General Organisations for families of ill or disabled children (UK wide)

Abilitynet offers advice and information about computers and disability.
Contact: PO Box 94,
Warwick,
CV34 5WS
Telephone: 01926 312847
www.abilitynet.co.uk

Action for Sick Children aims to raise standards of health care for all children whether aat home or in hospital. Publishes information and advice for parents including 'Coming into hospital', 'Children and pain'.
Contact: Action for Sick Children,
300 Kingston Road,
Wimbledon chase,
London, SW20 8LX
Telephone: 020 7843 644
www.actionforsickchildren.org

Biking and Disability operate a national database of technical information and suppliers of bicycles to meet the needs of disabled people.
Contact: 72 Twiss Green lane,
Culceth, Warrington,
Cheshire, WA3 4DQ
Telephone: 01925 764014

Carers UK (formally Carers National Association) is the voice of carers and the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation for carers.
Contact: Ruth Pitter House,
20-25 Glasshouse Yard,
London, EC1A 4JS
Carers line: 0808 808 7777
Enquiry Telephone: 0171 490 8818
www.carersuk.org

College of Occupational Therapists is the professional body of the British Association of occupational Therapists. They will be able to local relevant specialist groups of O.T, and local practitioners and those in private practise.
Contact: 106-114 Borough High Street,
London, SE1 1LB
Telephone: 020 7357 6480
www.cot.co.uk

Contact a Family is a well established charitable organisation that produces up to date information about important issues for families of children with different special needs. Provides advice, information and has a directory of local and national support groups. Links up parents of children with very are conditions. Very good quarterly magazine 'Share an Idea'. Factsheets include 'Transition', 'A guide for Students and Professional workers', 'Siblings', 'Grandparents' and many others.
Contact: 209-211 City Road,
London EC1V 1JN
Parents Helpline: 0808 808 3555 (10 am - 4 pm, Mon-Fri)
Information Line: 020 7608 8700
www.cafamily.org.uk

Crossroads Caring for Carers Contact: 10 Regent Place,
Rugby,
Warwickshire, CV21 2PN
Telephone: 01788 573653
www.crossroads.org.uk

Disabled Person's Railcard subsidised rail transport and information about how to arrange for assistance or ramps on/off trains. Contact local stations for application form from or by writing to:-
Contact: Disabled Person's Railcard Office,
PO Box 1YT,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE99 1YT

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Support Group offers an excellent and informative website and network of local support.
Contact: EDS Support Group,
PO Box 335, Farnham
Surrey, GU10 1XJ
www.ehlers-danlos.org

National Council for One Parent Families offers information and support to single parents about a wide variety of issues.
Contact: 255, Kentish Town Road,
London, NW5 2LX
Lone parent helpline: 0800 018 502
www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk

Family Fund Trust aims to ease the stress on families who care for severely disabled children under 16 including providing information and means tested grants. Publishes good publications 'Adaptations to Housing', 'Bedding and Clothing', 'Holidays' and book 'Taking Care'.
Parent helpline.
Contact: PO Box 50,
York, YO1 9ZX
Telephone: 01904 621115

Future Cycles specialise in bikes and tricycles for people with disabilities. Also have electrically assisted bikes.
Contact: Friends Yard,
Forest Row,
East Sussex, RH18 5HD
Telephone: 01342 822 847

General Medical Council Contact: 178 Great Portland Street,
London, W1W 5JE
Telephone: 020 7580 7642
www.gmc-uk.org

Holiday Care Contact: 2nd Floor, Imperial Buildings,
Victoria Road,
Horley, RH6 7PZ
Telephone: 01293 774535
www.holidaycare.org.uk

MERU (Medical Engineering Resource Unit) research design and manufacture (free of charge) aids, devices and equipment for individual disabled children, that are not available commercially. Also provide a free advisory service for carers and parents.
Contact: LucyDeVille
Telephone: 020 8770 8284
www.meru.org.uk

Motability is non-profit organisation and runs a scheme to enable those in receipt (or their parents) of the higher rate of Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance to lease or buy a car. Most new car dealers now have some experience of this scheme. Also operate a hire purchase scheme for electric wheelchairs. Child must be over five years old.
Contact: Warwick House
Roydon Road
Harlow
Essex, CM19 5PX
Telephone: 01279 635999
www.motability.co.uk

National Children's Bureau/Council for Disabled Children publishes reports and campaigns to improve services for disabled children and their families. Recent report 'Growing up: a guide to some information sources for young Disabled People and their Families'
Contact: 8 Wakley Street,
London, EC1V 7QE
Telephone: 020 7843 6000
www.ncb.org.uk

Pre-school Learning Alliance supports the establishment and running of community run pre-schools including Opportunity Groups. Provides information, publications and training on special needs for helpers in pre-schools and gives grants to fund one-to-one helpers for children with special needs. Contact: 69 King's Cross Road,
London, WC1X 9LL
Telephone: 0171 833 0991
www.pre-school.org.uk

Relate is an organisation that deploys trained counsellors to help and support couples communicate and overcome difficulties relating with each other.
Contact: Herbert Gray College,
Little Church Street,
Rugby,
Warwickshire, CV21 3AP
Telephone: 01788 573241
www.relate.org.uk

Riding for the Disabled Association Oversees the Riding for the Disabled Groups around the country. Puts parents in touch with local branches.
Contact: Lavinia Norfolk House,
Avenue R, National Agricultural Centre,
Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth
Warwickshire, CV8 2LY
Telephone: 01203 696510

Tripscope is an organisation specialising in information and advice for people with mobility problems who need to use public transport, or wish to travel abroad.
Contact: The Vassall Centre,
Gill Avenue,
Bristol, BS16 2QQ
Telephone: 08457 585641

Vehicle tax exemption: you may be eligible to claim for exemption of annual vehicle tax if the child is over 5 years, receives higher rate of the Mobility section of Disability Living Allowance, and you jointly register the ownership of the vehicle in the child and parents' name. This could be a saving of at least £150 annually (2002). You have to get the certificate stamped in the local Transport Department each year.
Contact: Fylde Benefits Directorate,
Disability Living Allowance Unit,
Warbreck House, Warbreck Hill,
Blackpool, FY2 0YE
Telephone: 0845 7123456

Whizz-kidz offers specialist advice about wheelchairs for children and young people with mobility problems including manufacturers, sports events and support groups, some financial aid may be available towards purchase of particular items.
Contact: 1, Warwick Row,
London, SW1E 5ER
Telephone: 020 72336600
www.whizz-kidz.org.uk