Links
We try to keep this list of links to organisations involved in accessibility as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible; to add your organisation or correct an entry email john.lamb@abilitymagazine.org.uk
AbilityNet
The charity provides expertise on computer access for disabled adults and children, at home, at work or in the classroom, offering a full range of services including free advice and information, awareness training, individual assessment and the supply of computer equipment.
Telephone: 0800 269 545
Email: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Web Site: www.abilitynet.org.uk
ACE Centre North
Offers a range of services, including free information and advice, to support learning and communication through the use of assistive technology and alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems and resources for learners with physical and communication difficulties.
Telephone: 0161 684 2333
Email: acenorth@ace-north.org.uk
Web Site: www.ace-north.org.uk
Advisory Committee for Disabled and Older People (DIEL)
DIEL advises OFTEL, the telecommunications regulator for the UK, on the requirements of disabled and older people.
Telephone:020 7634 8773
Email: diel@acts.og.uk
Web Site: www.ofcom.org.uk
Arts Dyslexia Trust
This organisation promotes understanding of visual-spatial literacy from which people, including those labeled dyslexic, learn and develop. Offers help lines and advice on schools, courses and higher education.
Telephone: 01233 811 960
Email: adt@artsdyslexiatrust.org
Web Site: artsdyslexiatrust.org
The Association for Spinal Injury Research (ASPIRE)
ASPIRE’s national training centre offers IT courses and computer adaptations enabling people with little or no use of their hands to use computers; specifically, but not exclusively, for those with spinal cord injury.
Telephone: 020 8954 5759
Email: info@aspire.org.uk
Web Site: www.aspire.org.uk
Association of Disabled Professionals
The Association provides employment advice, information and support for disabled people, and their advisors or friends, via a helpline.
Telephone: 01204 431 638
Email: info@adp.org.uk
Web Site: www.adp.org.uk
British Educational and Communications Technology Agency (BECTA)
BECTA’s job is to ensure that ICT supports the Government¹s efforts to raise standards in curriculum subjects, key skills, institutional effectiveness and lifelong learning
Telephone: 020 7641 6994
Email: becta@becta.org.uk
Web Site: www.becta.org.uk
British Computer Association of the Blind
A self-help group of visually impaired computer professionals and users. Provides training courses and useful links.
Telephone: 0845 430 8627
Email: info@bcab.org.uk
Web Site: www.bcab.org.uk
BCS Disability Group
International membership organisation aiming to show employers and public that IT should be a means to equality for disabled people, the Group encourages producers of hardware and software to consider accessibility features.
Telephone: 01245 242 950
Email: graham.mclaughlin@hq.bcs.org.uk
Web Site: www.bcs.org.uk
British Deaf Association
Charity run by deaf people for deaf people working to ensure that deaf people using sign language have the same rights as other citizens.
Telephone: 020 7588 3520
Email: info@bda.org.uk
Web Site: www.bda.org.uk
Cambridge Online
Educational charity based in Cambridge operating across the East of England. The services Cambridge Online provides include free computer access, computer training and information, accessibility advice, website hosting and design, and consultancy.
Telephone: 01223 300407
Email:help@cambridgeonline.org.uk
Web Site: www.cambridgeonline.org.uk
Communication Aids for Language and Learning Centre (CALL Centre)
The organisation provides specialist expertise in technology for children who have speech, communication and/or writing difficulties, in schools across Scotland.
Telephone: 0131 651 6235/6236
Email: call-centre@ed.ac.uk
Web Site: www.callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk
Centre for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
A US educational, not-for-profit organisation that uses technology to expand opportunities for people, including those with disabilities through an approach called Universal Design for Learning.
Telephone: 001 781 245-2212
Email: cast@cast.org
Web Site: www.cast.org
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE)
The CAE is a leading UK authority on inclusive design. The organisation aims to help secure a built environment that is usable by everyone, including disabled and older people. CAE pioneered the provision of access guidance for building designers based on collaborative research with disabled people.
Telephone: 020 7840 0125
Email: info@cae.org.uk
Web Site: www.cae.org.uk
Central London Assessment Services (CLASS)
CLASS is a major provider of needs assessments and assistive IT training for UK students pursuing claims under the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
Telephone: 08000 153 158
Web Site: www.class.org.uk
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
The Department’s special educational needs unit promotes the welfare and interests of disabled children, aims to improve the support they receive, and provides a wide range of SEN and disability advice and materials for teachers, parents and others working with children with SEN in England.
