A charity which helps children and young people affected by speech, language and communication impairments.

Access information on health problems, conditions and treatment with quick-reference information on self-help groups.

For details of local counselling and psychotherapy contact:

An information and advice line for carers.

Helpline open: 10am - 12 noon and 2pm - 4pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays only.

Situated on Level 2 near reception for the Children's Hospital Outpatient Department, the Child Health Information Centre welcomes enquiries by telephone, post or personal visit.  CHIC is an information service specialising in childhood conditions and disabilities, provided in a way that is easy to understand.

Connexions South Yorkshire provides appropriate information and guidance through Lifetime Careers on education and training and at the transition stage from secondary education into further education (see section 14, Young Adults).

Contact A Family is a charity providing support and advice to parents, whatever the medical condition of their child.  It provides information on rare syndromes and disorders and can put families in contact with each other.  A directory of medical conditions and relevant contact numbers is available; copies may be obtained through the library services.  The directory is also available on the internet.

Provides a wide range of advice and support.

Formerly Disability Doncaster

For legal advice contact:

The Disabled Living Foundation makes everyday life easier for people with disabilities.  It has an up-to-date database of disability equipment, including children's everyday living, mobility and play equipment.

Advice and support for women.

This government fund exists to help families caring for a severely disabled child at home.  It can provide grants for such things as holidays and outings, or items or equipment such as machines.  Although not means-tested, a family's income is taken into consideration.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for GP surgeries, opticians, dentists and chemists (see section 8.3) and also free and confidential information on health and health services.

IPSEA offers free and independent advice and support to parents of children with special educational needs including, free advice on LEA's legal duties towards children with SEN, free home visits where necessary, free support and possible representation for those parents appealing to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal and free second opinions on a child's needs and the provision required to meet those needs.

Local and national organisation.

A local helpline where parents help reduce the stress and tension of other parents by lending a listening ear.  Open 7pm - 10pm every evening.

This is a national organisation that provides help and advice to families through a telephone helpline as well as providing regional courses (the nearest to Doncaster is the Lincolshire branch).

Facilities access to toilet facilities for disabled people in the doncaster area.  A key can be obtained free of charge from Social Services, provided you are in receipt of a Disability Allowance or are registered with Social Services.  A list of toilets where this key may be used can be obtained on a factsheet from DiAL Doncaster.

Capaigns for improvements in disabled people's lives and provides information to support independence and equality.

Aims to promote the relief of children with upper-limb deficiencies by encouraging mutual aid and support between their families.

The Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) publishes a directory of voluntary groups in the Doncaster area.  See section 14.1 for contact details.

A magazine, available both in print and online, giving essential information, news and feature articles, advice and advertisements.  Available from your local newsagent  and is also on BBC Ceefax page 654, or order quoting ISSN 0958 4676 DN from the publishers:

A guide to going to a Special Educational Needs Tribunal (available from IPSEA - see earlier in this section).

Advice on taking action on behalf of your child relating to the law and special educational needs (available from IPSEA - see earlier in this section).

South Yorkshire Centre for Inclusive Living (SYCIL) publishes an 'Access Guide to Doncaster Town Centre'.

Doncaster Advocacy is an independent charity that encourages and supports people over the age of 18 and who have a learning disability to speak out for themselves. Independent support comes from the staff of Doncaster Advocacy who work closely with carefully selected volunteer advocates and advisers.  If you have support it is much easier to say what you think and feel.  Advocacy means speaking up, being listened to, having choices and being responsible.

See section 14.2 for details of Enable Advocacy at SYCIL.

PALS provides advice and support to patients, their families and carers. It provides information on NHS services, and listens to concerns, suggestions or queries and helps sort out problems quickly on your behalf.

You can contact the service via your GP surgery, or contact the PALS co-ordinator for the Primary Care Trusts.

You can also write to:

Or you can visit PALS at:

TIE is Doncaster's Register of Children with Disabilities.

Families with a child with disabilities fill in a membership form giving details of the child and family's needs. They can also do this over the phone or online.  This information is used to provide a clearer picture of the main areas of need in Doncaster, helping improve existing service provision and plan future services. In return, families receive a quarterly newsletter, 'Together', containing articles on:

• disability rights
• local services and voluntary groups
• national disability issues
• benefits and entitlements
• what's on in your area and around the country
• regular updates on local and national developments

T.I.E also hold regular coffee mornings for parents to chat to other parents and professionals in a casual and informal setting and an annual information and pamper event for parents to meet and chat to many different professionals from various backgrounds.  T.I.E also send out regular mail shots with details of local and national training courses and events for parents to attend.  Members can contact T.I.E at any time with any questions to do with childhood disability.  For more details of T.I.E or for the online membership form you can visit the T.I.E website.