Useful external links

Useful external links

There are many external organisations which provide assistance and advice for disabled students. The following selection should provide you with some useful links to other sites, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information they contain. If you are unable to access the information you require, the Disability & Neurodiversity Team will be happy to help you.

If you have experience of any useful support organisations not listed below, please do let us know.

Disability

Disability Rights UK

disabilityrightsuk.org

Disability Rights UK aims to be the largest national pan-disability organisation led by disabled people. It was formed through a unification of Disability Alliance, Radar and National Centre for Independent Living in January 2012. It has also taken over many of the functions of SKILL (The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) which has now closed.

Dial

scope.org.uk/dial

Now merged with Scope, DIAL UK is a national network of 130 local Disability Information and Advice Line services run by and for disabled people.  Last year DIAL helped over a quarter of a million disabled people.

Action on Access

actiononaccess.org or see their Twitter account here.

Action on Access promotes inclusivity and diversity, challenges exclusion and lobbies for the broadest possible access to Higher Education.  It publishes a useful series of Disability Focus guides for HE staff.

Employability

employ-ability.org.uk

Employability provides opportunities for disabled and dyslexic students and graduates, with free events and support throughout the recruitment process and beyond.

Lawyers with Disabilities

lawsociety.org.uk/communities/lawyers-with-disabilities

Lawyers with Disabilities are committed to promoting equality of opportunity in the legal field for people with disabilities - solicitors, would-be solicitors or clients.  They lobby for legislation, provide advice, events, webinairs, training and mentoring. Membership is free.

Great with Disability

greatwithdisability.com

Great with Disability promotes employment and internship opportunities for students and graduates with disabilities.  Their student toolkit has useful advice on dealing with the recruitment process and managing your disability in the workplace

Change 100

leonardcheshire.org

Change 100 is a programme of paid summer internship opportunities for students with disabilities arranged by Leonard Cheshire Disability, a leading UK charity supporting disabled people.

Specific learning differences

British Dyslexia Association

bdadyslexia.org.uk

The British Dyslexia Association offers advice, information and help to dyslexic people.

Brain.HE

brainhe.com

Best resources for achievement and intervention regarding neurodiversity in Higher Education.  Great links too!

The Codpast

thecodpast.org

The Codpast is a place where the cool and creative side of Dyslexia is celebrated, with monthly podcasts, videos and more - right brained stories from interesting individuals.

West London Dyspraxia Group

The Dypraxia Foundation has a group in West London providing advice, a friendly ear and signposting to services as well as running meetings (always social). They are contactable by phone 0785 178 5382 - Monday to Friday 9AM - 6PM and at any time by email - dyspraxia.westlondon@yahoo.co.uk.

Sight impaired/blind

RNIB

rnib.org.uk

The Royal National Institute for Blind People offers information, support and advice for people with sight loss; resources include an online shop.

Action for Blind People

actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Action for Blind People, in partnership with RNIB, offers practical support for Blind and partially-sighted people in all aspects of their lives. Their services for young people in London (including many university students) are led by Fran Lechler, Transitions Co-ordinator, who can be contacted on 07568 102037 or email fran.lechler@actionforblindpeople.org.uk .

Blind in Business

blindinbusiness.co.uk

Blind in Business helps blind and partially sighted students into work, providing free training, events and employment opportunities.

ULU Society for the Visually Impaired

Student led group for University of London students with visual impairments.  To get in touch email visuallyimpairedsociety@gmail.com

VICTA

VICTA is a national charity that supports blind and partially sighted children and young adults from birth to 29 and offer grants to UK residents to help towards the costs of equipment.

Hearing impaired/deaf

The British Deaf Association

bda.org.uk

The BDA is run by and for Deaf people and campaigns to achieve equality; website includes information on British Sign Language.

Action on Hearing Loss

actiononhearingloss.org.uk

Action on Hearing Loss provides information, practical advice and training for people with hearing loss, campaigns and promotes research; website includes an online shop.

Deaf Unity

deafunity.org

Deaf Unity runs projects which aim to improve the quality of life of Deaf people in the UK and worldwide.

Autistic spectrum disorder

The National Autistic Society

www.autism.org.uk

NAS champions the rights and interests of all people with Autism Spectrum conditions and aims to provide individuals and their families with information, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives. 

University Students with Autism

users.dircon.co.uk/~cns

This site was last updated in 2008 but contains some interesting information

Mental health difficulties

Mind

mind.org.uk

Mind provides information, advice and support for anyone with mental health problems, and has a national network of local groups.

Student Minds

studentminds.org.uk

Student Minds is the UK's student mental health charity.  They run campaigns and deliver research-driven training to equip students to run peer support groups and bring about positive change on campus.

Students Against Depression

studentdepression.org

Students against Depressions has information, resources and real student stories about depression.

Bipolar UK

bipolaruk.org

Bipolar UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting individuals, their families and carers who are affected by bipolar.  Their Youth Project specifically supports 18-25 year-olds including university students - contact Youth Officer Heather Benwell on 07879 998 914 for groups in London.

Beat

b-eat.co.uk

Beat provides helplines, online support and a network of UK-wide support groups to help adults and young people beat their eating disorders.

Unseen, chronic and other conditions

HIV and AIDS

aidsmap.com

NAM is an award-winning community-based organisation which works from the UK.  They deliver reliable and accurate HIV information across the world to HIV-positive people and to the professionals who treat, support and care for them.

Action for ME

actionforme.org.uk

Action for ME is the leading UK charity for people with ME and their carers; provides information and support, and campaigns for better services, more effective treatment and research

Young Epilepsy

youngepilepsy.org.uk

Young Epilepsy is the UK charity working exclusively to improve the lives of children and young people up to 25 with epilepsy and associated conditions.  They have excellent online resources to support students in higher education.

Scope

scope.org.uk

Scope is the national organisation for people with Cerebral Palsy and their carers, providing information, support and advice.  Scope has recently merged with DIAL (see above).

Stammers Through University Campaign

stuc-uk.org

STUC is a social enterprise whose aims are raising awareness in universities, supporting stammerers and changing attitudes.

The British Stammering Association

stamma.org

The British Stammering Association has useful information, advice and research links.  This link goes directly to their 'university' page.

Speech Impairment Awareness

vimeo.com/63735871

A short video by Matt Callard about speech impairment awareness in the workplace which is relevant to university life.

Brain and Spine Foundation

brainandspine.org.uk

The Brain and Spine Foundation provides information on disease and damage to brain and spine, including strokes, epilepsy, tumours, meningitis, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, speech and language difficulties.

British Lung Foundation

britishlungfoundation.org.uk

The British Lung Foundation provides information on lung diseases and support for people living with these conditions.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

cysticfibrosis.org.uk 

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK's only national charity dedicated to all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis.

Birthmark Support Group

birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk

The Birthmark Support Group provides information and advice, including real stories and an online community

British Association for Performing Arts Medecine

bapam.org.uk

BAPAM can provide specialist advice to help overcome health problems of performing artists and musicians.