When your child has a genetic disorder, you may find they have needs beyond what their medical team and social services can give you. This could be to do with getting hold of mobility equipment such as baths, beds or other furniture. Or maybe you’re trying to get hold of specialist toys and teaching aids, or a specialist wheelchair (and the training to use it).
We’ve tried to include as many useful links as possible. If you have one you think should be added to the list or there’s an area we haven’t included that you’d like to investigate, please let us know.
Ableize
This is a comprehensive directory offering a massive collection of disability, mobility and health resources in the UK and Europe. As well as information on education and disabled groups, clubs and supports, Ableize also includes a comprehensive list of mobility services (including wheelchairs and mobility scooters), daily living and bathing aids, and disability shopping sites. Ableize is run by disabled people.
http://www.ableize.com/index.php
Assist UK
This is the headquarters of an independent voluntary organisation which has a network of Disabled/Independent Living Centres (DLCs/ILCs) throughout the UK.
Brighter Future Workshop
Brighter Future Workshop is an award winning, not for profit charity specialising in recycling mobility equipment and disability equipment. They also give the opportunity for disabled people to work with them to help recycle the equipment that is donated, recycled and then put on sale in their independent living centre.
British Red Cross – Medical Loan Service
The Red Cross can provide a variety of equipment for those in need and it is usually available within 24 hours in an emergency. The types of equipment on offer include wheelchairs, backrests, bath seats, commodes and bedpans. There are more than 900 outlets around the UK.
Complete Care Shop
An online shop for disability aids, including a section on paediatric care. It is part of the Complete Care Network that works with Care Associations and specialises in helping care homes to save money on their supplies.
http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/
Demand
This is a charity dedicated to helping people with disabilities who require bespoke equipment to help them with their everyday lives. They help people of all ages and with all types of disability, working with individuals to design and manufacture equipment to make daily life easier and to help them enjoy sport and leisure activities. They offer these services free-of-charge.
Directgov
This is the government’s online portal where you can find the latest information you need, such as sourcing equipment such as communication aids, hearing aids and vision aids.They have sections on ‘Caring for someone’, ‘Disabled people’ and ‘Parents’.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
Disability Equipment Register
This not-for-profit organisation provides a service for disabled people and their families to enable them to buy and sell items of used disability equipment on a direct one-to-one basis.
http://www.disabreg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
Disabled Living Foundation
DLF is a national charity providing impartial advice, information and training on daily living aids (day-to-day household gadgets and new technologies).
Essential Aids
Online shopping for daily living aids in the UK. Has a special section for children with mobility difficulties.
Fledglings
This organisation aims to provide families and carers of a child with a disability, or with any special needs, with information about, and easy access to, helpful products, including feeding products and special clothing. Find their extensive product catalogues by visiting their website.
Go Kids Go
The primary objective of Go Kids Go is to give young wheelchair-users the skills they need to help them reach their full potential and also to increase their confidence. They run courses across the UK.
Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs breeds and trains guide dogs, trains visually impaired people to use guide dogs, and provides other services and facilities for the visually impaired.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs to alert severely or profoundly deaf people to the everyday sounds that hearing people take for granted such as alarm clocks, doorbells, smoke alarms and telephones.
ygbvhttp://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Hearing Direct
Hearing Direct provide Assistive Learning Devices for the deaf and hard of hearing such as alerting aids and amplified phones covering a wide range of hearing loss conditions, disorders and levels.
Keytools
This organisation provides solutions to enable disabled people to access computers. Whatever the need, if the standard keyboard or mouse is an obstacle, Keytools aims to have the answer. Products on the site include simple keyguards through to sophisticated laser control systems. Contact them for free help and advice.
http://www.keytools.co.uk/home.php
Liberator Ltd
This company supplies products, training and support for communication, inclusion and independence. Their products include adapted toys, early learning software and classroom resources.
Limbless Association
This organisation provides information and advice and support for people of all ages who are without one or more limbs.
http://www.limbless-association.org/
Medic-Alert Foundation
The Medic-Alert emblem, worn as a bracelet or necklace, helps to alert people to those who have special medical conditions which cannot be easily seen but should be immediately known in an emergency (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy and severe allergies). The pendant is engraved on the back with the member’s medical condition, personal ID number and 24-hour emergency number.
MERU
MERU designs and manufactures specialised equipment for children and young people with disabilities. Some children have disabilities so complex that no available equipment meets their needs. At MERU, they use their design and engineering skills to custom-make exactly what each child needs to achieve their goals.
Mobility Smart
Suppliers of disability aids and mobility equipment. They offer a wide range of products, including wheelchairs, scooters, stairlifts & bathlifts. This website has a childcare/paediatrics section.
Remap
Remap is a charity which designs, manufactures and supplies technical aids to disabled people where there is no suitable commercial item. They will also modify commercial equipment to suit the needs of an individual.
Ricability
Ricability is an independent consumer research charity providing free, practical and unbiased reports for disabled people (it also provides information for older people). This is to help consumers make better choices of equipment they need.
http://www.ricability.org.uk/index.aspx
Snugnights
This company manufactures a wide range of waterproof mattress protectors, pillow protectors and duvet protectors.
Special Needs Pushchairs
Mountain Buggy Terrain XL and the Pathfinder All Terrain pushchairs designed for older or larger children with special needs
Support Dogs Assisting Disabled People
Support Dogs trains dogs to assist and support owners with their specific disability. They offer help for people with various medical conditions.
The Sequal Trust
The Sequal Trust is a nationwide, fundraising charity which provides equipment for those unable to communicate either because they can’t talk or they can’t move their hands to write, or both. It ‘aims to bridge the communication gap by supplying specialist communication equipment for disabled people of all ages across the UK.’
Welcome Mobility
Welcome Mobility is the UK’s leading retailer of mobility aids, disability equipment and living aids. It has a children’s section and fast delivery service.
Whizz-Kidz
Whizz-Kidz is a charity providing customised mobility equipment, training, and advice for children and young adults. In their own words, ‘Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods’.
For further links to a range of companies and organisations that may be of help to you, visit Patient UK’s page on ‘Living and Mobility Aids / Equipment / Products’ – http://www.patient.co.uk/directory/living-and-mobility-aids-equipment-products
