This section offers a list of organisations that can help.
Special education
British Institute of Learning Disability
Charity committed to improving the quality of life for people with a learning disability.
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
National charity offering free and independent advice on Local Education Authorities' legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs.
The National Association for Special Educational Needs
Nasen aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special and additional support needs.
Anti-bullying alliance
Free online training for professionals focusing on the issues around bullying and special education needs.
Family support and information
Affinity Hub
A website providing emotional support to parents and carers of children with special needs.
Barnardos
National children's charity providing services including counselling, fostering and adoption, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.
Bibic
A national charity offering practical help to families caring for children with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, developmental delay, brain injury and specific learning difficulties like ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
BIRT
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is a leading UK charity providing residential and community based rehabilitation services for adults with acquired brain injury.
Through its specialist services it aims to enable people to function more independently in the wider community and develop their lives as they choose.
The Brain and Spine Foundation
The Brain and Spine Foundation helps people affected by brain and spine conditions in the UK. Its services include a helpline and a range of information.
Brainstars
A website for parents that offers information and support on a broad range of subjects such as medical issues, nutrition, therapies, disability & family rights, holiday advice, suggestions & offers, clothing, important funding advice and equipment.
The Brain Tumour Charity
Delivers breakthrough support, information and research on brain tumours.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
A national charity aiming to improve understanding of challenging behaviour, empower families with information and support, and help others to provide better services and more opportunities to people with severe learning disabilities who display behaviours that challenge.
Child Brain Injury Trust
The Child Brain Injury Trust provides emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK through its team of Child and
Family Support Coordinators. Other services include advice, information and training for parents, carers and professionals.
The Children’s Trust
The UK's leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. Services include rehabilitation, education and community services through skilled teams who work with children and young people, and their families.
Contact
A UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children – no matter what their disability or health condition.
The Council for Disabled Children
The umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector in England, with links to the other UK nations.
Counselling Directory
A website running a confidential service that encourages those in need to seek help and to connect individuals with qualified counsellors in the UK. Now a leading support network in the UK with over 10,000 qualified counsellors listed.
Disability Rights UK
Works to promote change by empowering disabled people to achieve their rights and expectations and by influencing the way that they, as disabled people, are viewed as members of society.
Disabled Children's Partnership
The campaign to get rights and justice for every disabled child.
The Disabled Living Foundation
National charity providing free, impartial advice about all types of disability aids. The DLF provides useful factsheets and a dedicated website covering equipment for disabled children.
The Encephalitis Society
A national charity to support adults and children affected by Encephalitis, their families and carers by providing advice and information and working at a national and international level to improve services.
Epilepsy Action
The UK’s leading epilepsy organisation exists to improve the lives of everyone affected by the condition. Also has a free helpline 0808 800 5050.
Focus on Disability
Guidance advice and information on benefits, allowances, care, mobility aids, transport and holidays.
HeadSmart
HeadSmart is a project that aims to enhance the awareness of symptoms of brain tumours in children and young people. Its website carries information on symptoms and additional information for parents and carers.
Headway
Headway is a charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury. A network of local Groups and Branches throughout the UK and Channel Islands offers a wide range of services, including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social reintegration, community outreach and respite care. The services available will vary, depending on local needs and resources. If, like us, you’re based in Surrey, see the Headway Surrey website for more information.
I CAN
Charity working to support the development of speech, language and communication skills in all children, with a special focus on children with a communication disability. Their Talking Point website provides information on communication disabilities.
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
Meningitis Now
A national charity which aims to save lives and improve the futures of anyone affected by meningitis by funding research, raising awareness and providing support.
The National Network of Parent Carer Forums
This organisation brings together Parent Carer Forums from across the country. You can find information about Parent Carer Forums in your area.
Parent Partnership Services
A national network of local groups offering information, advice and support for parents of children and young people with special educational needs. You can find your local service by searching online using the term "parent partnership service" and your county or by contacting your local authority.
The Participation Works
A consortium of children's organisations, including the National Children's Bureau, that provides expert advice to anyone wanting to give a voice to children and young people.
Scope
Scope works with disabled people, of all ages, and their families, across England and Wales.
It offers practical, everyday support and delivers campaigns that can change lives.
Seeability
Charity offering support to blind and partially sighted people with additional disabilities.
Sibs
National charity offering information and support to brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults.
Sky Badger
The Sky Badger charity finds help and adventure for disabled children and their families in the UK. They do this by building bridges between disabled children and the charities and services available to help. They find everything from disabled sports clubs to sibling groups to ‘make a wish’ charities and tell families about them though its website, social media platforms, videos, information packs and an e-helpdesk.
Special Friends Online
Special Friends Online is a free unique worldwide social networking website for people with learning/intellectual disabilities, their parents, carers, family members and professionals.
Together for Short Lives
Together for Short Lives is a UK-registered charity striving to achieve the best quality of life and care for all children and young people with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions and their families.
Whizz-kidz
Whizz-kidz provides children with customised mobility equipment, training and advice.
Young Epilepsy
A national charity which exclusively supports the 112,000 children and young people aged 25 and under with epilepsy and their families.
Grant giving & trusts
The Danny Green Fund
Helps children in the UK under the age of 16 who have Posterior Fossa Syndrome. It provides grants for the provision of a piece of equipment or physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or horse riding therapy to help rehabilitation and to assist recovery.
The Family Fund
Provides timely grants to families with severely disabled children, based on families' views and needs.
Family Fund - Extra Savings offers discounts and savings on family breaks and IT equipment. The Family Fund also has a travel insurance product for families of children with disabilities.
The transition to adulthood
Preparing for Adulthood
Preparing for Adulthood is a two-year programme funded by the Department for Education as part of the delivery support for 'Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability' green paper.
The Transition Information Network
The aim of this website is to provide information about the transition process that is useful to professionals and parents/carers. There is also a section for young people themselves, with information, news and events.
Legal Advice
CBIT UK Legal Services Directory
Online directory of solicitors specialising in childhood brain injury.
Brain injury networks
The UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF)
UKABIF provides networking opportunities for professionals, service providers, planners and policy makers to raise the profile of acquired brain injury and campaign for better services in the UK. Its website is a useful information and signposting resource.