Telephone: 0870 000 2288
Email: info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Web Site: www.dcsf.gov.uk
Directgov
Government information service for disabled people and carers.
Web Site: www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople
DisabledGo
The organisation provides online information about access to public venues across the UK and Ireland. DisabledGo, which uses trained surveyors, works with over 75 local authorities, 100 education establishments and has recently launched a guide to Health.
Telephone: 0845 270 4627
Text: 07971 425213
Email: questions@disabledgo.com
Web Site: www.disabledgo.com
Disability Law Service
Provides free legal information and advice on disability discrimination, consumer matters, community care, education, employment and welfare benefits.
Telephone: 020 7791 9800
Email: advice@dls.org.uk
Web Site: www.dls.org.uk
Drake Music Project
Using specialist and adapted electronic technology, Drake enables disabled people unable to play conventional musical instruments to compose and perform their own music.
Telephone: 0207 253 9111
Email: CentralServices@DrakeMusicProject.com
Web Site: www.DrakeMusicProject.com
Enabling Disabled People through Information Technology (EDIT)
A registered charity training unemployed, disabled people in information technology skills.
Telephone: 01283 500022
Email: hilary.morgan@burtoncollege.ac.uk
Web Site: www.burton-college.ac.uk/about/venues.asp
Enabling Education Network (EENET)
Set up to establish an information-sharing network to support and promote the inclusion of marginalised groups in education world wide.
Telephone: 0161 275 3711
Email: info@eenet.org.uk
Web Site: www.eenet.org.uk
Employers Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the world's leading employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business. EFD's mission is to enable companies to become disability confident by making it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers.
Telephone: 0207 403 3020
Email: enquiries@efd.org.uk
Web Site: www.efd.org.uk
Emptech
Database that provides information resources on assistive technologies that are designed to help those with specific disabilities work and study more effectively. The database includes product descriptions, links to manufacturers, suppliers with addresses as well as other related resources.
Web Site: www.emptech.info
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission acts not only for the disadvantaged, but for everyone in society, and can use its new enforcement powers where necessary to guarantee people’s equality. It also has a mandate to promote understanding of the Human Rights Act.
Telephone: England 0845 604 6610; Wales 0845 604 8810; Scotland 0845 604 5510
Email: info@equalityhumanrights.com
Web Site: www.equalityhumanrights.com
Foundation for the Advancement of Assistive Technology (FAST)
FAST aims to facilitate the advancement of assistive technology by liasing with research and development institutions, manufacturers, service providers and end-users.
Telephone: 0207 264 8955
Email: info@fastuk.org
Web Site: www.fastuk.org
Guild of Accessible Web Designers
GAWDS is a world-wide association of organisations and accessible web designers and developers - designed to both promote and protect standards - not technical standards - but accessible design standards.
Web Site: www.gawds.org
Humanity
HumanITy is a not-for-profit consultancy, which works on a commercial basis with government, major corporations, the research sector and civil society, using the organisation’s surplus time to provide a free service to e-inclusion implementors.
Telephone: 01273 834 321
Email: humanity@atlas.co.uk
Web Site: www.humanity.org.uk
IT-CAN-HELP
A voluntary service which assists disabled users for whom the computer is their principal means of communication to get more out of their computers - to choose new systems, set up accessibility aids and get online.
Helpline: 0800 269545
Email: info@itcanhelp.org.uk
Web Site: www.itcanhelp.org.uk
Leonard Cheshire
Disability care charity providing support services for people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. Leonard Cheshire runs Discover IT centres and Workability, a scheme to improve the employment chances of disabled people which includes IT training.
Telephone: 020 3242 0200
Email: info@lcdisability.org
Web Site: www.lcdisability.org
Lewisham Association of People with Disabilities (LAPD)
Organisation that provides advice to disabled people living in the south London borough on many aspects of life including access issues.
Telephone: 07737 530583
Email: access@lapdonline.org.uk
Website: www.lapdonline.org.uk
Linking education and disability (LEAD) Scotland
Charity that enables physically disabled adults to access education and learning opportunities.
Telephone 0131 228 9441
Email: enquiries@lead.org.uk
Web Site: www.lead.org.uk
MENCAP
Works with people with a learning disability to fight discrimination. Campaigns to ensure that their rights are recognised.
Telephone: 020 7696 6952
Email: campaigns@mencap.org.uk
Web Site: www.mencap.org.uk
National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP)
NADP is the professional organisation for disability and support staff in further and higher education. NADP is for anyone working in the post-14 education sector and involved in the management or delivery of services for disabled students.
