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Information for Disabled People
Access to Idea Store & library facilities
For information on accessibility issues visit DisabledGo
Accessible Equipment to Support Disabled People in Idea Stores
Idea Stores and libraries hold a wide range of accessible equipment for disabled to people to use.
eBooks
Did you know that you can now download and listen to a wide range of audio books through our Online Catalogue?
Home Delivery Service
Do you have mobility difficulties in getting to your local Idea Store or library? Then our free home delivery service is here to meet your needs.
Becoming a member of this service is easy, you can either refer yourself or you can be referred by someone else. To make a referral or for more information about the service contact the Idea Store Manager Bow on 020 7364 5775. Sylhetti speakers can contact Mamun Rashid, mobile: 07958 086 949.
Tower Hamlets Pan Disability Panel
Idea Stores consult users on disability issues through the Council's Pan Disability Panel. Alternatively, you can comment on our services via this website.
Idea Store activities
There are a wide range of courses run by Tower Hamlets Lifelong Learning Service for people of all levels and abilities. View the 2011 - 2012 Course Guide in a PDF format.
If you need extra support to take part in any of our courses contact the Learner Support Team on 020 7364 5665.
Community Organisations
Advisory Teacher for Disability and Medical Conditions
This service is based in the Support for Learning Services Centre.
For more information contact Lynne Roberts.
E-Mail: lynne.roberts@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7364 6236
Alzheimer's Society Tower Hamlets
Advice and information for people with dementia and their carers. Publishes the 'Dementia Information Guide'. The guide can be consulted at your local Idea Store or library, or is available free of charge from the Alzheimer's Society.
For further information contact Lucy Balaam on 020 7392 9631
Antill Road Day Centre
The Antill Road Day Centre provides facilities and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.
Anxiety Management Course in Sylheti / Bengali
This course is to help local Bangladeshi residents experiencing Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Social Phobias. This course is based at the Steels Lane Health Centre. For more information contact Nazma Begum on 020 7791 3645.
CAB Debt Advice Service
This face to face advice service is for anyone who is deaf, blind, caring for a disabled child or who has learning disabilities. The monthly service is held in the InFocus room at Southern Grove from 2 - 5pm and takes place on the second Monday of every month.
For further information, please contact Maggie Delauncey on 020 7424 6854 or email fif@camdencabservice.org.uk
Carers Centre Tower Hamlets
The Carers Centre offers advice, information and support for carers on a wide range of issues. Carers Together January - March Newsletter. For more information contact Lyn Middleton on 020 7790 1765
Compass Tower Hamlets
Compass Tower Hamlets supports people with stress, anxiety and depression. You can refer yourself on 020 7791 9497 or your GP can refer you.
deafPLUS
DeafPlus provides information, advice, advocacy, support and a range of opportunities for deaf people living in Tower Hamlets. Read the Deaf PLUS July newsletter.
Dekhtay Chai
Provides information, advice and support for people from minority ethnic communities who are living with visual impairments. For more information contact:
Mr Anam on 020 7790 1980 or Sufia Malik on 020 7791 3451
E-Mail: dekhtaychai@hotmail.com
Depression Management Course in Sylheti / Bengali
This course is aimed at female Bangladeshi residents to help in the understanding of depression and learning how to cope with the illness. Referrals can be made in person or through a health professional. The course is based at the Steels Lane Health Centre. For more information contact Khaleda Rahman on 020 7791 3642
Disability Alliance
Disability Alliance provides information on social security benefits, tax credits, community care, campaigns and the latest parliamentary news.
Disability Advocacy Network
Provides advocacy support for people with disabilities in Tower Hamlets.
For more information contact:
E-Mail: info@dancoaltion.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8980 2200 / 020 8983 7113
Disability Equality Scheme
The Disability Equality Scheme sets out the actions that the Council will take to meet the needs of it's disabled residents.
Disability Information Training Opportunities (DITO)
DITO offers information, training and employment support opportunities for people living with disabilities in Tower Hamlets.
DVDs with Audio Description
A list of DVDs with audio description, great for people with visual impairments.
Information for People with Learning Difficulties
Help, advice, information and resources around issues people with learning difficulties encounter.
Isle of Dogs 'Hopper' Bus Service
A new Council bus service operates from Chrisp Street Market to the ASDA Shopping Centre and runs Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm. The service is free and exclusive to local residents in the Isle of Dogs and South Poplar area. The bus is wheelchair accessible. A permit to travel is required to use the service. Proof of residence is required when applying for the first time to obtain the travel permit.
To obtain an Application Form email tsu@towerhamlets.gov.uk, telephone 020 7364 1060 or write to Transport Service Unit, 1 Silvocea Way, London E14 0JJ.
