Awareness

Community Channel
From September 15th - 21st Community Channel will broadcast a week of programmes focusing on disability issues. Featuring celebrities such as Britain's Missing Top Model finalist Sophie Morgan, film director Richard Attenborough and actor Bill Nighy the week will consist of new documentaries showcasing the talents and achievements of disabled people, as well as exploring some of the challenges faced in day-to-day life. Highlights include a surreal comedy called Coping Strategies (7.00 pm on Friday 19th)and a magazine style show called Helping Others Can Help U (7.00 pm on Sunday 21st). Community Channel is on Sky 539 and Virgin TV 233 (24 hours)and on Freeview 87 (6 - 9 am). For a full schedule please follow the link.

Carers

Carers UK
Carers UK focuses on campaigning, policy and information for carers.

Community Care
A weekly magazine with up-to-date news for social work and social care professionals.

DirectGov site for Carers
The Government website for carers.

Free cinema tickets for carers
The Card Network run a scheme called the Cinema Exhibitors Association Card, which helps disabled people to visit the cinema by entitling them to a free ticket for their carer. This is a national scheme which is accepted in 90% of cinemas in the UK. This site gives details of how to obtain a card and requirements of card holders etc.

Funding options for care of the elderly or disabled
If you care for an elderly relative, are unable to look after yourself, or you support a disabled relative, this site explains the financial options open to you.

Courses

MSc in Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability studies
This postgraduate programme at the University of Birmingham is designed for experienced professionals involved in the care of people with a learning disability (the term used in the UK in place of ‘intellectual disability'). It provides inter-professional education on a part-time distance basis and students learn from specially-prepared study texts, weekend schools and local tutorial groups. This is the only course in the UK and Ireland which covers the whole field of learning disability and attracts students from a variety of backgrounds.

Education

Down Syndrome Educational Trust
Website for parents and professionals. DownsEd promote the education and development of children with Down's syndrome through research and information.

Gabbitas - Educational Consultants
A site run by Gabbitas Educational Consultants with links to many other associations concerned with educational issues.

In The Picture aims to promote the inclusion of disabled children in early years' picture books. You can download pdf's of stories to read to your children and for your children to read. They also provide other information about putting children with disabilities 'in the picture'!

Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

Learn Makaton
This site teaches you how to do Makaton with sections of: Who speaks my language?, My first words, Questions and Answers, Numbers and more. It also teaches Makaton in different languages. An excellent resource.

Learning Space
Learning Space specialises in educational resources, providing an exciting range of toys, games, software, books, and any product that captivates, inspires and educates children aged 3 – 12. Many of the products are suited to children of all ages! The resources are designed to be used either in educational settings or at home. There are also a wide range of products suited to those with Down's syndrome.

Maths Extra
Support young people with Down syndrome to develop maths skills with a focus on time and money

Teachers TV
This site contains Special Educational Needs programmes. These programmes are available to stream and download online for free and also feature in our brand new SEN Microsite which goes live on Monday morning. There are also 52 videos on Inclusion, which may also be of interest to parents and teachers.

The Good Schools Guide
A comprehensive listing of all the public information available on all UK schools - from addresses, head teachers and pupil numbers through to exam results. You can search for schools based on name, location or a range of other data, including SEN schools.

The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education
NAPCSE offers parents of children with special needs specific resources related to education. It allows parents to stay abreast of current trends in special education.

VIPS in SEN
Voice of Independent Parents in Special Educational Needs (VIPs in SEN) SEN website resource providing help, advice, support, information, and key documents for parents or carers, including assessments, statements, exclusion, appeals and legal contacts. Regularly updated. Campaigns to improve provision and to make it easier to achieve that.

White Board Room
Whiteboard resources for children with specific learning disabilities, profound and multiple learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Includes powerpoint presentations to use in the classroom.

Employment

Disabled Worker's Co-operative
The Disabled Workers Co-operative is a new not-for-profit project whose aim is to create a National searchable database that will match the needs of individual customers wanting a product or service with a local disabled person who is able to provide that product or service.

