Listed below is a list of national organisations which focus on disability and/or education which students may find useful. The majority of the organisations have a variety of useful information which may help you with some aspects of education and university life. Wherever we can, we have also listed the different ways of contacting the organisations to try and suit every individual.
Organisations for support with disabilities
Action for ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
| Statement | Action for M.E. is the UK's leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with M.E. We've been at the forefront of the campaign for more research, better treatments and services since 1987, and we provide information and support to people affected by M.E. |
| Website | www.afme.org.uk |
| Address | Action for M.E. PO Box 2778, Bristol, BS1 9DJ |
| Telephone | 0845 123 2314 |
| Fax | 0117 9279552 |
| admin@afme.org.uk | |
| Notes | Telephone support Monday to Friday 11am - 1pm |
Arthritis Care
| Statement | Empowering people with Arthritis |
| Website | www.arthritiscare.org.uk |
| Address | Arthritis Care, 18 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD |
| Telephone | 020 7380 6500 |
| Info@arthritiscare.org.uk | |
| Notes | If you would like an information pack about Arthritis Care and the services we offer, ring the 24-hour information line. Tel: 0845 600 6868 |
ASBAH (Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus)
| Statement | ASBAH is the leading UK registered charity providing information and advice about Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. |
| Website | www.asbah.org |
| Address | ASBAH, 42 Park Road, Peterborough, PE1 2UQ |
| Telephone | 0845 450 7755 |
| Fax | (01733) 555985 |
| helpline@asbah.org |
British Polio Fellowship
| Statement | The British Polio Fellowship seeks to empower and support all people in the UK living with the effects of polio and Post Polio Syndrome. |
| Website | www.britishpolio.org.uk |
| Address | The British Polio Fellowship, The Xchange, Wilmington Close, Watford WD18 0FQ |
| Telephone | FREEPHONE 0800 018 0586 (Provided by MCI Worldcom) |
| Fax | 020 8842 0555 |
| infobenefits@britishpolio.org.uk info@britishpolio.org.uk |
Deafblind UK
| Statement | Deafblind UK is a national charity offering specialist services and human support to deafblind people and those who have progressive sight and hearing loss acquired throughout their lives. |
| Website | www.deafblind.org.uk |
| Address | Deafblind UK, National Centre for Deafblindness, John and Lucille van Geest Place, Cygnet Road, Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FD |
| Telephone | 01733 358 100 (Voice/Text) |
| Textphone | 01733 358 100 (Voice/Text) |
| Fax | 01733 358 356 |
| info@deafblind.org.uk | |
| Notes | Information and Advice Line: 0800 132 320 |
CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth)
| Statement | Working to support those who are affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, also known as Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy or Peroneal Muscular Atrophy. |
| Website | www.cmt.org.uk |
| Address | CMT United Kingdom, PO Box 5089, Christchurch, BH23 7ZX, UK |
| Telephone | 0800 6526316 |
| secretary@cmt.org.uk |
Clinical-Depression
| Statement | Understand it, treat it, beat it! |
| Website | www.clinical-depression.co.uk |
| Address | Uncommon Knowledge Ltd, Queens Building, Oban, UK, PA34 5SB |
| Telephone | +44(0)1273 776770 |
| Fax | +44(0)1273 774427 |
Depression UK
| Statement | To help anyone who is troubled by depression and to provide support for their carers. |
| Website | www.depressionuk.org |
| Address | Depression UK, c/o Self Help Nottingham, Ormiston House, 32-36 Pelham Street, Nottingham, NG1 2EG |
| info@depressionuk.org | |
| Notes | We respond to enquiries by sending you a pack of information, by post, under plain cover. This site also contains external links to depression related help bodies. |
Down's Syndrome Association
| Statement | Information and support for people with Down's syndrome, their families and carers, and the professionals who work with them. |
| Website | www.downs-syndrome.org.uk |
| Address | Down's Syndrome Association, Langdon Down Centre, 2a Langdon Park Teddington TW11 9PS |
| Telephone | 0845 230 0372 |
| Fax | 0845 230 0373 |
| info@downs-syndrome.org.uk | |
| Notes | The helpline (0845 230 0372) is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Dyslexia Action
| Statement | Dyslexia Action is a national charity and the UK's leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. |
| Website | www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk |
| Address | Park House, Wick Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HH |
| Telephone | 01784 222300 |
| Fax | 01784 222333 |
| info@dyslexiaaction.org.uk |
Epilepsy Action
| Statement | Taking action to meet the identified needs and aspirations of all people with epilepsy and those with an interest in the condition. |
| Website | www.epilepsy.org.uk |
| Address | New Anstey House, Gate Way Drive, Yeadon, LEEDS, LS19 7XY, UNITED KINGDOM |
| Telephone | 0808 800 5050 |
| Textphone | 07797 805 390 |
| Fax | 0113 391 0300 |
| helpline@epilepsy.org.uk epilepsy@epilepsy.org.uk | |
| Notes | The helpline is open from: 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays. |
LA (Limbless Association)
| Statement | Providing information, advice and support to UK amputees and the limb-loss community. |
| Website | www.limbless-association.org |
| Address | The Limbless Association, Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 5PN |
| Telephone | 020 8788 1777 |
| Fax | 020 8788 3444 |
| enquiries@limbless-association.org | |
| Notes | Help Bureau: 0845 230 0025 |
MENCAP (Mental Handicap)
| Statement | Mencap is the voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability and their families and carers. |
| Website | www.mencap.org.uk |
| Telephone | 0808 8808 1111 |
Mental health
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health difficulty at some point in their lives (source: Mind).
