Advisory bodies and providers of ICT products and services for disabled people

This resource was developed during a series of workshops run late in 2002 by the Government Office of the West Midlands for UK online centres in their region.

Disability Discrimination Act Helpline
http://www.disability.gov.uk
Tel: 0800 882200
Text phone: 0800 243355

 Microsoft
All MS Windows products have features to allow users with a range of disabilities to adapt the operating system to their personal preferences. Tutorials can be found at this web address.
http://www.microsoft.com/enable

youreable.com
http://www.youreable.com/

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch

Bobby
http://bobby.watchfire.com

Children's & Young People's Services
http://www.cyps.co.uk/teachstrategies.htm
It contains useful information and strategies for educationalists dealing with behavioural difficulties and additional needs (including memory, motivation, confidence/self esteem, spelling....). Although it's aimed at children, some of the information might be of use across the spectrum of adult and community learning.


Useful Organisations and Contacts for Centres Working with Learners with Disabilities

ACE Centre Advisory Trust
The ACE Centre Advisory Trust provides a focus for the use of technology with the communication and educational needs of young people with physical and communication difficulties. They offer a wide variety of services including in-depth individual assessments, information, and specialist training for parents and professionals.

ACE Centre Advisory Trust
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford 0X3 7DR
Tel: (44) 1865 759800
Fax: (44) 1865 759810
email (general enquiries): info@ace-centre.org.uk
http://www.ace-centre.org.uk

British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB)
BCAB is a self-help group of visually impaired computer professionals and users.

BCAB
C/0 RNIB
58-72 John Bright Street
Birmingham
B1 1BN
Tel: 0121 6654256
http://www.bcab.org.uk

British Council of Disabled People (BCODP)
The British Council of Disabled People (BCODP) was set up by people with disabilities in 1981 to promote full equality and participation within society. BCODP is the only national umbrella organisation to be democratically set up by people with disabilities themselves to represent their interests at the national level.

The British Council of Disabled People
Litchurch Plaza
Litchurch Lane
Derby
DE24 8AA
Tel: 01332 295551
Email: general@bcodp.org.uk
http://www.bcodp.org.uk

British Deaf Association
The BDA is the UK 's largest national organisation run by Deaf people, for Deaf people.

British Deaf Association
1-3 Worship Street
London EC2A 2AB
Textphone: 020 7588 3529 (24hr answerphone)
Voice phone: 020 7588 3520
Email: helpline@bda.org.uk
http://www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk

dial UK
A national organisation - a network of 140 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people. Last year DIALs helped over a quarter of a million disabled people.

Dial UK
St Catherine's
Tickhill Road
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN4 8QN
Telephone (01302) 310 123
Fax (01302) 310 404
Textphone (01302) 310 123 please use voice announcer
Email enquiries@dialuk.org.uk
http://www.dial.org.uk

Disability Alliance
The Disability Alliance is regarded as a leading authority on social security benefits for disabled people. They believe it is unacceptable that thousands of disabled people in the UK live in poverty and their aim is to ensure that they know about, and claim, their legal entitlement to benefit.

Disability Alliance
Universal House
88-94 Wentworth Street
London E1 7SA
Telephone (Voice and Minicom): 020 7247 8776
Fax: 020 7247 8765
http://www.disabilityalliance.org

Disability Rights Commission
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has been set up to promote civil rights for disabled people. Its roles include sharing good practice, lobbying for the rights of people with disabilities and advising on the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

DRC Helpline
Freepost MID 02164
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 9HY
Tel: 08457 622 633
Fax: 08457 778 878
Textphone: 08457 622 644
Email: enquiry@drc-gb.org
http://www.drc-gb.org

Foundation for Assistive Technology
FAST'S mission is to maximise the independence of people with disabilities by promoting collaboration between users of assistive technology, service providers, product manufacturers and those involved in developmental research to ensure the future is needs-led.

FAST (Foundation for Assistive Technology)
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V8AF
Tel: 020 7253 3303
Email: info@fastuk.org
http://www.fastuk.org

Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation is a national organisation of and for disabled people. Its key areas of activity are: supporting over 500 local and national disability organisations, campaigning for improvements in disabled people's lives and providing information to support independence and equality for disabled people.

RADAR
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V8AF
Tel: 020 7250 3222
Fax: 020 7250 0212
Minicom:02072504119
E-mail: radar@radar.org.uk
http://www.radar.org.uk

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
RNIB helps anyone with a sight problem - not just with braille, Talking Books and computer training, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. They campaign to change society's attitudes, actions and assumptions, so that people with sight problems can enjoy the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities as fully sighted people.

RNIB
105 Judd Street
London WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 388 1266
Fax:020 7388 2034
http://www.rnib.org.uk

Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
RNID is the largest charity representing the 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK . As a membership charity, they aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people.

RNID
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Tel: 020 7296 8000
Textphone: 020 7296 8001
Fax: 020 7296 8199
E-mail: informationline@rnid.org.uk
http://www.rnid.org.uk


Adaptive Technologies Suppliers

Inclusive Technology Ltd
Gateshead Business Park
Delph
Oldham
OL3 5BX
01457819790
http://www.inclusive.co.uk

Abilitynet
Abilitynet not only supplies assistive technologies, but also produces many useful resources and fact sheets about how to help learners with various disabilities.

AbilityNet Warwick
PO Box 94 ,
Warwick ,
Warwickshire,
CV34 5WS.
Freephone: 0800 269545.
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk

Essentialaids.com 
33 Guildford Road  
Brighton  
East Sussex  BN1 3LW
Fax: 01273 735 241
Email: contact@essentialaids.com
http://www.essentialaids.com

Don Johnston Special Needs Ltd.
18 Clarendon Ct
Calver Rd.
Winwick Quay,
Warrington , WA2 8QP
Tel: 01925 241642
http://www.donjohnston.com/uk
 

Other Sources of Advice

Blind in Business
7 Rolls Buildings,
Fetter Lane,
London EC4A 1NH
Telephone 0171 931 2198
www.blindinbusiness.org.uk/

Charity that helps visually impaired people to find work

Cambridge Adaptive Communication
The Mount,
Toft,
Cambridge
CB3 7RL
Telephone 01223 264244
www.possum.co.uk/

Manufactures and supplies custom made equipment

Computability Centre
PO Box 94,
Warwick
CV34 5WS
Telephone 01926 312847

Charitable organisation that provides advice and personal assessments

Dolphin Systems for People with Disabilities
Unit 96C,
Blackpole Trading Estate West,
Worcester WR3 8TU
Telephone 01905 754577
www.dolphinuk.co.uk/

Specialises in designing speech synthesisers and writing reading software

Dragon Systems UK
Pullar Close,
Bishops Cleeve,
Cheltenham
GL52 4RW
Telephone 01242 678575
www.dragonsys.com/

Produces Dragon Dictate speech recognition system

Foundation for Communication for the Disabled
25 High Street,
Woking,
Surrey
GU21 1BW
Telephone 01483 727844

Sensory Systems
1 Watling Gate,
297-303 Edgware Road,
London NW9 6NB
Telephone 0181 205 3002

Supplies adaptive computer technology to visually impaired people