Further help on social care

Contact a Family

Contact a Family provides advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.
Helpline 0808 808 3555
Email: helpline@cafamily.org.uk
www.cafamily.org.uk

DIAL network

A network of local Disability Information and Advice Line (DIAL) services.
Telephone Scope Response on 0808 800 3333 for individual DIAL group telephone numbers.
www.scope.org.uk/dialuk

Disability Law Service (DLS)

DLS is a national charity that gives free legal advice about community care, welfare benefits and disability discrimination to disabled people and their families and carers.
Telephone 020 7791 9800
Textphone 020 7791 9801
www.dls.org.uk

Mencap

Mencap supports people with a learning disability to live the life they choose.
Telephone 0300 333 1111
www.mencap.org.uk

National Autistic Society (NAS)

The NAS offers advice and information about community care problems for people affected by autism.
Helpline 0808 800 4104
www.autism.org.uk

National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL)

NCIL aims to promote independent living. Their website has a Directory of Local Support Services. You can search this to find your local Centre for Independent Living, local direct payment support services and local authority social services departments.
Telephone 020 7587 1663
Advice line 0845 026 4748
www.ncil.org.uk

Advocacy

Search for an advocacy service near you.

Contact the Advocacy Resource Exchange’s Advocacy Resource Finder service on 08451 22 86 33.

Your local advice agency, Citizens Advice Bureau, Law Centre, Age UK (if you are older), or other charity may also be able to help you. Use the legal adviser finder to find details of advice agencies near you. (Be sure to tick ‘Community Care’.)

You also can read a PDF guide about challenging cuts to disabled children's services.