Wales Council of the Blind

Disability

Definition: The Disability Discrimination Acts (1995 and 2005) define a disabled person as 'someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. Groups of people with disabilities include people with mental health issues, physical limitations and those with learning disabilities. The social model of disability starts from a different perspective. It is not concerned with how 'bad' a person's impairment is. Instead it establishes that everyone is equal and demonstrates that it is society which restricts their opportunities and erects barriers that prevent disabled people from participating fully.

Category: adult social care

Credit: Department of Health

Source: Glossary of Adult Social Care Terms


Services mentioning Disability

Access to Work - (UK Government) Employment Support

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; support with managing your mental health at work; money to pay for communication support at job interviews.

Amber Music Awards - (The Amber Trust) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

Amber Music Awards exist to provide financial grants to individual children and young people in support of this vision. Music Award applications are open to all blind and partially sighted children and young people, who may also have other disabilities or special educational needs, until the age of 18. New applications for an Amber Music Award must be made before the young person’s 18th birthday.

Bag Books - multisensory books - (Bag Books) Accessible media

Bag Books is the only organisation in the world publishing multi-sensory books specifically for people with learning disabilities. Each year we reach around 19,000 children and adults throughout the UK with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD) or severely affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Benefits & tax credits service - (Contact) Welfare benefits advice

Provide information and advice on benefits to the families of disabled children.

Calibre audio - (Calibre Audio) Accessible media

Calibre Audio is a charity that provides a completely free for life audiobook service to everyone with a disability that makes reading print difficult or impossible. Members enjoy 13,000+ unabridged audiobooks with unlimited borrowing through digital streaming, download, or on memory stick. Visit the website to find out more and join.

Calvert Trust Exmoor - (Calvert Trust) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

The Calvert Trust has an accessible centre in Exmoor where disabled people can enjoy outdoor activities.

Calvert Trust Kielder - (Calvert Trust) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

The Calvert Trust runs an accessible centre in Kielder where disabled people can try out new experiences with family and friends. Various types of breaks are available, from day or half day trips to self catering and respite breaks.

Calvert Trust Lake District - (Calvert Trust) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

An accessible, residential, outdoor activity centre for disabled people. A wide range of activities and breaks are available for people of all ages.

Contact helpline - (Contact) Helpline

For information or advice on any aspect of caring for a disabled child, ring Contact's national freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm. Can help with issues such as info on your child's medical condition, sources of grants, benefits and special educational needs.

Contact support groups in Wales - (Contact) Support Group

Groups provide parents of disabled children with essential practical and emotional support. Workshops and other events are organised.

Courses at QAC - (Queen Alexandra College) Education

The College in Birmingham provides a wide range of courses for students with a visual impairment, or other disabilities. Subjects include health and social care, hospitality, IT and the performing arts - see the website for full details.

Dewis CIL Advocacy - Newport - (Dewis Centre for Independent Living) Advocacy

You can access our service if you are aged 18 and over (or 16 and over if you are in transition), you are ordinarily resident in Newport, and you have or care for someone who has: physical disability; sensory impairment; learning impairment; conditions relating to older age; dementia; terminal or degenerative condition.

Disability Awareness Training - (Accessible Wales) Training

Accessible Wales flagship training course is an Introduction to Disability Awareness which is a program of informal but professional training courses. This course is aimed at addressing day to day issues relating to disability within the workplace.

Disability Equality Training - (Disability Wales) Training

DW's Disability Equality Training module will provide you with an understanding of the Social Model of Disability and barriers faced by disabled people. They offer bespoke training and can tailor the module to your organisation.

Disability Equality Training and Consultancy (Arts) - (Disability Arts Cymru) Training

Organisations participating in Disability Equality Training will be able to: demonstrate recognition of their accountability to disabled people; understand the implications of the Equality Act, particularly the disability provisions, and it’s relevance to arts provision in Wales devise an appropriate and realistic format for effective action planning; work towards best practice in inclusion and accessibility.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Anglesey - (Isle of Anglesey County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Blaenau Gwent - (Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. Please call the Integrated Transport Unit on the number below.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Bridgend - (Bridgend County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Caerphilly - (Caerphilly County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Cardiff - (Cardiff Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Carmarthenshire - (Carmarthenshire County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Ceredigion - (Ceredigion County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. At the Ceredigion Council site it is not clear about the companion pass. Contact them directly as below and stress that it is currently a local authority responsibility, not Transport for Wales, to process the Companion Travel Card.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Conwy - (Conwy County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Denbighshire - (Denbighshire County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Flintshire - (Flintshire County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Gwynedd - (Cyngor Gwynedd) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. (NB The website below leads you to the Transport for Wales page, but you will still need to contact the local authority.)

