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Disability and learning

Do you have a disability or a medical condition which could influence your career choice? You can discuss your education and training options with a specialist adviser. You can get a specialist help from a number of organisations. Some provide support for people with a particular disability or medical condition.

Where can I get information and advice?

Careers Scotland

Careers Advisers are able to help with advice on learning support in further education and training, or on entry to careers. You can contact your local Careers Scotland Centre for more details.

Jobcentre Plus network

The Disability Employment Adviser (DEA), based in the Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus office offers:

  • specialist advice to disabled people who are having difficulty getting a job because of their disability
  • advice to employed people who are worried about losing their job because of a disability or medical condition
  • advice to employees and employers on all work related matters.

The Access to Work Adviser (AtW Adviser) advises on the Access to Work programme. This supports disabled people and their employers, helping them to overcome work related barriers resulting from disability.

Colleges and universities

  • Most colleges and universities in Scotland offer specialist guidance and learning support to students with disabilities.
  • You are encouraged to mention your disability on your application form. Advisers can discuss your support needs with you. This means that support may be put in place from the start of your course.
  • The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) requires Education Authorities and Institutions to provide details of their facilities for disabled people.
  • Since 2002, the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) has required them to ensure that they do not discriminate against disabled people and to provide auxiliary aids.

Lead Scotland (Linking Education and Disability)

Lead Scotland works with disabled people and carers excluded from learning. They encourage people to see their potential and work towards their goals whether it is learning for fun, for work or personal development. Services are free and confidential. You can check the Lead Scotland website to see if there is a local Lead Scotland organiser in your area.

Lead offers:

  • educational guidance and information
  • computer home loan scheme
  • volunteer support
  • help to brush up word and number skills.

You can contact them at:

Lead Scotland
Princes House
Shandwick Place
Edinburgh
EH2 4RG
Tel: 0131 228 9441
Textphone: (018001) 0131 228 9441
E-mail: enquiries@lead.org.uk 
Web: http://www.lead.org.uk/

Skill Scotland: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities in Scotland

Skill promotes opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of impairment in post 16 education, training and employment. 

Skill Scotland :

  • provides an information and advice service
  • publishes books, leaflets and information sheets
  • organises events and conferences
  • influences national policy
  • provides volunteering opportunities

You can contact them at:

Skill Scotland
Norton Park
57 Albion Road
Edinburgh
EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2348
Information Services: Tel: 0800 328 5050 Monday-Thursday 1.30-4.30pm
Fax:0131 475 2397
E-mail: admin@skillscotland.org.uk 
Web: http://www.skill.org.uk/

Capability Scotland
      
·        Offers advice service for disabled people, parents and carers about a range of disability issues including cerebral palsy.
·         Provides information on Capability Scotland services which include community living, day and residential services, employment, respite, therapy, education, learning and family support and activities.
You can contact them at:

Advice Service Capability Scotland (ASCS)
11 Ellersly Road
Edinburgh
EH12 6HY
Tel: 0131 313 5510
Text phone:0131 346 2529
Fax: 0131 346 1681
E-mail: ascs@capability-scotland.org.uk
Web: http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk/ 
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights

In October 2007 the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) came into operation. It brings together the work of the previous separate commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). The CEHR provides a single point of contact to tackle discrimination on all of the grounds noted above.

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Ground Floor
Optima
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DU
Tel: 0141 228 5910
Web: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

Update Scotland, Scotland’s National Disability Information Service, provides a general information and signposting service for individuals. You can access it on:

Tel: 0131 558 5200
Textphone: 0131 558 5202
E-mail: info@update.org.uk
Web: http://www.update.org.uk/  

Are there organisations which advise people with specific disabilities or medical conditions?

Dyslexia Action Scotland

  • is an educational charity which assesses and teaches people with dyslexia
  • trains specialist teachers
  • carries out psychological assessments at the Glasgow  centre
  • is based in Glasgow and has additional teaching centres in Perth and Dundee.

