Useful Contacts
Below are the key regional and national contacts for a wide range of accessibility issues.
REGIONAL CONTACTS
Diane Cowen
Team Co-ordinator, Disability North
0191 284 0480 direct@disabilitynorth.org.uk
Karen O’Donnell
Platform Data Advisor, One NorthEast
0191 229 6831 karen.o’donnell@onenortheast.co.uk
Maureen Rigg
Tourism Network Co-ordinator, One NorthEast
0191 229 6849 maureen.rigg@onenortheast.co.uk
Janet Smith
Business Performance Co-ordinator, One NorthEast
0191 229 6841 janet.smith@onenortheast.co.uk
LINKS TO DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS
Age Concern
www.ageconcern.org.uk
The UK's largest charity working with and for older people.
Arthritis Care
www.arthritiscare.org.uk
National voluntary organisation working with and for all people who have arthritis.
Artsline
www.artsline.org.uk
Information service for arts, leisure and entertainment focusing on those with physical disabilities.
Aspire
www.aspire.org.uk
ASPIRE works with people with spinal cord injuries to help take them from injury to independence.
Back-Up Trust
www.backuptrust.org.uk
A national charity which runs a range of services for people with spinal cord injuries.
Changing Places
www.changing-places.org
A group of organisations working to support the rights of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities to access their community.
Contact a Family
http://www.cafamily.org.uk
UK charity helping families with children who have any disability.
Help the Aged
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk
International charity fighting to free older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.
Mencap
http://www.mencap.org.uk
The UK's leading learning disability charity.
Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.mssociety.org.uk
The UK's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis.
NDCS (National Deaf Children's Society)
http://www.ndcs.org.uk
An organisation of parents, families and carers aiming to remove the barriers to the achievement of deaf children around the world.
Royal Association for Deaf People
www.royaldeaf.org.uk
National charity promoting the welfare and interests of deaf people.
RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)
www.rnib.org.uk
National charity offering information, support and advice to people with sight loss.
RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
www.rnid.org.uk
National charity for deaf people and those who are hard of hearing.
Scope
http://www.scope.org.uk
The disability organisation in England and Wales focused on people with cerebral palsy.
Sense
http://www.sense.org.uk
National charity supporting children and adults who are deaf and blind.
Shape
http://www.shapearts.org.uk
Specialises in access to arts for deaf and disabled people.
Spinal Injuries Association
http://www.spinal.co.uk
National charity supporting people with a spinal cord injury.
Tourism For All
www.tourismforall.org.uk
National charity which aims to provide disabled customers with information about where to holiday in the UK and offers tourism and hospitality businesses information on how to meet their needs.
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Access All Areas
www.access-auditing.com
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) access audit service.
Business Link
www.businesslink.gov.uk
An access point for all issues relating to business, including training on disability issues.
Centre for Accessible Environments
www.cae.org.uk
National charity which aims to help secure a built environment that is usable by everyone, including disabled and older people.
Department for Work and Pensions
www.dwp.gov.uk
Government department responsible for promoting opportunity and independence for all.
Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk
Government website providing easy access to public services including disability issues.
Employers’ Forum on Disability
www.employers-forum.co.uk
Leading employers’ organisation which aims to make it easier for businesses to employ disabled staff and serve disabled customers.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
www.equalityhumanrights.com
Formerly the Disability Rights Commission, the EHRC works to protect human rights and eliminate discrimination.
National Register of Access Consultants
www.nrac.org.uk
National register of training providers and access auditors.
Office for Disability Issues
www.officefordisability.gov.uk
Government department responsible for promoting equality of disabled people across government.
Welcome to Excellence
www.welcometoexcellence.com
A national customer service training initiative including Welcome All.
World Wide Web Consortium
www.w3.org
Information on guidelines - accepted as an international standard - to make websites accessible.
VisitBritain
www.visitbritain.org
The trade website for VisitBritain with research and business advice.