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Merthyr Tydfil - (Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Monmouthshire - (Monmouthshire County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. The site below gives no information other than to direct you to the Transport for Wales site. Contact the number or email below to apply.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Neath Port Talbot - (Neath Port Talbot Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. Little or no information is available at the NPT site. Click the Provider link below for contact details for NPT Council.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Newport - (Newport City Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Pembrokeshire - (Pembrokeshire County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. Ask for a Disabled Eligibility Assessment Form from the Local Authority.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Powys - (Powys County Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance. (NB Powys does not give any information concerning the Companion Travel Card. Applicants are advised to press the council for assistance in the matter using the general number below. If you are not satisfied, please contact Wales Council of the Blind on 029 20 473954.)

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Rhondda Cynon Taf - (Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Swansea - (Swansea Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Torfaen - (Torfaen County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Vale of Glamorgan - (Vale of Glamorgan Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card - Wrexham - (Wrexham County Borough Council) Transport

The Disabled Person with Companion Travel Card enables you to travel on Wales' bus services with a companion subject to meeting certain criteria. The concession is overseen by Transport for Wales but you must apply to your local authority in the first instance.

Disabled Persons Railcard - (Railcard) Transport

You receive 1/3 off adult train travel with a Disabled Persons Railcard, for you and an adult companion, if needed.

Disabled Persons Welsh Concessionary Travel Card - (Transport for Wales) Transport

An ID card to enable concessionary travel for disabled people on many Wales rail and bus services. The holder can travel free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and enjoy discounted or free travel on many rail services. You can apply on the phone number below, via email, or via the weblink. (Please note, this is not valid outside Wales (with the exception of some border services) and does not replace the scope of the Disabled Persons Railcard issued by National Rail.)

Every Body Moves - (British Paralympic Association) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

An on-line tool enabling disabled people to identify sports which are suitable for their specific impairment, and then search for clubs in their area where they can try that activity. By highlighting inclusive activities and one-off events which non disabled and disabled people can do together, Every Body Moves can inform and inspire people to discover something new.

Eye Care Hub - (Seeability) Information

An on-line resource containing information on eye care for people with learning disabilities. It includes information in easy-read format, and also information for carers.

Family Fund grants - (Family Fund) Grants

Provide grants to the families of disabled children and young people who meet certain criteria. The grants can be used for essential items such as washing machines, fridge-freezers, family breaks, clothing and bedding as well as contributions to hospital visiting costs. They also help with tablets, laptops and sensory toys.

Financial aid - (Behcet's UK) Grants

The Society will provide grants to help people who are in hardship because of Behçet's disease. To provide a grant, evidence of the amount needed must be provided. Examples of claims which might be funded include prepayment certificate for drugs, help with travel to hospital, household bills, help towards computer with reading aids/voice recognition if you are visually impaired, or aids/other equipment not available on the NHS to help if you are disabled.

Independent Living Advice Line - (Disability Rights UK) Direct payments / personalised budgets

Provides advice on getting direct payments, including information on:individual budgets/personalisation; funding from social services in relation to the care needs of the disabled; the appeals process; general advice on employing personal assistants

Independent living support - (Cil de Gwynedd) Direct payments / personalised budgets

Provides support to encourage independent living for disabled people. Independent Support Officers provide support throughout the process, including recruitment, management, training and payroll setup. The Support Officers at CIL provide an ongoing support service once everything is set up.

insport - (Disability Sport Wales ) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

insport is a Disability Sport Wales project delivered with the support of Sport Wales, which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people. Disability Sport Wales have developed toolkits to support Clubs, National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Authorities to deliver excellent standards of inclusion for disabled people in sport and physical activity. These are separated into individual programmes: insport Club, insport NGB, insport Development, and insport Third Sector. You can find your nearest insport club by entering your postcode at the site below.

IT Support for disabled people - (AbilityNet) Access technology

AbilityNet offers a range of free services to enable disabled people to make use of assitive technologies. These include free factsheets, a telephone helpline and an on-line assessment tool.