Workable Wiltshire
This is a site for: Disabled people and carers who wish to train for work, are considering entering into work or who are already in employment. Employers who want to find out how to recruit and retain valuable staff. Organisations which provide training, support and guidance services.
Tel: Freephone

Yes2Work
Yes2Work is an organisation that aims to help people who are out of work because of illness or disability, find and keep jobs.

General

All About Special Needs
This is a community-based website. If you are involved with special needs or disability - in whatever capacity (family member, carer, teacher, support worker, volunteer, charity organiser, etc.) - then their aim is that you might find some useful information here, or indeed contribute some useful information, to help make your life, or somebody else's, a little easier. Anyone can contribute to the discussion board to add a topic or to respond to someone else's.

Clear helps you communicate well with people with learning disabilities and with other groups who might find communicating hard. They offer training and provide an information service.

Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Looking for a care home? Get free, independent reports on the quality of your local homes and care services to help you make an informed choice.

CSCI - Eligibility criteria
CSCI are carrying out a major review of the eligibility criteria that councils use to decide whether or not a person receives help from the council with social care service. For more information on this please visit the CSCI link above and visit this link to fill in the online survey.

DirectGov site for disabled people
Government website listing public service information for people with disabilities.

Down's With The Kids: Stan's Dad's blog
BBC Ouch! website hosts a weblog by Steve Palmer, father to Stan, four years old, who has DS. Steve provides regular updates as Stan progresses through nursery and onward and upward.

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
The FPLD website outlines the charity’s work on learning disabilities including research, social inclusion, family support, service development, policy and consultancy service. The site offers information on all these things as well as good practice publications.

Langdon Down Centre Trust
The Langdon Down Centre Trust is a charity that looks after the building occupied by the Down's Syndrome Association. The rich history of the Centre, including Dr John Langdon Down's pioneering work with people with learning disabilities in the 1800's, is explored on the site.

Learning Disability Coalition
The learning disability coalition is formed of 10 learning disability organisations. We have come together to form one group with one voice. We believe people with a learning disability have the right to live independent lives with the support they need. We want to make sure the government provides enough public money so that people with a learning disability have the same choices and chances as everyone else.

MENCAP
Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.

Special Olympics Great Britain
Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) is the major provider of sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability and provides equality of opportunity for all our athletes regardless of ability or degree of disability.

Talking Point is your first stop on the internet for information about speech, language and communication difficulties in children. They provide a vast amount of information about communication problems and ways to deal with them. If you are a parent or family member of a child, in Parent Point you will find vital information on how to support your child. The professional’s part of Talking Point, with information and resources can be found in Professional Point.

The Big Tree
The Big Tree is a site for people with learning disabilities, where they can find information about issues that are important to them, and meet other people.

International Organisations

Down's Syndrome Association - Nigeria
Down syndrome Association of Nigeria is a non-governmental, not-for-profit association of children with Down syndrome as well as their parents, caregivers, and other interested stakeholders.

Down's Syndrome Ireland

Down's Syndrome Scotland

National Down Syndrome Society U.S.A

Leisure

Cheeky Cherub toys
Cheeky Cherub sells educational toys, specialising in toys for children with special needs, to help them to develop certain skills.

Dance 21 is an Unincorporated Association which provides a dance group, 'Dance 21', for children and young people with Down Syndrome and their siblings in the Essex area, projecting a positive image of disability. In the Dance 21 Dance Group we offer a dynamic, fun, structured environment where everyone has the opportunity to improve their potential through dance and movement. We also develop a variety of skills and each child is valued as an individual and respected team member.

Medical

A website for medical professionals and students
A site created by the Down's Syndrome Association in partnership with St George's Hospital Medical School to provide information on all aspects of intellectual disability and health as a resource for medical students and health professionals.

Down's Heart Group
The Down's Heart Group is a UK charity which offers support and information to families who have a member with Down's Syndrome and congenital heart defects.

