Dealing with disability

The following are links to government web sites, health authority and charity sites dealing with disability issues. Also, see our services A-Z for more services on disabilities. See also looking after someone for more information.

Dealing with disability in Tower Hamlets

• Blue badge scheme
• Disabled person's freedom passes
• Community transport
• The taxicard scheme
• Parking for disabled people
• Other transport links
• Learning disabilities
• Home teaching service for pre-school children with special needs
• Mobile libraries
• Crime and safety contacts
• Mobility support
• Hearing impairment
• Visual impairment
• Visual impairment - Braille printing service
• Children with disabilities
• Occupational therapy service
• Help4U
• Other useful links

Disability support groups

• Alzheimers society
• Headway - a support group specifically for people and the carers of people who have suffered head injuries
• MIND
• MS society
• Parkinsons society
• Royal deaf society
• Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
• Spinal injuries association
• Stroke society
• Cerebral palsy
• Diagnosing dementia
• Dementia
• Children's illnesses

Disability rights

• The equality & human rights commission
• Citizens advice bureau
• Free milk for disabled children
• Money information for disabled people and carers
• Information for disabled people and carers
• Help for carers
• Rights information for disabled people and carers

Leisure and social activities

There are a number of groups and organisations within Tower Hamlets that provide leisure and social activities, which are targeted at specific groups in our community.

To find a group or organisation within the borough that suits your needs please contact the Tower Hamlets Community Organisation Forum at:

Norvin House
1st Floor
45-55 Commercial Street
London E1 6BD

Tel: 020 7426 9970
E-mail: admin@towerhamlets.org.uk

Employment & training for adults with a disability

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets does not directly provide services for employment or employment training for adults with a disability. It does however commission such services from a number of voluntary sector organisations, including:

• dito – working with adults with disabilities of all kinds
  40-50 Southern Grove, E3 4PX
  E-mail: info@ditoth.org.uk
• Shaw Trust – working with people with learning disabilities
  St Peter’s Centre
  Reardon Street, E1W 2QH
  Visit: www.shaw-trust.org.uk
• The Tower Project - working with people with disabilities of all kinds and none
  45-55 Whitehorse Road, E1 0ND
  Visit: www.towerproject.org.uk
• Apasenth – working with people with learning disabilities from the Bangladeshi community
  The Brady Centre
  192-196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU
  E-mail: apasenth@btconnect.com
• Vopel – working with people with learning disabilities from the Bangladeshi community
  The Garrett Centre
  45 Blythe Street, E2 6LN
  Tel: 020 7739 9272
  E-mail: vopelld@aol.com
• Working Well Trust - working with people with mental health difficulties
  359 High Street
  Stratford, E15 4QZ
  Tel: 020 8519 9196
  Visit: www.workingwell-trust.co.uk

Access to many of these services is via a community care assessment, which will include an assessment of needs related to employment or vocational support opportunities.

To make a referral for a community care assessment, contact the Council’s Social Care Team:

Tel: 020 7364 3838
E-mail: adultcare@towerhamlets.gov.uk