creating real and lasting positive change in individual lives and in the world around us. We believe that together we can create a better society.

Sense

Sense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. Deafblindness refers to a combination of sight and hearing impairment which causes difficulties in a range of areas including communication, access to information and mobility. At Sense we offer high-quality, flexible services across the UK, using skilled staff and a dedicated network of volunteers. We work with a wide range of deafblind and multi-sensory impaired people, as well as those who have a single-sensory impairment with additional needs. We take pride in offering specialist services built around the wishes of each person we support and enabling them to be as independent as possible. We work with children, young people, adults and older people with a progressive sight and hearing loss, offering a range of housing, educational and leisure opportunities.

Shaping Our Lives

Shaping Our Lives National User Network’s vision is of a society which is equal and fair where all people have the same opportunities, choices, rights and responsibilities – a society where people have choice and control over the way they live and the support services they use.

The Centre for Disability Research (CeDR)

We are an active Centre for research and teaching on disability and disablism. Pride is taken in the impact of our research and scholarship on policy making and social practices in disability arenas – regionally, nationally and internationally. Our core members and supporters bring a mix of disciplines, research methods, and skills to the study of disability and disablism. Sociology, psychology and social policy are our particular strengths. But we welcome the ideas and projects brought by other disciplines, perspectives and personal experiences: inclusion dedicated to enhancing the equality and human rights of disabled people is our watchword

The Centre for Health and Social Care Law

The Centre for Health and Social Care Law exists to promote research in the fields of Health and Social Care law. Its activities are carried out in relation to the theory and practice of substantive law concerning Health and Social Care Law, the focus being principally upon: The Legal Aspects of Medical Practice The Law and Psychiatry Social care law Community care law The impact of human rights and equality law on disabled and other socially excluded peoples

The Council for Disabled Children

CDC aims to make a difference to the lives of disabled children and children with special educational needs. We do this by influencing Government policy, working with local agencies to translate policy into practice and producing guidance on issues affecting the lives of disabled children.

United Kingdom Disabled People's Council

We are working with over 300 disabled people’s organisations, and are running consultation and capacity building events all over the country. These events aim to strengthen the role of disabled people’s organisations, as it is only through them that we can achieve true equality.

United Response

United Response is a national charity that supports people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to take control of their lives. We do this in many different ways – from supporting people to live as independently as possible in their own homes to helping them access their community, get training and seek work opportunities. We also campaign with, and on behalf of, the people we support on the issues that affect their lives. We believe that people with disabilities are equal participants in society and should have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Voluntary Organisations Disability Group

The VODG is a grouping of over 60 leading voluntary sector and not-for-profit disability organisations that works on behalf of its members to influence and develop social care policy, build relationships with government and other key agencies, promotes best practice and keep members up-to-date on matters that have an effect on service delivery