Down's Syndrome Medical Interest Group
The Down's Syndrome Medical Interest Group (DSMIG) is a network of doctors from the UK and Republic of Ireland who have a specialist interest in Down's syndrome. They also advise the DSA on all medical issues.

DS Health
Dr. Len Leshin provides medical advice for parents on a wide range of subjects, and links to many international related sites.

Dual Diagnosis of Down's syndrome and Autism
A small percentage of children with Down's syndrome also have Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This website brings together a collection of useful articles on this subject.

Family Physio
Family Physio is an independent private physiotherapy practice specialising in the provision of physiotherapy for babies, children and adolescents. Family physio works within a 20 mile radius of Amersham, South Buckinghamshire. The service offers individual specialist assessments ansd treatments in the home for a wide range of conditions.

Midwives Information and Resource Service
An educational charity set up in 1985 that provides information and practical resources to maternity healthcare professionals. Their mission is: 'To be the leading international information resource relating to childbirth and infancy, disseminating this information as widely as possible to assist in the improvement of maternity care'

Mosaic Down Syndrome UK
A website for parents of children with Mosaic Down's syndrome in the UK

Mosaic Down's syndrome
Specific information on Mosaic Down's syndrome

National Down's Syndrome Cytogenetic Register
Data on pregnancies affected by Down's syndrome, including figures on maternal age, live birth, termination and pre-natal diagnosis methods used.

Parents

Article from The Guardian: "Children like Grace"
A truly inspirational article. Recommended for all parents.

Article from The Times: "I'm not a saint, just a parent"
We had so many comments about this that we wanted to share it. Simon Barnes talks about life with his five-year-old son, Eddie, who has Down's syndrome.

The Children with Down’s Syndrome Study is a landmark study set up with the support of the Down’s Syndrome Association, the Down’s Syndrome Medical Interest Group, families of children with Down’s syndrome, health professionals and researchers in order to learn more about the health of children with Down’s syndrome. Children in the study will be followed from birth onwards. The information gathered will help us to understand their health in order to improve health care delivery to all children with Down’s syndrome. Any family with a child born with Down's syndrome after 1st May 2006 can join the study. Most families will be invited to take part by a health professional involved in their care. If you would like to take part, but have not yet been invited to do so, then you may contact us directly.

Early Support For Parents Of Children With Disabilities - UK Government
This website provides information, news and up-dates on Early Support (previously known as the Early Support Pilot Programme), a UK government initiative to improve services for disabled children under three and their families. The website promotes multi-agency working and is for anyone who works regularly with very young children and their families. There is also information for families - click on the ‘For families’ link to find out more. Early Support involves the UK Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Sure Start and the Department of Health. It supports families and people working for education, health, social services and the voluntary sector. At the site, you can obtain a useful Family Pack and and an information booklet for parents about Down's syndrome.

Parent View
Dr Lisa Woolfson, Department of Psychology, University of Strathclyde, is keen to hear from parents who may be interested in taking part in research into parenting and child development.

Recognising Fathers: A national survey
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities would like to get a better understanding of the impact on men's lives of having a child with a learning disability. They have produced a national survey of fathers who have a child with a learning disability. Are you the father of a child with a learning disability? They would like to hear about your experiences.

Symbol UK
Symbol UK provides specialist Speech and Language Therapy consultation and services to children and adults with special needs who experience learning and social needs, in association with communication, and/or eating/drinking needs.

Pre-Natal

ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices)
ARC provide non-directive support and information to parents throughout the antenatal testing process.

Fedant
The Federation of Antenatal Educators (FEDANT) is the UK registering body for Antenatal Teachers and providers of antenatal education. The primary reason for the existence of FEDANT is to protect the public by providing a register of validated professionals within the field of antenatal education. This provision extends to Antenatal Teachers, Breastfeeding Counsellors, Doulas and Complementary Practitioners.

