Contacting other people with disabilities and disability organisations

Keeping in touch with other people who have disabilities can be a good way of getting informal advice and support. You can get to know other people with disabilities through local support groups, disability organisations and charities, or online disability forums.

At a local level

Your local council website may list local organisations and groups offering support to people with disabilities. You can find your local council website from the link below. Other places you may find out about local disability groups include:

• noticeboards at your local library or community centre
• through your doctor's surgery
• through your local hospital
• Local councils in Northern Ireland (contacts section)

Charities and other organisations for people with specific needs

Getting involved with a charity or other organisation that supports people with your specific disability or medical condition can be a good way of meeting people and getting advice.

Some national organisations have a network of local offices that offer support services and organise social activities for members.Some charities for specific disabilities have online discussion forums where you can chat with other people with the same disability.

Many also produce magazines and other publications you can subscribe to. Some organisations have a helpline you can call or access by textphone for specialist advice about your disability. This could be especially useful if you are newly disabled or concerned about how your disability may affect important decisions - like starting a family or returning to work.

You can find out the details of several organisations from nidirect's contact section, as follows.

Organisations for people who are blind or visually impaired

• British Computer Association of the Blind (contacts section)
• British Council for Prevention of Blindness (contacts section)
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (contacts section)
• International Glaucoma Association (contacts section)
• RNIB National Library Service (contacts section)
• Royal Blind Society (contacts section)
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) (contacts section)
• Sense (contacts section)

Organisations for people who are deaf or hearing impaired

• Action on Hearing Loss (contacts section)
• British Deaf Association (contacts section)
• Deafness Research UK (The Hearing Research Trust) (contacts section)
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (contacts section)
• National Association of Deafened People (contacts section)
• National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) (contacts section)
• Sense (contacts section)
• Signstation (contacts section)

Organisations for people with mental health difficulties

• Alzheimer's Society (contacts section)
• Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health (contacts section)
• Rethink (contacts section)
• SANE (contacts section)

Organisations for people with communication difficulties

• Afasic Northern Ireland (Unlocking Speech and Language) (contacts section)
• British Stammering Association (contacts section)
• National Autistic Society (contacts section)

Organisations for people with education and training difficulies

• Afasic Northern Ireland (Unlocking Speech and Language) (contacts section)
• Northern Ireland Dyslexia Association (contacts section)
• Down's Syndrome Association (contacts section)

Organisations for people with physical disabilities

• Arthritis Care (contacts section)
• Shine (formerly the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus ASBAH) (contacts section)
• Go Kids Go (contacts section)
• Motability (contacts section)
• Motor Neurone Disease Association (contacts section)
• Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Ireland (contacts section)
• Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (contacts section)
• Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) (contacts section)
• steps (contacts section)
• Stroke Association Northern Ireland (contacts section)
• Whizz-Kidz (contacts section)

Organisations working with all people with disabilities

• Disability Action (contacts section)

Online disability forums and messageboards

Some organisations run internet discussion boards, forums and chatrooms specifically for people withh disabilities. Examples include:

• Ouch! - the BBC's disability website, has messageboards for general chat, advice on disability issues and answers to frequently asked questions.
• Ouch! website
• Youreable - a community-based website for people with disabilities hosting a range of discussion forums on topics including benefits, motoring, health, relationships and equipment.
• Youreable website