Inside

Notes for People With Disabilities in London and the UK

Overview of where to go and what to do if you are mobility, sight or hearing impaired - a wheelchair or cane user - and living in or visiting the UK. Information on the London organisations and facilities.

The government has a website which outlines all areas of support that are available to adults and children with disabilities, and their carers. It covers a range of topics; employment and financial support, rights and obligations, education and learning, and everyday life and leisure.

For information from Directgov: Click here

People with disabilities or their carers may be entitled to a Disability Living Allowance or Carers Allowance. There is a government-run Benefit Enquiry Line to call to discuss eligibility. The line is open from Monday to Friday 08:30-18:30 and on Saturdays 09:00-13:00:

Tel: 0800 882 200

The Disability Discrimination Act

The law states that three per cent of every workforce of more than 20 employees must be registered disabled people. It is against the law for employers to discriminate against disabled people for a reason related to their disability, and employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled employees are not disadvantaged by any physical feature of the workplace. It is also unlawful for an employer to select an employee for redundancy because of their disability.

For further information from Directgov: Click here

Public Transport

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, people with disabilities have rights of access for transport, travel and motoring. For example, timetables must be provided in an accessible format if it is reasonable for the transport provider to do so.

For further information from Directgov: Click here

All London buses and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains are wheelchair accessible and there are various facilities and services for disabled travellers on all modes of public transport in London.

An explanatory document = Getting Around London Access Guide which covers accessibility on all London public transport may be downloaded from the Visit London website.

In addition, public transport users may be entitled to free or reduced fares through the Freedom Pass and Disabled Persons Railcard schemes:

Freedom Pass is provided by local borough councils to give older and disabled people free travel on most of the London public transport network. Reduced rates are available on some boat services.

Further information is available by telephone from Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00
Tel: 0845 275 7054 / 020 7934 9633
Website

The Disabled Persons Railcard scheme entitles the holder and an adult companion to a third off most rail fares throughout Great Britain.

For details of eligibility and how to buy a card: Click here

Travelling on the Underground

Tube maps show which stations do not have steps and gaps between the platform and the train (60 stations in total). Many stations in central London have lifts and/or escalators.

Staff help with buying tickets, and all stations have a ticket machine with lower buttons and coin and card slots for people using wheelchairs. All ticket offices have induction loops for people with hearing difficulties.

Staff help with getting to the platform and boarding trains, if necessary.

All trains have priority seating by the doors for people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, those travelling with children and anyone who has difficulty standing. If someone is sitting in these seats, a person entitled to priority seating can ask that person to move.

The Blue Badge Scheme

The Blue Badge scheme is a service for people with severe mobility problems, and parents of children with disabilities. It enables badge holders to park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, except where there is a ban on loading or unloading. Badge holders may park for free and for as long as they need to at on-street parking meters and pay-and-display machines.

Blue Badge holders do not have to pay the London Congestion Charge, providing they have registered with Transport for London (TfL) at least ten days before the journey and paid a one-off £10 registration fee.

For more details and the registration form from the TfL website: Click here

Eligibility for a Blue Badge has to be assessed by the local council, who may also request further information from a doctor or an independent health professional, such as a physiotherapist. Details on the Blue Badge scheme are available at the government website: Click here.

Accessibility in London: Tourism and Sightseeing

London hotels

An increasing number of London hotels provide accessible and wheelchair-friendly rooms for people with disabilities. Many hotels have step-free access and accommodation that has been adapted for people with disabilities. Some staff receive training in order to increase awareness of the access needs of the mobility-impaired.

Many hotels have onsite Blue Badge parking or offsite parking. Spaces are limited and should be reserved in advance.

Most hotels allow assistance dogs, including guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs. Service providers may not refuse assistance dogs on their premises.

For information on accessible London hotels: Click here

Theatres

While many of London's theatres are in older, listed buildings with limited access for the disabled, newer venues are built with good access for wheelchair users.

