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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. People with disabilities
    3. Health and support

    Support organisations for people with disabilities

    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.

    Local support

    Your local council website may list local organisations and groups offering support to people with disabilities.

    You may also find out about local disability groups:

    • on noticeboards at your local library or community centre
    • through your doctor's surgery
    • through your local hospital

    Support 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 forums where you can chat with other people with the same disability.

    Many also have 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, such as starting a family or returning to work.

    Support if you are blind or visually impaired

    • Glaucoma UK
    • Guide Dogs Northern Ireland
    • RNIB reading service
    • Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
    • Sense Northern Ireland

    Support if you are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus

    • British Deaf Association
    • Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
    • National Association of Deafened People
    • National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)
    • RNID
    • Sense Northern Ireland
    • Sign Station (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Other support organisations

    • Alzheimer's Society
    • Autism NI
    • Disability Action
    • Down's Syndrome Association
    • Motor Neurone Disease Association
    • Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Ireland
    • National Autistic Society
    • Shine
    • Stroke Association Northern Ireland
    • Versus Arthritis
    • Contacting 08 and 03 numbers
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    Health and support

    • Advice for carers
    • Arranging care and support services
    • Direct payments for care
    • Health services
    • Help with health costs
    • Hospitals and people with disabilities
    • Mental health
    • Support organisations for people with disabilities
    • Support services for you and your child with disabilities
    • Your rights in health

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    What to do next

    Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

    If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

    Carer's Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912
    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

    Call 0800 587 2750 
    Email 
    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

    Disability Living Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912 
    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Employment and Support Allowance

    Call 0800 587 1377

    Jobseeker’s Allowance

    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

    Personal Independence Payment

    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

    For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

    For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

    For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

    If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

    • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
    • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

    For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

    Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

    For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

    For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

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    For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about:

    • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
    • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

    For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

    If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

    For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

    For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

    If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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