Resources: Disability

On this page, you can find some websites, resources and information that may help you or your loved ones when it comes to Disability and Inclusion.

Books, Reports, Articles and Publications

• Social Model of Disability
  “What is powerful and liberating about the Social Model is that it does reflect Disabled people’s real life experience, and puts forward a radical and practical approach to ending Disabled people’s exclusion and oppression that does not require Disabled people to change who they are in order to be deemed to be entitled to the same rights and opportunities as non-disabled people.”
• Grieving an Acquired Disability
  ‘The onset of disabling illness or physical or sensory impairment is often accompanied by complicated grief processes, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. These grief processes are frequently developed in response to the concurrent losses people may experience when living with new abilities.’
  

General Disability Organisations & Websites

• Mencap (UK Organisation)
  “Our Big Plan has at its heart a commitment to listening to and being led by people with a learning disability . As a result we will make all our future decisions depending on what they tell us is important to them.”
• Scope (UK Organisation)
  Helping disabled people to be treated fairly and equally. They campaign to transform attitudes to disability, tackle injustice and inspire action. They create opportunities and provide information and support that empowers. 
• AccessAble (UK Organisation)
  “AccessAble is here to take the chance out of going out. To give you the detailed information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible to you. Our Detailed Access Guides tell you all about a venue’s access. They are 100% facts, figures and photographs.”
• Being the Boss (UK Organisation)
  “This website has been created to address the lack of peer support available to disabled people who employ our own Personal Assistants (PAs). We aim to do this by sharing information based on the experiences of disabled people who employ our own PAs, and by providing a safe forum to discuss/share ideas.”
• CHANGE (UK Organisation)
  “The majority of our committee are Disabled People, including people with learning disabilities. We employ experts with learning disabilities in leadership roles. Our skilled volunteers with learning disabilities participate actively to help deliver our services, including: creating bespoke, accessible information in Easy Read and video formats for clients; producing resources to make information accessible for people with learning disabilities; providing training courses to support both people with learning disabilities and organisations and businesses that want to become more accessible and inclusive for people with learning disabilities; and working in partnership on a variety of projects funded by external organisations and government departments that influence national policy, facilitate systemic change and open opportunities for the inclusion of people with learning disabilities.”
• Chronic Illness Inclusion (UK Organisation)
  “Chronic Illness Inclusion is a Disabled People’s Organisation run for and by people with energy limiting conditions – ELCs Our mission at CII is to shape policies, perceptions and practices to improve the lives of people with ELCs. Our vision is a world in which our experience of disability is heard, believed and understood, our rights as disabled people are upheld, and our lives have equal value. We undertake research projects, provide training for other DPOs, government departments (including the Disability Unit), local authorities, unions and employers as well as health based organisations. We regularly consult our supporters so that our responses to government consultations are informed by the experiences of people with ELC. We’ve made a submission to the Shadow Report by Inclusion London in preparation for the UNCRPD’s follow up investigation into violations of disabled people’s human rights in the UK. .”
• Disability Rights UK
  “Disability Rights UK is the UK’s leading Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), meaning we are led by, run by, and working for Disabled people. We work alongside other DPOs, as well as campaigning policy makers and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for Disabled people.”
• Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (UK Organisation)
  “Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association is a national organisation run and controlled by deaf women from minority ethnic groups. DEWA provides a range of support and empowers deaf ethnic women to have choice and control, be active and be successful in all aspects of their lives without compromising their identity. We provide them with useful information on health, benefits, housing, childcare, employment or education by offering them weekly drop-in service. We offer women 1 hour of individually remote support using Zoom. We also deliver workshops to increase deaf women´s awareness about their rights, choices and identification of abuse and oppression.”
• Disability Law Service (UK Organisation)
  “We provide free legal advice on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits to Disabled people and their carers to ensure that they have access to their rights and justice.”
• Disabled People Against Cuts (UK Organisation)
  “Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) was formed by a group of disabled people after the first mass protest against the austerity cuts and their impact on disabled people held on the 3rd October in Birmingham, England. DPAC is for everyone who believes that disabled people should have full human rights and equality. It is for everyone that refuses to accept that any country can destroy the lives of people just because they are or become disabled or have chronic health issues. It is for everyone against government austerity measures which target the poor while leaving the wealthy unscathed. It is for everyone who refuses to stay silent about the injustices delivered by wealthy politicians on ordinary people and their lives.”
• Diversity and Ability (UK Organisation)
  Diversity and Ability is an award-winning social enterprise led by and for disabled people. We champion intersectional neurodiversity and disability inclusion, creating positive and lasting culture shifts through bespoke workshops, consultancy and support. Our work in disability inclusion includes international social justice projects, policy and campaigning, and tailored 1-to-1 support for disabled and neurodiverse people.
• Evenbreak (UK Organisation)
  “Evenbreak is a social enterprise run by and for disabled people. We support employers to become more inclusive and accessible through training, consultancy and an online best practice portal. We support disabled people looking for new or better work through accessible careers support services including signposting, events, online resources and one-to-one career coaching. And we help both groups find each other on an award-winning job board. All our services are designed and delivered by people with lived experience of disability.”
• Focus on Disability (UK Organisation)
  Focus on Disability is the most comprehensive independent not-for-profit website devoted and aimed to providing information, guides, products and resources for the disabled community, elderly and carers in the UK.
• Men’s Health Forum (UK Organisation)
  “The Men’s Health Forum is a charity supporting men’s health in England, Wales and Scotland. We provide an independent and authoritative voice for male health and tackle the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys through research, advocacy, raising awareness, and sharing and encouraging health information and good practice.”
• National Association for Bikers with a Disability (UK Organisation)
  “National Association for Bikers with a Disability is a world leader in the field of motorcycling for people with disabilities. Since its inception, the NABD has directly helped over eleven thousand disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling. The NABD operates a system of financial grants to help with the cost of special adaptation work to motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/sidecar combinations and trikes; necessary to suit the needs of disabled riders. The NABD also frequently consults with the DVLA on matters relating to disabled riders and offers and advice for disabled people on all aspects of motorcycling and related issues.”
• PA Pool (UK Organisation)
  “A dedicated website for disabled people looking to recruit a Personal Assistant (carer) and Personal Assistants (carers) who are looking for work. PA Pool offers members the opportunity to interactively manage their own private care recruitment or employment.
• POhWER (UK Organisation)
  “POhWER is a charity and membership organisation. We provide information, advice, support and advocacy to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress and social exclusion. POhWER was set up in 1996 by service users who, tired of others making assumptions about their capabilities and views, wanted equal access to information and a voice of their own.”
• Regard (UK Organisation)
  “Regard is a national organisation of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ) who self-identify as disabled. We follow the Social Model of Disability. This is a way of thinking about disability that says it is society that needs to change by removing the barriers that deny us inclusion and equal rights. Regard has the following aims: to provide information, advice and support to LGBT disabled people; to raise awareness and campaign on issues affecting disabled LGBT people; and to combat social isolation among LGBT disabled people.”

