Learning Links

• Learning:
  • Local
  • National
• Courses, Careers & Employment
• Removing the Barriers to Learning:
  • Money to Learn, Housing & Asylum Seeker Advice
  • Age, Disability, Mental Health & Learning Difficulties
  • Childcare
• Boosting your Brain Power: Mind & Body
• Learning and Using Computers & the Internet
• General Directories & Local Organisation Listings

Removing the Barriers to Learning:
Age, Disability, Mental Health & Learning Difficulties

˜ Age ˜
˜ Disabilities ˜
˜ Mental Health ˜
˜ Learning Difficulties ˜

Organisations under this heading are general advice and support groups. For specific information on learning, courses and careers, money to learn, or using the Internet look also under those sections.

˜ Age ˜

Age Concern
www.ageconcern.org.uk
In their role as the National Council on Ageing, Age Concern bring together a network of local Age Concern organisations and over 100 national organisations in the UK (including the main professional bodies and pensioner organisations). They offer practical help, information and advice as well as information on current campaigns and news.

Back to top

˜ Disabilities ˜

East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA)
www.esda.org.uk
ESDA exists to help all disabled people in East Sussex achieve independence and control over their lives. ESDA is a registered charity where the majority of trustees and members are disabled people. To achieve their aims ESDA employ a number of staff and volunteers, many of whom are disabled people, to run their projects and services. Contact ESDA on 01323 514520 for a copy of their comprehensive directory of national and local employment support and training organisations for disabled people living in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove ('The Employment Directory, 2000').

Disability Alliance
www.disabilityalliance.org
Includes information, advice, training, research and campaigning sections.

Leonard Cheshire Foundation
www.leonard-cheshire.org
Leonard Cheshire is the leading charity provider of services for disabled people in the UK and operates in over 51 countries across the world. The Workability project aims to provide up to 10,000 disabled people between 19 - 50 years with computer equipment in their own home, training them in new skills and providing them with help in the job search process.

You're Able
www.youreable.com
Includes information on discounts, travel, motoring, community, equipment, work, money, computing and health.

Disability Now Newspaper
www.disabilitynow.org.uk
Includes news, features, a comprehensive indexed links page and a chat facility.

Government Disability Website
www.disability.gov.uk
Includes information on the Disability Discrimination Act, the Disability Rights Commission and the Disability Rights Task Force, along with education specific information.

The British Dyslexia Association
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk
The BDA is the voice of dyslexic people. They offer advice, information and help to families, professionals and dyslexic individuals. They are working to raise awareness and understanding of dyslexia, and to effect change. The site includes a set of information sheets.

Royal National Institute for the Blind
www.rnib.org.uk
The Royal National Institute for the Blind helps all blind and partially sighted people in the UK. RNIB's task is to challenge blindness:
'We challenge the disabling effects of sight loss by providing information and practical services to help people get on with their own lives. We challenge all who put barriers in the path of blind and partially sighted people. And we challenge the underlying causes of blindness by working towards its prevention, cure or alleviation.'

The British Deaf Association
www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk
The British Deaf Association exists to ensure that Deaf people using sign language have the same rights and entitlement as any other citizens. They aim to achieve this by taking a lead in partnerships, promoting sign language and targeting resources.

Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People, Banstead Place Brain Injury Centre
www.qefd.org
This organisation provides vocational rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injuries with one-to-one and group sessions, unpaid work experience. They also offer IT training.

Back to top

˜ Mental Health ˜

National Association of Mentality
www.mentality.org.uk
A national charity dedicated to the promotion of mental health. Their website includes campaign news, resources, policy support and development and a message board.

Mental Health Foundation
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
The Mental Health Foundation aims to improve the lives of everyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities. They do this by using research, service development and information to increase understanding and meet people's needs.

Back to top

˜ Learning Difficulties ˜

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities. They do this by conducting research and sharing the findings with other people. The Foundation is a registered charity, part of the Mental Health Foundation.

Mencap
www.mencap.org.uk
Mencap works with people with a learning disability to fight discrimination. It campaigns to ensure that their rights are recognised and that they are respected as individuals.

Back to top