We hope you find this information useful. It was created at the suggestion of the Vale Disability Access Group which has worked with the Association to gather this information from a number of different sources It is correct to the best of our knowledge. If you know of anything else that could be included please let us know and we will do our best to include it when the information is reviewed.
The Vale Disability Access Group met for the first time in January 2005. This is a group of disabled tenants who have come together to help make access to the Vale Housing Association’s services easier for both themselves and other disabled tenants. The group meets every 2-3 months at the Association’s office in Abingdon and any tenant with an interest in disability is welcome to attend. Those who are unable to attend but would like to be involved can ask to receive agendas and minutes which they can comment on. These comments will then be fed back to the rest of the group. If you would like to find out more about joining the group please contact us on 01235 536001.
The following pages contain a list of support groups for a number of disabilities and illnesses. If you know of any changes of details please contact us on 01235 536001.
| Group | Contact | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Abingdon Stroke Club | 01865 407834 | For stroke patients & their carers. |
| Alzheimer's Society: Oxfordshire | 01865 876508 AlzheimersOxford@aol.com www.alzheimers. org.uk |
Provides advice, information and support for dementia sufferers, carers and their families. |
| Arthritis Care | 0207 3806500 helplines@arthritiscare.org.uk www.arthritiscare. org.uk |
The only national charity working proactively with & for people with arthritis. |
| Cystic Fibrosis Trust | 01865 862569 frances@rtharris.co.uk |
Group meetings for parents to enable sympathetic discussions of problems. |
| Didcot, Abingdon & Wantage Talking Newspaper | 01235 835386 rcd.lockinge@virgin.net |
Free tape for blind & partially sighted people once a week; selection of local newspapers. |
| Diabetes UK Oxford & District Branch | 01235 850659 | Organises social evenings and gives information & advice. |
| Disabled Drivers' Association | 0870 770 3333 ddahq@aol.com www.dda.org.uk |
Aims for independence through mobility. List of insurance brokers, local groups, fact sheets & magazine. |
| Down's Syndrome Oxford | 01235 553011 a.churchill.stone @fish.co.uk |
Information & support for people with Down's Syndrome, their family & friends. |
| Epilepsy Action | 0808 800 5050 epilepsy@bea.org.uk www.epilepsy.org.uk |
Freephone Helpline for advice & information on all aspects of epilepsy |
| Fourteen Club for People with Learning Difficulties | 01865 760526 timpocock@ lineone.net www.14club.org.uk |
Wide range of recreational, social & educational activities for ages 14+ - Wantage/ Faringdon area. |
| Haemophilia Society - Oxford Group | 01865 225343 | Information/support for haemophiliacs, their families, friends. |
| Holiday Care | 0845 124 9971 info@holidaycare.org www.holidaycare.org |
Information for disabled people & their carers wishing to take a holiday. |
| Limbless Association | 020 8788 1777 enquires@limbless-association.org www.limbless-association.org |
Information/advice for people who have had amputations or been born without upper or lower limbs |
| Multiple Sclerosis Society (Oxford) | 07792 377178 chairman@msoxford.org www.msoxford.org |
Provides support, advice and financial aid. Monthly social meetings. |
| Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre | 01235 832023 www.ms-selfhelp.org |
Self-help charity: support, oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, reflexology, dietary advice & counselling. |
| National Association of Deafened People | 01227 762879 enquiries@ nadp.org.uk www.nadp.org.uk |
Provides an information & support service for our members and other deafened people. |
| Oxfordshire Autistic Society for Information & Support | 01865 750160 voirrey@aol.com |
Provides information & support to parents of autistic children and professionals working in the field of autism. |
| Oxford & District Club for the Hard of Hearing | 01865 243447 deafcentre@oxfordstebbes.freeserve.co.uk | Help and social activities. Membership fee £2 per year. |
| Oxfordshire Association for the Blind | 01865 725595 vision@oxeyes.org.uk www.oxeyes.org.uk |
Advice, support, information and equipment for visually impaired people and their families. |
| Oxfordshire Deaf Children's Society | 01865 331316 | Information/support for families with hearing-impaired children. |
| Oxfordshire Dyslexia Association | 01865 428234 http://oxda.go.to |
Drop-in centre for information and advice about dyslexia. |
| Oxfordshire Huntington's Disease Association | 01295 678004 oxonhdbranch@hotmail.com |
A support group for Huntington's Disease sufferers, carers and people at risk. |
| Oxfordshire ME group for action (OMEGA) | 01865 766310 | Support group for people with ME chronic fatique syndrome, carers and professionals. |
| Oxfordshire MIND | 01865 511702 office@oxmind.freeserve.co.uk www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk |
Information, advice and signposting on mental health matters, local services and legal issues. |
| Parkinson's Disease Society of the UK | 0808 800 0303 enquiries@parkinsons.org.uk |
Advice and support for people with Parkinson's, their carers and care professionals. |
| Phab, Vale of White Horse | 01235 528293 | Physically disabled/able-bodied club. |
| Scope - Cerebral Palsy Helpline | 0808 800 3333 cphelpline@ scope.org.uk www.scope.org.uk |
Scope provides both national and local information and support services. |
| South West Oxfordshire Mencap Society (SWOM) | 01235 521014 tony.garrard@ btopenworld.com |
Provides practical help and support for people with mental handicap (learning disability) and their carers |
The National Key Scheme offers independent access to disabled people to around 4,000 locked public toilets around the country. RADAR would like all providers of accessible toilets to keep their toilets unlocked if at all possible. The National Key Scheme (NKS) is suggested only if the provider concerned has to keep the toilets locked to stop vandalism and misuse These keys can be purchased from the council’s local services points in Abingdon and Wantage.
The following toilets are provided by the Vale of White Horse District Council and include disabled toilets that can be accessed by the Radar key:
Octabus Dial-a-Ride is a door-to-door service for those who are unable to use or find it difficult to use public transport, such as elderly or disabled people. The drivers of the vehicles are trained both in first aid and in the assistance of wheelchair users and those with mobility problems.
Octabus Dial-a-Ride is available to take you to:
To qualify to use Octabus Dial-A-Ride:
Age and nature of disability are irrelevant. If you have no other easy access to transport, then you will qualify
There is a charge of £5 per person for Membership, but this includes vouchers for two free journeys. No membership is required for those escorting the elderly or disabled.
To find out more call Walter’s Limousines 01869 327048
The Vale of White Horse District Council allows free parking for all disabled drivers of vehicles who hold a valid disabled (blue) badge. There are clearly marked disabled bays within each car park, including the ground floor level of the Charter multi-storey car park in Abingdon. If these spaces are not available, you can park in any car park space free of charge. Your disabled badge must be clearly displayed wherever you park.
The Vale of White Horse District Council operates the following public car parks:
Blue Badge Holders are eligible for free parking in the following circumstances:
On street pay and display schemes and parking meters: Unlimited parking when a valid Blue Badge is displayed.
Time limited on-street parking: Blue Badge holders may be exempt from time limits – check local signs for details.
Single- or double-yellow lines: Up to three hours unless there is a ban on loading and unloading or other stated restrictions. The parking disc must also be on display showing the time of arrival.
If you park where you could cause an obstruction or danger to other road users your vehicle could be removed by the Police and you could be prosecuted.
Oxfordshire County Council Highways Department may provide a disabled person's parking place (DPPP) on a public road where there is a need.
Residents may apply for one of these parking places to be provided close to their homes or work. However, it must be remembered that a DPPP can be used by any disabled badge holder, even though it may have been an individual need that led to the provision of a parking space. Any vehicle using a DPPP must display a current disabled person's (blue) badge. There is no charge for a parking space but the process is lengthy and is likely to take a minimum of 7 months to reach completion.
For more information or to apply for a space contact the Transport Administration team at Oxfordshire County Council by calling 01865 815978.
The Blue Badge (formerly Orange Badge) scheme offers concessionary on-street parking for people with disabilities who travel as either drivers or passengers. It is a national scheme run in this area by Oxfordshire County Council.
In order to be eligible for the badge applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
To apply for a Blue Badge contact Social and Health Care on 01865 854409.
The Lions Club, in partnership with The Vale Housing Association runs this scheme to make sure your essential medical details, such as what medication you take and what allergies you have, are easily accessible in case you have an accident and the emergency services are in your home. You can also say let them know if you have a pet that needs to be cared for if you are taken to hospital.
All you do is complete a short form, giving your important medical details, put this in a bottle and keep it in the fridge where the emergency services can easily find it if they need to. The scheme also provides you with a sticker to put inside your door so that anyone entering to provide medical help can see at a glance that you belong to the scheme.