78% of university students experienced mental health difficulties in the academic year 2014-15 (source: Complete University Guide).
This documentary is about four students who have various mental health difficulties such as depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and personality disorder. It explores elements of their lives such as the support received from family and friends, different types of treatment (e.g. medication) and what a bad day is like for them.
Their stories are told by themselves with little input from the makers to show a true representation of their experiences. Two of the students in the film were *AccessAbility Ambassadors (one achieved a 2:1 and the other achieved a First Class degree).
The documentary was made by four third-year students, studying Digital Television and Interactive Media as part of their third-year projects. Two of these students have specific learning difficulties themselves.
One of the film makers, Fran, is dyslexic and was also an *AccessAbility Ambassador for the university. As she was such a star ambassador, she is one of only five ambassadors to be retained after graduation to work as an *AccessAbility Graduate. Fran selected this particular course as it was coursework-based which she preferred due to being able to spend more time checking and completing work and not stressing under examination conditions.
All those involved have been to university, and have now all graduated, showing that mental health difficulties do not necessarily stop you from reaching your goals.
References
NUS, 2013
If you have a mental health difficulty yourself and are a prospective student or an existing student at the University of Greenwich, it is worth considering informing the disability and dyslexia team (wellbeing@gre.ac.uk) as there may be support available to assist you with your studies.
MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association)
| Statement | The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association is the only national organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland dedicated to the support of people with MND and those who care for them. |
| Website | www.mndassociation.org |
| Address | Motor Neurone Disease Association, PO Box 246, Northampton, NN1 2PR |
| Telephone | 01604 250505 |
| Fax | 01604 624726/638289 |
| enquiries@mndassociation.org | |
| Notes | MND Connect offers advice, practical and emotional support and directing to other services and agencies. The service is for people living with MND, carers, family members, Health and Social Care Professionals and Association staff and volunteers who directly support people with MND. 08457 626 262 - Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5pm. |
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
| Statement | The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign leads the fight against muscle disease. |
| Website | www.muscular-dystrophy.org |
| Address | Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, 61 Southwark Street, London SE1 0HL |
| Telephone | 020 7803 4800 |
| info@muscular-dystrophy.org | |
| Notes | Phone and e-mail information service is here weekdays 9am - 5pm to address any of your concerns about muscle disease. Contact on freephone support number 0800 652 6352 (freephone) and via email. |
MS Society (Multiple Sclerosis Society)
| Statement | The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) - about 100,000 people in the UK. |
| Website | www.mssociety.org.uk |
| Website | https://www.mssociety.org.uk/near-me |
| Address | MS Society, MS National Centre, 372 Edgware Road, London, NW2 6ND |
| Telephone | 020 8438 0700 |
| Fax | 020 8438 0701 |
| Notes | E-mail contact available via the website |
The National Autistic Society
| Statement | To champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives. |
| Website | www.nas.org.uk |
| Address | The National Autistic Society, 393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG, UK |
| Minicom | 0845 070 4003 |
| Telephone | 0845 070 4004 |
| Fax | +44 (0)20 7833 9666 |
| nas@nas.org.uk | |
| Notes | Helpline open 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday. Reply to all e-mail and written enquiries within 14 working days. |
RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)
| Statement | A UK charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people in the UK with sight loss. |
| Website | www.rnib.org |
| Address | Royal National Institute of Blind People, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE |
| Telephone | 020 7388 1266 |
| Fax | 020 7388 2034 |
| helpline@rnib.org.uk | |
| Notes | The helpline (telephone 0303 123 9999) offers an immediate, expert and confidential service. Many of the helpline staff have sight problems themselves. They are trained to listen and to give reassurance and advice. |
RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
| Statement | The largest charity working to change the world for the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. |
| Website | www.rnid.org.uk |
| Address | 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL |
| Telephone | 0808 808 0123 (freephone) |
| Textphone | 0808 808 9000 (freephone) |
| Fax | 020 7296 8199 |
| SMS | 07800 000360 |
| informationline@rnid.org.uk | |
| Notes | Whichever way you choose to make contact, please include your full postal address as information is often only sent via the postal service. Expect a response within 15 working days for all enquiries. |
Samaritans
| Statement | Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. Whatever you're going through, whether it's big or small, don't bottle it up. |
| Website | www.samaritans.org |
| Address | Chris, P.O. Box 90 90, Stirling, FK8 2SA |
| Telephone | 08457 90 90 90 |
| jo@samaritans.org | |
| Notes | Emails are always answered by real human volunteers, there are no "automatic" responses. If you email we try our hardest to get back to you within 24 hours. If you need immediate support you can pick up the telephone at any point and speak to a Samaritans volunteer. |
SCOPE
| Name | SCOPE |
| Statement | About cerebral palsy – for disabled people achieving equality |
| Website | www.scope.org.uk |
| Address | Scope, 6 Market Road, London, N7 9PW, England, UK |
| Telephone | 0808 800 3333 |
| SMS | 80039 |
| response@scope.org.uk | |
| Notes | If you would like more information on Scope's services, cerebral palsy or any aspect of living with disability, you can call Scope Response, which offers confidential advice and information on 0808 800 3333, 9am-5pm weekdays, closed weekends and Bank Holidays. You can also email response@scope.org.uk or text SCOPE, plus your message to 80039. |