Telephone: 01604 497933
Email: admin@nadp-uk.org
Web Site: www.nadp-uk.org
National Autistic Society
Charity for people with autism and their families, spearheads national and international incentives and provides a voice for autism.
Telephone: 0845 070 4004
Email: nas@nas.org.uk
Web Site: www.nas.org.uk
Queen Elizabeth's Foundation Disability Information Services (DISS)
Provides national disability information that is fully accessible through its database - DissBASE - now containing nearly 10,000 records of support services, products and activities specifically for disabled and elderly people. Up-to-date disability legislation, welfare benefits and relevant organisations are featured.
Telephone: 01372 841395
Email: john.hampton@diss.org.uk
Web Site: 80.68.39.42/dissweb/index.aspx
Reach
A UK-wide charity that recruits managers and professionals with time to give and places them as part-time, expenses-only volunteers with voluntary organisations needing their career expertise.
Telephone: 020 7582 6543
Email: mail@reach-online.org
Web Site: www.reach-online.org.uk
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
RADAR is a national network of disability organisations and disabled people. It represents members by relaying their opinions and concerns to policy-makers and legislators in Westminster and Whitehall, and launching campaigns to promote equality for all disabled people.
Telephone: 020 7250 3222
Email: radar@radar.org.uk
Web Site: www.radar.org.uk
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
National UK charity providing a wide range of information, training and IT products for blind or partially sighted people. RNIB also carries out original technology research.
Telephone: 0303 123 9999 (helpline)
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Web Site: www.rnib.org.uk
Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
RNID provides the information and resources that helps people identify whether they have a hearing loss. The organisation campaigns for change, provides services and training, and actively supports scientific and technological research.
Telephone: 020 7296 8000
Email: solutions@rnid.org.uk
Web Site: www.rnid.org.uk
Scope
Charity working with people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities. Scope carries out research into issues affecting disabled people and has joined forces with DIAL UK to provide a national advice network..
Telephone: 0808 800 3333
Email: response@scope.org.uk
Web Site: www.scope.org.uk
Shaw Trust
Charity that champions the abilities of disabled people, enabling over 60,000 people per year experiencing all types of disability to make the most of their skills, abilities and employment opportunities.
Telephone: 01225 716300
Email: via web site
Web Site: www.shaw-trust.org.uk
Speakability
Charity for people with aphasia and their families to overcome the barriers they face in everyday life. Speakability offers information and support through its helpline, website and training courses, and distributes its own fact sheets, low-cost publications and videos.
Telephone: 080 8808 9572
Email: speakability@speakability.org.uk
Web Site: www.speakability.org.uk
Starthere
StartHere has developed an online signposting service to help people with social welfare needs access the information and help they need quickly and easily.
Telephone: 020 8742 7722
Email: info@starthere.org
Web Site: www.starthere.org
TAG
TAG promotes equality of access to electronic communications, including telecommunications and broadcasting, for deaf, deafened, hard-of-hearing, deafblind people and sign language users, especially in terms of function and cost.
Email: tagenquiries@hotmail.com
Web Site: www.tagcomm.org.uk
Telework Association (TCA)
The Telework Association is a membership organisation providing information, advice and support to enable individuals, whether employed or self employed, to make a success of mobile, home-based and flexible ways of working.
Telephone: 0800 616008
Email: enquiries@telework.org.uk
Web Site: www.tca.org.uk
The Prince's Trust
Charity helping 14-30 year olds develop self confidence, learn new skills and move into work. The Prince’s Trust offers training, personal development opportunities, support and advice and business start up assistance. It has dedicated staff to particularly support young disabled people start up in business.
Telephone: 0800 842842
Email: webinfops@princes-trust.org.uk
Web Site: www.princes-trust.org.uk
U Can Do IT
A charity which provides computer training for blind, deaf and disabled people in their own homes.
Telephone/Minicom: 020 7730 7766
Email: info@ucandoit.org.uk
Web Site: www.ucandoit.org.uk
Visound
National charity that offers audio services and support for those with a visual impairment
Telephone: 01273 303 111
Email: access@visound.org.uk
Web Site: www.visound.org.uk
Web Accessibility Initiative
The W3Cs Web Accessibility Initiative is a good place to learn about web accessibility. It offers a resources section, together with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and Checklists.
Web Site: www.w3.org/WAI