Specific Disability Organisations & Websites

• Action Deafness (UK Organisation)
  Information, community, services, partnerships and interpreting available for those who are d/Deaf and affected by deafness.
• Anxiety UK
  National user-led anxiety disorders charity providing a range of support services for people affected by all forms of anxiety disorders.
• BID Services (UK Organisation)
  BID Services works in partnership with deaf people to provide high quality services and opportunities that enable deaf people and the other communities that we work with, to have broader choices and control over their lives.
• Borderline Support UK
  Borderline Support UK is a service user and volunteer-led organisation which promotes the use of lived experience and peer support to be there for anyone affected in any way by Borderline Personality Disorder, enabling them to live their lives to the fullest.
• British Deaf Association (UK Organisation)
  The BDA is the largest Deaf organisation in the UK that is run by Deaf people.
• British Dyslexia Association (UK Organisation)
  The BDA is a charity providing support services for dyslexic people.
• Hearing Voices Network (UK Organisation)
  “If you hear voices, see visions or have similar sensory experiences – you’re not alone. We focus on helping to create respectful and empowering spaces, whilst challenging the inequalities & oppressive practices that hold people back. We share information and free resources through our website, social media, e-bulletin, newsletter and email information service; engage with the media to present realistic and hopeful perspectives on hearing voices and related experiences; offer workshops, training and events – subject to resources; and support members who want to set up a Hearing Voices Group.”
• Hypermobility Syndromes Association (UK Organisation)
  “We support people who have one of the hypermobility related disorders, which are often complex and multi-systemic.”
• National Autistic Society (UK Organisation)
  “We’re here to help the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their families. Be it running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights or training companies on being more autism-friendly, we are dedicated to transforming lives and changing attitudes.”
• Royal Association for Deaf People (UK Organisation)
  “RAD is a Deaf-led organisation. We promote the welfare and interests of Deaf people. We believe Deaf people should receive the same access and opportunities as hearing people. We provide accessible services that deaf people want and need in British Sign Language (BSL), to keep them safe, happy, well and achieving their full potential.”
• Sign Solutions (UK Organisation)
  “Sign Solutions provide on demand and around the clock interpreting, training and translation services nationwide, enabling Deaf people to communicate more effectively and gain equal access to information, products, services, education and work.”