Links to useful information
This page lists links to resources for people with learning disabilities, for example, information about benefits checkers, grants to help support into employment, skills training, transport communication cards, Citizens Advice and many more links to support.
Accessing technology
Microsoft offer simple tools to help you use computers and the internet. See information at this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/
Accessing local support from Hampshire County Council
See this website: https://www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/
For information on Personal Budgets see: https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/advice.page?id=02r3OF3FNxk
Improving employability and skills
Skills for Life/Employability Skills for Students with Learning Difficulties at Peter Symonds AHeD
Improving Employability & Skills
Skills for Life for Students with Learning Difficulties
Classes are small and friendly and students can learn at a pace that suits their own abilities and confidence levels. These courses are ideal for those looking to improve their communication skills and increase their confidence in English and computer skills.
Location: Peter Symonds College, Adult & Higher Education, Stoney Ln, Winchester, SO22 6DR
For further information, please email ahed@psc.ac.uk or phone 01962 889547 (Monday-Friday 9.15am -4pm, answerphone outside these hours)
Access to Work
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:
A grant to help pay for practical support with your work
Advice about managing your mental health at work
Money to pay for communication support at job interviews
How to apply
Check you’re eligible and then apply for an Access to Work grant.
Help with benefits
Do you receive the benefits you should be getting? You might be able to claim benefits if:
you have difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around
you can’t work because you’re sick or disabled
you’re on a low income or you have no income
You can use a free benefits calculator to check which benefits you can get.
Use the DWP’s benefits checker tool to get a quick idea of what financial support you may be able to claim. It will ask you a few questions and suggest what help you are most likely to be eligible for. For a more complete understanding of all the support that may be available, and how much you might get, use a benefits calculator. This will take a bit longer to fill in, but will give you a more detailed picture of the help you could receive.
Do you need help or support to check benefits?
For free and confidential help to work out what benefits you can get, ask Citizens Advice by calling Adviceline 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday 0800 144 8848 (Freephone numbers starting with 0800 or 0808 are now free to call from mobile phones as well as landlines.)
Are you having issues with money, for example, struggling to pay your bills?
Talk to Citizens Advice Debt helpline: 0800 240 4420 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can talk about your debt issue with a trained adviser 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around you including staff, colleagues and health professionals that you may need additional support, help or a little more time. See here for full details of the scheme. Ask for a free sunflower lanyard at customer service desks in places that support the scheme, for example, supermarkets, train stations, airports and hospitals. Attach your preferred card to the lanyard to explain the type of disability or support you might need.
Communication
Journey Assistance Cards on Stagecoach buses tell the driver what help you may need. The cards available are:
please be patient, I am deaf
please be patient, I am visually impaired
please be patient, I have difficulty speaking
please be patient, I am hard of hearing
please speak slowly and face me to help me hear better
please scan my pass for me
please count my change for me
please help me find a seat
please give me time to sit, in case I fall down
driver, please let me know when we get to . . .
please tell me when we reach my stop
What We Need - helping build an accessible world
WhatWeNeed.Support is independently run by a team who are disabled, have experience of vulnerable situations, or specialise in this area. The aim of this project is
to describe the changes, reasonable adjustments, and support needs that disabled and vulnerable consumers want firms, businesses, and institutions to meet;
to describe them in such a way that organisations are able to act on them straightaway.
If you are a disabled or vulnerable consumer, you can review the current support lists that are on the site, and add support needs that are missing.
Go to: https://whatweneed.support/
Proof of Disability
The National Disabled Identification (DID) Card provides proof of your entitlement to some form of disability benefit in order to obtain a concessionary rate. Only those who are in receipt of qualifying disability benefits can apply for the card:
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Attendance Allowance (AA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Blue Badge
ESA
Medical Evidence Letter
Registered as a blind person or partially sighted
Armed Forces Independence Payment
There is a similar identity card scheme here.
The Access Card (also known as a CredAbility Card/Nimbus Card) translates your disability / impairment into symbols that highlight the barriers you face and the reasonable adjustments you might need. This then informs providers quickly and discreetly about the support you need and may gain you access to things like concessionary ticket prices and complex reasonable adjustments without having to go into loads of personal detail.
The CEA Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests.
Using technology
The charity AbilityNet has very helpful advice on making technology more accessible:
Easy Read versions of free disability and technology factsheets
See more here: https://abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets/
Theatre Royal Winchester
For accessibility and booking details: https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/your-visit/access
For more details about supporting someone to attend a performance please contact the theatre via telephone to: 01962 840 440 or email: boxoffice@playtothecrowd.co.uk
Disability Arts Online
Looking for an inclusive theatre near you? There is a directory of similar organisations here: Directory Archive - Disability Arts Online. Or use our map that shows inclusive performing arts opportunities in the UK and worldwide. See here.
Drama and amateur theatre groups in the UK
Here are some helpful websites listing drama groups and productions across the UK:
Drama Groups https://www.dramagroups.com/
AmDram https://amdram.co.uk/
Winchester Go LD
Winchester Go LD enables adults with learning disabilities to live life to the full with the choices and independence that they want.
They have a range of weekly and monthly activities and provide advocacy, information, safeguarding and skills workshops.
See their What’s On page for details of all thieir groups.
Email: info@winchestergold.org.uk | Phone: 01962 600281
Mental health support
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, do you know where to go for help?
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has refreshed its ‘Life Card’ which signposts to support for those needing urgent help.
In an emergency always call 999.
More here: www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/LifeCard