Low Vision Service
The Community Low Vision Clinic is for Tower Hamlets adult residents who have a problem seeing. They offer advice, information and FREE magnifiers. More information [PDF] [18.21KB].
For more information contact:
Email: sensory@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Telephone: Phil Ince on 0207 364 6953 at the Sensory Team
Minicom: 020 7364 6871
Text: 07947 308235
Map Squad
Map Squad is a member led organisation that provides information support and opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Tower Hamlets.
The Rix Centre
The Rix Centre improves the lives of people with learning disabilities through the use of multimedia technology.
Royal Society for the Blind Peer Support and Social Group
A group for blind and visually impaired people who live in Tower Hamlets. The group meets at The Resource Centre, 40 Southern Grove, Mile End, London E3, on the first and third Thursday of every month.
For more information contact:
Email geraldine.quinlan@rlsb.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 471 5577 or 07515 325821
St. Hilda's East Community Centre
The Centre provides information, advice, support, domiciliary care, respite care, day care and education for people with disabilities in the Bangladeshi community.
Tower Hamlets Advocacy Project
Tower Hamlets Advocacy Project provides help for people with a learning disability.
For more information contact:
E-Mail: jackie.loveridge@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7537 7722
Tower Hamlets Coalition of Disabled People
Get information and support with training, direct payments and independent living.
For more information contact:
Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, E1 4DG
Tower Hamlets Community Support Groups and Organisations
There are a number of groups and organisations both nationally and within Tower Hamlets that provide advice and support to vulnerable, disabled or elderly people and their carers.
Tower Project
The Tower Project provides employment services, advocacy services, education and training services, respite services as well as after school clubs, holiday schemes and youth services.
Visual Impairment Co-ordination Services [VICS]
Working in close collaboration with doctors and eye specialists in four London hospitals we offer advice, information and support to people recently diagnosed with long-term visual impairment. Part of Metropolitan Society for the Blind who provide a wide range of services to support people with visual impairment, including home visiting service and loan of audio equipment.
For more information contact:
Ashrafia Choudhury, Resource Centre, 40 - 50 Southern Grove, E3 4PX
Telephone: 020 7364 3835
E-mail: vics@msb.gb.com
VocalEyes
VocalEyes is a nationwide company which provides audio description for blind and partially sighted people to provide access to the arts.
First Floor, 54 Commercial Street, E1 6LT
Telephone: 020 7375 1043
Email: enquiries@vocaleyes.co.uk
Working for Wellness Employment Service
The Working for Wellness Employment Service provides support to individuals with mental health conditions to either find paid employment or keep their job.
Children
Barnardos Spark Centre
Provides care for children with disabilities under the age of 8 with complex health needs including a sitting service.
For more information contact Simon Roach on 020 8981 4924
ClearVision
ClearVision is a postal lending library of mainstream books with braille, print and pictures. These books are ideal for sharing.
Contact A Family
Contact a Family provides advice, information and support for families with disabled children.
Children's Society Disability Advocacy Project
Provides advocacy for young people aged between 11 and 21 years who encounter severe disabilities, learning needs, autism and abuse.
For more information contact the Children's Society:
E-Mail: supporteraction@childrenssociety.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 300 1128.
Living Paintings
Living Paintings is a free library of tactile books and packs, brining the visual world to life for blind and partially sighted people.
National Library for the Blind
The National Library for the Blind offers the loan of 24 point print books from their Giant Print Library collection.
For more information contact:
Email: angela.ginger@nlbuk.org
Telephone: 0161 355 2094
Talking Point
Talking Point for information on supporting children's speech and language
General Organisations
Ability Magazine
Ability Magazine is a campaigning publication for people who have difficulty using IT.
BBC Ouch!
Ouch! is a website from the BBC that reflects the lives and experiences of disabled people. It has articles, blogs, a message board and an award-winning downloadable radio show
Big Print
Big Print is a weekly subscription newspaper, TV and Radio guide in large print
Calibre Audio Library
Calibre Audio Library is a service for people with visual impairments or disabilities with books available on cassettes and MP3 disks.
Diabetes UK
For information visit Diabetes UK. Tower Hamlets Libraries and Idea Stores stock the following, recommended by the Diabetes Centre at Mile End Hospital:
Diabetes - a practical guide to managing your health by Rosemary Walker
Diabetes in South Asian people explained by Tahseen A Chowdhury
Life is a journey - a drama about diabetes DVD
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission offers information and advice on all issues surrounding disability including your rights, employment, the law, education, health and independent living, services and transport along with a lot more information.