The “Message in a Bottle” scheme is free and bottles are available at our reception areas and other public places like doctors surgeries and pharmacies.
In certain circumstances we may be able to help with decorating the inside of your home and keeping your garden neat and tidy. To qualify for either of these services you must:
• be registered disabled or over 65 and
• have no-one living with you to help and;
• receive housing benefit or income support
For an application form for the gardening service contact your local Area Office on 01235 536001 (Abingdon area) or 01235 760007 (Wantage area)
For an application form for help with decorating call your repairs line on 0845 4508241 (Abingdon area) or 0845 450 8242 (Wantage area). You can only make one application in a 12 month period and we will only decorate a maximum of 2 rooms every 5 years.;
The Vale Carelink Service is a Community help alarm that is connected to our Care Centre through the users’ telephone system. It was set up in response to the many enquires the Association received for a help alarm system from all walks of life in the community who had heard about the service we provide for people living in our sheltered housing schemes.
The system consists of a help alarm unit and a pendant. Pressing the 'Pendant' once operates the alarm unit. When the pendant has been activated the alarm unit automatically dials the Care Centre where the operators will know who you are and where you are. If you are near the alarm unit you will be able to talk to the operator (without picking the phone up) and request assistance. If you are not close by or unable to talk, The operator will quickly contact one of the persons you have nominated to respond.
Depending on your circumstances and needs, the cost varies from £2.70 to £4.87 per week. People who are not tenants of the Vale Housing Association will also be asked to pay a one off installation fee of £15. The cost includes the rental, full 24hr monitoring service and on site warranty and maintenance. It may also include a 24-hour Emergency response from one of our on-call Contact Managers depending on the price you are paying. All costs will be explained thoroughly to you before installation.
To find out more, or for a free demonstration please contact our Specialist Services department by calling 01235 536001, e-mailing info@vale-carelink.co.uk or by visiting our office.
If you or someone living in your home is having problems living there because of a disability, we may be able to make changes to the property to help overcome them. For more information contact the Association on 01235 548600 and ask for a copy of the leaflet, “How can I get my home adapted for a disabled person?”
Benefits for Disabled People and Their Carers
DLA is payable to people under the age of 65 who need supervision; help with personal care or have mobility needs. There are three levels of allowance depending on the extent and type of disability.
Attendance Allowance is payable to people who are aged 65 or over when they apply who need supervision and/or help with personal care. It is paid at different rates depending on whether the applicant needs care during the day, during the night, or both. You can get Attendance Allowance even if no one is actually giving you the care you need. It is not affected by savings and is not usually affected by other money you have coming in.
Carer’s Allowance is an income maintenance benefit for those people, at least 16 years of age who are required to care for a severely disabled person. For those people who do work there is an earnings limit. Regulations also state that a carer must look after a disabled person for at least 35 hours per week.
The benefits described above are administered by the Disability and Carer’s Service. To find out more or to make a claim contact:
Wembley Disability Benefits Centre
Olympic House
Olympic Way
Wembley
Middlesex
HA9 0DL
Tel: 020 8795 8400
E-mail: Wembley-DBC-Customer@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Or visit the Department for Work and Pensions website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/.
People in receipt of either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement are eligible to apply for a car or powered wheelchair/ scooter through the Motability Scheme. The costs are paid directly to the scheme out of the person’s benefit. For more information visit http://www.motability.co.uk/ or call Motability on 01297 632087.
Exercise not only provides pleasure, it can also help with the following:
Many libraries offer a home library service with help from WRVS volunteers for those who have difficulty getting to and from the library. They will provide a selection of books and audio books to choose from at home. Contact your local library on the numbers below to find out if it offers this service.
Abingdon 01235 520374
Bicester 01869 252181
Botley 01865 248142
Didcot 01235 813103
Faringdon 01367 240311
Grove 01235 763841
Kennington 01865 730763
North Leigh 01993 882935
Oxford Central 01865 815509
Wallingford 01491 837395
Wantage 01235 762291
Below are some of the organisations that loan audio books to people with sight difficulties. For more information about the individual schemes please contact them.
RNIB Talking Book Service 0845 762 6843
Calibre Cassette Library 01296 432339
Torch Trust 01858 438260
Oxfordshire Association for the Blind 01865 725595