Disability Support Directory UK

 

Urgent help first

Emergency: call 999
NHS urgent health help: call 111 or use NHS 111 online.
Urgent mental health crisis: call 111 and choose the mental health option. 
Samaritans: 116 123
Shout text crisis support: text SHOUT to 85258

Government services

GOV.UK disability rights and advice
Covers disability rights, discrimination, legal advice routes, Equality Advisory Support Service, Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK.

Find your local council
Use this to contact Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, housing, Blue Badge, equipment, adaptations and local disability support.

NHS social care and support guide
Explains care needs, carers, assessments, equipment, home care, care homes, advocacy and reporting abuse.

Access to Work
Government support for disabled people in employment, apprenticeships or self-employment.

Personal Independence Payment / disability benefits
Use GOV.UK for PIP, Universal Credit, Carer’s Allowance, Attendance Allowance and disability-related benefits.

NHS services

NHS 111: 111
For urgent health advice, mental health crisis support, local services and out-of-hours help.

NHS learning disability support
NHS information for people with learning disabilities and family carers.

NHS England learning disability and autism programme
Focuses on improving health and care services so people can live in the community with the right support close to home.

NHS social care guide
For help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability.

Ask your GP or NHS service for reasonable adjustments, such as longer appointments, Easy Read information, BSL support, accessible letters, quiet waiting spaces, carer involvement or communication support.

National disability charities

Scope
Advice for disabled people and families on benefits, social care, equipment, work, housing and rights.
Helpline: 0808 800 3333
Textphone: 18001 then 0808 800 3333

Disability Rights UK
Information on disability rights, independent living, education, benefits and policy.
General enquiries: 0330 995 0400 
They also run helplines, including support for disabled students, apprentices and trainees in England.

Citizens Advice
Benefits, debt, housing, employment, discrimination, social care and legal rights.

Equality Advisory and Support Service
Advice about discrimination and Equality Act rights.

Advocacy organisations

Advocacy can help someone speak up, understand choices, challenge decisions or attend meetings.

You may need advocacy for:

• Care assessments
• Safeguarding
• NHS complaints
• Mental health care
• Best interests decisions
• Housing or benefits problems
• Education or social care meetings

Start with your local council, NHS service, PALS, Citizens Advice, Mind Legal Line, or a local advocacy charity. Mind says advocacy services may be found through local Mind services, PALS in England or Llais in Wales.

Carer organisations

Carers UK
Advice for unpaid carers on benefits, work, assessments, rights and support.
Helpline: 0808 808 7777

Local council carers’ assessment
Carers can ask the local council for a carer’s assessment, even if the person they care for does not receive council-funded care.

NHS social care guide
Includes support for carers and care assessments.

Condition-specific charities

Mencap
For people with a learning disability, families and carers. Mencap provides advice and support through its helpline service. 
Helpline commonly listed: 0808 808 1111

Mind
Mental health information, support and legal advice routes.
Infoline: 0300 123 3393

RNIB
Support for blind and partially sighted people.

RNID
Support for deaf people and people with hearing loss or tinnitus.

National Autistic Society
Autism information, rights, diagnosis guidance and support.

ADHD Foundation
Information and support for ADHD and neurodiversity.

Alzheimer’s Society
Dementia support for people affected and carers.

Parkinson’s UK
Support for Parkinson’s.

MS Society / MS Trust
Support for multiple sclerosis.

Epilepsy Society / Epilepsy Action
Support for epilepsy.

Diabetes UK
Support for diabetes.

Versus Arthritis
Support for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.

Local support services

Use your postcode to find:

• Adult Social Care
• Children’s Services
• Local disability forums
• Local carers centres
• Community mental health teams
• Learning disability teams
• Autism services
• Sensory impairment teams
• Occupational therapy
• Equipment and home adaptations
• Blue Badge support
• Local advocacy
• Local charities and community groups

The main starting point is Find your local council on GOV.UK.

What to ask for

When contacting any service, say:

“I am disabled / I have support needs and I need accessible help. Please tell me what reasonable adjustments, advocacy, communication support, assessments, benefits advice and local disability services are available.”

You can ask for:

• Easy Read information
• Large print
• Audio format
• BSL interpreter
• Relay UK
• Email instead of phone
• Longer appointments
• Home visits
• Quiet appointments
• Advocate support
• Carer involvement
• Accessible buildings
• Transport advice
• Mental health adjustments
• Care needs assessment
• Carer’s assessment
• Occupational therapy assessment
• Safeguarding support