Leeds Antenatal Screening Service
Expert information on the Down's syndrome screening process from Professor Howard Cuckle.

National Childbirth Trust
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) offers support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.

Products/Services

The Aidis Trust
The website gives advice, information and support on all aspects of computing for people with disabilities. There is also an on-line non-profit shop selling IT equipment, giving substantial discounts to people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.

The Child King DVD
A lovely film to watch for Christmas. It is an inspirational story of a determined young man with Down's syndrome who takes his little brother on a life-changing quest to find Santa Claus at the North Pole. All profits are donated to individuals and organisations that help those with intellectual disabilities.

What's The Sign For?
‘What’s the sign for…?’ aims to provide quality Sign Language teaching and learning resources. Ranging from adult to child resources. Their new DVD resource, 'Small Talk', is aimed at parents wanting to communicate with their children at a very early age using Sign Language.

Rights

Ann Craft Trust
The Ann Craft Trust is a national charity that works with professionals to protect children and adults with learning disabilities from abuse.

BEMA-D
BEMA-D is the Black and Ethnic Minority Association for Disability. They assist the members of BEMA-D who have language and cultural difficulties and those who have difficulty in contacting and accessing the appropriate services.

Changing Places Campaign
The Changing Places Consortium has launched a campaign on behalf of the thousands of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers, and the many other disabled people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.

Disability Rights Commission
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body set up by the Government to help eliminate discrimination against disabled people and to promote equality of opportunity. The site contains a significant amount of campaign and resource information.

Every Disabled Child Matters
The government says that Every Child Matters – so why aren't disabled children getting their rights? We want 25,000 supporters to sign the campaign for rights and justice for disabled children by July. Please sign up to our campaign.

Learning Disability Coalition Petition
Please sign the petition: 'We call on the government to make sure there is enough money getting through the system to honour the promises it has made of more choice and control for the 1.5m people affected.'

People First
An organisation of people with learning difficulties speaking up for themselves! People first is run and controlled by people with learning difficulties.

VOICE UK supports people with learning disabilities who have experienced crime or abuse and supporting their families and carers and professional workers.

Support Groups

Aplinonline
All your local support groups in one place! This is a website with a list of local support groups for people with disabilities. You can search the site by disability, county and post code. This makes it easier for people to find their local groups faster and without the hassle of long searches.

Support Services

Ableize Disability & Mobility Information
Disability and Health Directory of UK Disabled Care, Mobility, Services, Aids and Social Needs Disability, disabled and Health related sites offering advice products and health goods, services, social care and mobility aids under the convenient roof of one web site directory.

ARCOS
The Association for Rehabilitation of Communication and Oral Skills (ARCOS) provides information, advice, support and specialist therapy for people with communication and/or swallowing problems.

Check The Map
This site has been set up to make it easy for everyone to find out what services there are for people with Learning Disabilities in their local area, or any area, just by clicking the map or typing in a postcode.

Dimensions UK
Dimensions UK supports young people and adults with a broad range of learning difficulties. They provide support with accomodation, respite breaks and transitional support services for 16–19 year olds.

Direct Enquiries
Direct Enquiries is the Nationwide Access Register and currently receives over 250,000 hits per week from people looking for companies they can use. These hits are primarily from disabled people looking for anything from accessible toilets to shops with staff assistance, wheelchair access or induction loops.

Enable Together
Enable together aims to help people with disabilities to lead more independent lives by providing them with information about support services, benefits etc in a way that is accessible to them.

Special Families
A website designed by parents of children with special needs, which offers information and support for other families with children with special needs.

UK Resources for Down’s Syndrome
A comprehensive set of addresses and links for Down's syndrome in the UK on the web. Includes links to government agencies, voluntary organisations and the full text of the 1996 Education Act.

United Response
United Response (UR) supports people with learning difficulties and mental health problems to have the things they want and need in their lives. They are a national registered charity that works through local services.

Transition

Trans-active
Information and planning tools about transition for parents, carers and young people with learning disabilities.