The Society of London Theatre has compiled a Venue Access Guide which may be downloaded: Click here

Museums and attractions

Increasingly, museums, galleries and attractions are improving access for wheelchair users. Artsline is a disability access website, featuring over 1,000 arts venues across London. Each listing provides a summary of accessibility.

Artsline website

Organisations, Associations and Support

There are numerous organisations, charities and websites set up to provide support, information and advice for people with disabilities and their carers. Among the most prominent are:

Ableize is a web portal which is owned and run by disabled people, for disabled people. There is a directory with information about all aspects of daily life, from access and travel to groups and clubs, and products and services. There is also a discussion forum and a blog.

Website

British Deaf Association (BDA): The BDA is the largest UK deaf organisation run by deaf people for deaf people. They represent the Sign Language Community, and are campaigning for the legislation of British Sign Language (BSL). They are also working to gain the right for all deaf children to receive bilingual education, using BSL and English, and the right to quality and choice in education. Their website has news, information, training, campaigns and youth and family services.

Website

Contact A Family is a UK-wide charity that provides advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children. They have a freephone helpline, offer advice and support, produce a variety of publications and offer up-to-the-minute information about disability benefits and allowances.

Tel: 0808 808 3555
Website

Deaf Education through Listening and Talking (DELTA) is a national charity that supports deaf children and their families and which supports and develops the Natural Aural Approach to the education of deaf children.

Website

Disability Now is a newspaper for the disabled with a website full of news and information.

Website

Disabled Living Foundation is a national charity that provides free, impartial advice, information and training courses on daily living aids. It has a helpline, fact sheets, a supplier directory, services for parents, and business support, with accessible meeting rooms for hire.

Tel: 0845 130 9177
Website

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a charity that breeds and trains guide dogs, providing dogs to blind and partially-sighted people.

Website

KIDS is a charity which has pioneered a number of approaches and programmes for disabled children and young people. These include Home Learning, Parent Partnerships, Adventure Playgrounds and the inclusion of disabled children in mainstream settings.

Website

Livability is a charity that offers residential care services, supported living, lifestyle choices, projects and accessible holiday accommodation for people with disabilities, as well as managing a school and two further education colleges, one of which, The Nash College, is in the London borough of Bromley.

Website

National Blind Children's Society enables children and young people with visual impairment to achieve their educational and recreational goals.

Website

Radar (the Royal Association for Disability Rights) is a national network of disability organisations and spearheads campaigns to promote equality for all disabled people.

Website

Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD): The RAD promotes the welfare and interests of deaf people, offering advice and advocacy on employment issues, help for families and teenagers, community services, interpreting and social care.

Website

Royal Blind Society (RBS): The RBS helps people who are blind or partially sighted with cash grants and provides support for those on low incomes. It also offers a range of holidays and leisure opportunities.

Website

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): The RNIB is a UK charity for the blind, offering information, support and advice on areas including treatments and conditions, financial aid and everyday products to make life easier. They run a helpline, a library service with books in Braille, Moon, giant print and audio, and a radio station, Insight Radio, which broadcasts 24 hours a day.

Tel: 0303 123 9999
Website

Sense: A leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deaf-blind, providing advice, information and specialist services to deaf-blind people, their families and carers.

Website

Special Families: A website set up by the parents of two children with special needs, and is full of advice and information, with discussion forums and a blog.

Website

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers: The largest provider of carers' support services in the UK. It has a network of 144 independently managed Carers' Centres and provides information, advice and support services to over 400,000 carers, including approximately 25,000 young carers.

Website

Wheelchair Travel: A company which offers adapted vehicles either to carry disabled people or for self-drive rental. They can also provide drivers.

Website

Sporting Facilities and Support Groups

Interactive: A development agency for sport and physical activity for disabled people in London, ensuring equality and inclusion in sport and physical activity across the capital.

Website

Parasport: A joint initiative between the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and Deloitte. Their aim is to increase participation levels in competitive sporting events.

Website

Wheels for Wellbeing: A charity which helps disabled people to cycle in London regardless of their impairment, long term health condition or disability. It offers regular group cycling sessions and adapted cycles for hire.