You can contact them at:

Dyslexia Action Scotland
Rooms 14 & 20
Napiershall Street Centre
39 Napiershall Street
Glasgow G20 6EZ
Tel: 0141 334 4549
Fax: 01413 398879
Email: glasgow@dyslexiaaction.org.uk
http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/

Dyslexia Scotland

offers a range of services including:

  • advice, information and support to dyslexic people, their families, teachers, employers and other professionals interested in dyslexia
  • a confidential telephone helpline: Tel:08448 00 84 84  Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm 
  • a database of qualified tutors and specialist teachers
  • co-ordination of projects such as Count Me In and Transition Dyslexia
  • conferences, workshops, training sessions and awareness raising campaigns.

You can contact them at: 
 
Dyslexia Scotland
Stirling Business Centre
Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
Tel: 01786 446650
Fax: 01786 471235
E-mail: info@dyslexiascotland.org.uk
Web: http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/

ENABLE

  • offers an advice, information and support service to people with learning disabilities and their families
  • advocates and campaigns for a better life for children and adults with learning disabilities and supports them to participate, work and live in their local communities.

You can contact them at:

Enable
6th Floor
7 Buchanan Street
Glasgow
G1 3HL
Tel:  0141 226 4541
Fax: 0141 204 4398
E-mail: enable@enable.org.uk
Web: http://www.enable.org.uk/
The website has details of local offices in the Services section.

Epilepsy Scotland

  • is the national information and advocacy organisation for people with epilepsy
  • provides a range of support for individuals and organisations
  • fundraises and campaigns for improved healthcare, better information provision and an end to stigma.

You can contact them at:

Epilepsy Scotland
48 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 1JL
Tel: 0141 427 4911
Helpline: 0808 800 2200 (Monday to Friday 10.00 am-4.00 pm and 10.00 am -6.00 pm on Thursdays)
Fax: 0141 419 1709
E-mail: enquiries@epilepsyscotland.org.uk  
Web: http://www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk/

RNIB Scotland (Royal National Institute for the Blind)

Provides a wide range of services to blind and partially sighted people. These cover employment, education, family support, social work, social care, accessible information and the built environment.

You can contact them at:

RNIB Scotland
Dunedin House
25 Ravelston Terrace
Edinburgh
EH4 3TP
Tel:  0131 311 8500
Fax: 0131 311 8529
E-mail: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Web: http://www.rnib.org.uk/
Other local centres and services are listed on the wesbite.

RNID

  • Offers a wide range of services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing including communication, information, care and employment.
  • Campaigns and acts to raise awareness of deafness in Scotland.

You can contact them at:

RNID Scotland
Empire House 
131 West Nile Street
Glasgow
G1 2RX
Tel: 0141 341 5330
Textphone: 0141 341 5347
Fax: 0141 354 0176
RNID Information line: 0808 808 0123 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday)
E-mail: rnidscotland@rnid.org.uk 
Website: http://www.rnid.org.uk/

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)

  • Works to support people who experience mental health problems, homelessness, addictions and other forms of social exclusion. 
  • Provides direct services including accommodation, support, employment and rehabilitation.
  • Campaigns to influence policy, challenge stigma and discrimination and improve care services in Scotland. 

You can contact them at:

SAMH
Cumbrae House
15 Carlton Court
Glasgow
G5 9JP
Tel: 0141 568 7000
Fax: 0141 568 7001
Information service is available  2pm-4.30 pm Monday to Friday
E-mail: enquire@samh.org.uk
Web:  http://www.samh.org.uk/

Insight Radio 

Insight Radio - Europe's first radio station for blind and partially sighted people - has recently won a silver award in the 2007 Sony Radio Academy awards, the radio Oscars. As well as offering an internet service, Insight now broadcasts with a community licence on 101 FM in the Glasgow area. Programmes are broadcast daily from 8.00 - 17.00.

You can contact them at:

17 Gullane St
Partick
Glasgow
G11 6AH
Office: 0141 334 5530
Studio Line: 0845 602 0025 E-mail: insightradio.co.uk 
Web: : http://www.insightradio-net.com/