Fix the Web
Fix the Web is a website where people with disabilities can report a website with poor accessibility so that volunteers then take steps to improve them.
Forest Books
Visit Forest Books, the sign language and deaf issues specialist, for books, DVDs, CD-Roms and other learning materials.
Listening Books
Listening Books is a subscription service that provides downloadable and MP3 CD audio books to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Living Paintings
Living Paintings is a free library of tactile books and packs, brining the visual world to life for blind and partially sighted people.
Look Up
Look Up provides information on eye care and vision for people with learning difficulties.
The Nationwide Access Register
The Nationwide Access Register provides a guide to accessible facilities including transport and leisure, hotels and services. Searches may be refined according to disability type
Office for Disability Issues
The Office for Disability Issues is a cross-government organisation leading any work done to ensure equality for disabled people in services and policies. They hold a list of organisations that represent disabled people and those that work for and with disabled people.
Outward
Outward is a provider of housing and community support services around mental health, learning disabilities and sheltered housing. For more information contact:
E-Mail: jgammage@outward.org.uk
Revealweb
Revealweb can help you to find resources in alternative formats including braille, moon, large print, audio and digital talking books.
RNIB Library Service
The RNIB Library Service provides access to, advice and information about books and other resources in alternative formats. Visit their Audio Description on Video and DVD web page for more information.
SCOPE
Offers support for individuals with cerebral palsy and disability issues including home visits, telephone support and signposting.
For more information contact Vicky Keeping on 020 7619 7127
SeeAbility
SeeAbility offers information, advice and support to individuals who are partially sighted or blind. For more information contact
E-Mail: ashrafia.seeability@btinternet.com
Telephone: 07734 791112
Shape
Shape is the country's leading disability arts organisation and aims to improve access to the arts for deaf and disabled people.
Talking Newspapers and Magazines
Talking Newspapers and Magazines provides national newspapers and magazines in audio on tape, CD, DAISY CD and by MP3 download, and in digital full-text format by, e-mail, download and CD-ROM for visually impaired and print disabled people who find reading a strain.
TLC Care Services
TLC Care provides services for people with dementia, disability, illness, frailty, supporting carers, learning disabilities and mental health issues. Domiciliary care. Training and consultancy services. For more information contact:
E-Mail: info@tlccare.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7017 2839 - 020 7017 2810
Traveleyes
Traveleyes provides holidays for both blind / visually impaired and sighted travellers.
UCanDoIT
UCanDoIT teaches blind, deaf and disabled people how to use computers, with a particular focus on Internet and email skills.
Visugate
Visugate offers access to information on visual impairment and an online community.
Contact: visugate.enquiries@nlbuk.org or 0161 355 2000
Vitalise
Vitalise is a national charity providing short breaks and other services for disabled people, visually impaired people and carers.
Telephone: 0845 345 1970
Welfare Rights Service
Welfare Rights Service offers benefits advice to blind and partially sighted people. They offer a range of factsheets online, via email, in Braille or on tape.
You're Able
You're Able is a site for disabled people, their carers, family and friends, providing comprehensive information, news and other services, including a health section.
Transport
Blue Badge
If you are disabled or have difficulties with mobility you may eligible for a blue badge. Your blue badge will be registered to a particular vehicle either as the driver or the passenger.
Congestion Charging
If you have a blue badge you are eligible for an exemption of the congestion charge. You will need to register your vehicle to be exempt.
Dial-a-Ride
Dial-a-Ride provides a door to door transport service for people with disabilities.
Freedom Pass
Freedom Passes provide free public transport for people with disabilities that affect a persons mobility.
Owning or Hiring a Car
The Motability Scheme offers information on owning or hiring a car that can be adapted to your needs.
Parking
Residents parking permits are free to people with disabilities who fit a specified criteria. If you have a blue badge and meet a specified criteria you may be eligible for a personalised disabled parking bay near your home. For more information on free permits and disabled bays contact Mobility Support Services on 020 7364 5843.
Railcards
If you have a disability or mobility difficulties you may be eligible to apply for a railcard which offers discounted train travel for yourself and any person that may need to travel with you.
Shopmobility
The Shopmobility scheme offers the loan or hire of manual or powered wheelchairs or scooters to people with disabilities in order to assist in shopping and getting around town centres. For more information contact Richard Ashdown 08456 442 446
email: info@shopmobilityuk.org
Taxicards
The Taxicard Scheme offer discounted taxi fares for people with a disability or mobility difficulties.
Train and Coach Assistance
If you are travelling by train or coach and you have a disability or mobility difficulties members of staff are able to assist you to make your journey a more pleasant experience.
