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Here are some useful links to other organisations:

Education:

  •  Down Syndrome Education International transforms the lives of young people with Down Syndrome through education.
  • Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families.
  • Advisory Centre for Education provides free independent advice and information on a range of state education and schooling issues. ACE believes in a fair education system for all.
  • Special Educational Needs resources from Mencap – a range of free to download resources to guide you through the SEN process.
  • The Makaton Charity Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate.
    It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech in spoken word order.
  • Down Syndrome Training and Support Services Ltd   Provide regular training and support events throughout the year. These include training courses, monthly speech and language group sessionsand early development groups.
  • Special iApps: Special iApps is a non-profit social enterprise, dedicated to  helping children learn. We develop apps for the Apple® iPad®,  iPhone® and iPod touch®.  All our apps are developed in  close co-operation with education professionals, parents and  children, and are designed to be suitable for typically developing  children and those with learning difficulties or poor fine motor  control.
  • IPSEA– Independent Parental Special Education Advice: IPSEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice to families who have children with special educational needs. All advice is given by trained volunteers.

Health:

Benefits & Finance:

  • A guide to filling in a DLA form by Cerebra
  • Money, tax and benefits –  A guide of what are you or your child is entitled to.
  • Direct gov  Caring for a disabled child.
  • Family Fund  Are the UK’s largest provider of grants to low-income families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people.
  • Disability Grants helping you save time finding the right grant.
  • Children Today  Helping disabled children & young people to achieve their potential, increase independence & improve quality of life by providing specialised equipment.
  • Personal Independence Payment  (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64
  • Crossroads Carer Service – offers respite and short break services for families of children with disabilities.

 

Activities:

  • DSActive provides children & young adults with Down syndrome a fair opportunity to get involved in sports – particularly the nation’s favourite sport, football.
  • Kirklees Passport  is a council run discount scheme. If you are claiming DLA you are eligible for an access passport. It costs £1.50 for a child and entitles you to great savings on things such as leisure centre and museum admission, theatre tickets and some council services.
  • Shabang! A creative arts company working with pre schoolers, families and everyone inbetween! Fully inclusive, exciting and local!
  • Dark Horse is a successful producing theatre company with a ten year track record in regional and National touring productions, which reach a broad and increasing audience.
  • Borough Of Kirklees have a very successful disability swim squad.
  • Duck2Water swim school offer lessons to enable your child to gain water confidence and awareness and the ability to independently achieve a fun and rewarding life saving skill.
  • Directory Of Sport And Physical Activity for disabled people in Kirklees – a one stop shop to find the perfect sport for your child/young person
  • Disability Multi Sports Session – Take place at Batley Baths every Thursday 6pm – 7pm. There are various sports and activities to keep you moving including Basketball, Boccia, Fun Fitness Circuits and much more! Having fun is their main priority though… “we always have smiles on our faces & it would be great to see some new faces and create new friendships!” For more info contact Dewsbury Sports Centre.
  • Check out our things to do & places to go page too….

Travel:

  • Leeds Bradford airport tries to ensure their disabled passengers are able to travel as comfortably and hassle-free as possible. Facilities for disabled passengers can be found on their website.
  • Disabled Persons Railcard – for 1/3 off rail travel.

Support:

  • Downs Syndrome Association  The national charity for people with Down Syndrome.
  • The British Institute of Learning Disabilities
  • Crossroads Care in mid Yorkshire provides full support for carers of children & adults
  • Symbol UK  A highly specialist service to support the specific learning profile of adults and children with Down Syndrome.
  • Carers UK  The voice of carers.
  • Kirklees Information & Advice Service 
  • CBeebies   special needs section.
  • Wakefield District Down’s Syndrome Support Group  was formed in 2000 and is run by parents/carers of people with Down’s Syndrome. The aim of the group is to provide a support network, information and fun activities for people with Down’s Syndrome, their families and friends.
  • Kirklees Family Information Service Offers impartial information and guidance to families with children aged 0 – 19 on a range of subjects including finding and paying for childcare, family activities, holiday clubs and play schemes. They also recommend specialist services and organisations who may be able to support or advise on anything from parenting and family support to finance, housing and employment.

Tel: 01484 414887           E mail: fis@kirklees.gov.uk

  • Calderdale Parent & Carers Council  A highly successful parent led council that gives families of children and young people with disabilities a voice.
  • Council for Disabled Children aims to make a difference to the lives of disabled children and children with special educational needs. They do this by influencing Government policy, working with local agencies to translate policy into practice and producing guidance on issues affecting the lives of disabled children.
  • Counselling Directory – connecting you with professional support.