Living made easy (website) - (Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)) Information

'Living made easy' is an impartial advice and information website about daily living equipment and other aspects of independent living for disabled people. The site includes an 'Ask Sara' section which takes you through a series of questions to identify the type of help that you need.

Membership services for disabled and Deaf artists - (Disability Arts Cymru) Information

Disabled and Deaf artists, as members of Disability Arts Cymru, have access to information, advice and support throughout Wales.

Money Advice Service for disabled people - (Money Advice Service) Advice

An online resource dedicated to supporting people who become ill or disabled. The site offers a range of practical tips and free impartial advice to help people better understand their money matters when faced with a life-changing event such as a long-term health condition or disability.

Sailing adventures - (Jubilee Sailing Trust) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

The Jubilee Sailing Trust offers disabled people the chance to sail on their tall ships. Day sails or longer voyages are available.

Sense Active Programme - (Sense) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

We have a host of resources that will help sports practitioners, coaches, teachers and support staff provide sensory experiences for people who are deafblind or disabled. We also support the sports and social care sectors through consultation and training. Our tools, training and resources can help you ensure your sports programmes are more inclusive and accessible.

Sense Hub - Caerphilly - (Sense) Resource centre

Our Sense hub has been at the heart of Caerphilly since 2015. We support people with complex disabilities across south Wales to learn new skills, keep healthy and make friends. Our hubs offer a range of activities for disabled people, including: arts and sports activities; sensory sessions and soft play; teaching of key life skills; specialist support for people who are deafblind.

Sense Hub - Denbigh - (Sense) Resource centre

Meet other people, discover shared interests and make new friends at Sense Hub Denbigh. We’re here for anyone needing support with hearing impairments, vision impairments, physical disability, autism and learning disabilities, no matter your age. Our hubs offer a range of activities for disabled people, including: arts and sports activities; sensory sessions and soft play; teaching of key life skills; specialist support for people who are deafblind.

Thrive - Get Gardening - (Thrive) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

Thrive - Get Gardening presents Thrive's experience and expertise in gardening with a disability, which has been gathered over 30 years of helping disabled people to start or continue gardening. It contains practical information to make garden jobs easier, advice on taking care, useful hints and tips and details of the equipment and tools which will be particularly helpful. It has a section for blind & partially sighted people. If you can't find the info you need, you can phone or email us.

UCAN Professional Activities - (UCAN Productions) Sports, arts, leisure and holidays

UCAN has delivered vision awareness training in medical settings, as well as to public and private companies, schools, trade unions and youth organisations in the UK and abroad. This training is delivered by young disabled people and takes a unique approach in challenging public perceptions and attitudes towards sight loss. UCAN Productions also works with Cardiff University School of Optometry, delivering lectures on the lived experience of vision impairment to optometry students.

VIM Resource Centre - (Visual Impairment Merthyr (VIM)) Resource centre

Sensory impairment aids for everyday living such as mobile phones, talking clocks and watches, fully equipped kitchen demonstrating various aids, CCTVS etc. There are also demonstration facilities for other disabilities eg Tunstall equipment.

Virtual Buddying - (Sense) Befriending

The only free nationwide service dedicated to helping disabled people make friends remotely. Chat online or on the phone with your buddy once a week from the comfort of your home. Sense Virtual Buddying is open to disabled people aged 5 and over in the UK.

Working on Wellbeing (WoW) - (Legacy in the Community) Employment Support

WoW is a programme that offers support and training to people who live with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

Library records mentioning Disability

All-Wales standards for accessible communication and information for people with sensory loss Guidance - [Library Type]

Under the Equality Act 2010 there is a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure equality of access to healthcare services for disabled people. Public bodies need to take positive action so that all access and communication needs are met. The document sets out the standards of service delivery that people with sensory loss should expect when they access healthcare. These standards apply to adults, young people and children.

Bus travel in Wales Report - [Library Type]

Wales Council of the Blind and members of the Welsh Rehabilitation Officers Forum received concerns from people with sight loss about applying / renewing their disabled person’s bus pass and/or companion pass.

Cap in Hand? The impact of Welfare Reform on disabled people in Wales Report - [Library Type]

The report considers how the various changes to welfare benefits introduced by the coalition government will impact disabled people in Wales.

Communications Report no. 1 - Computer Technology Report - [Library Type]

The new section of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) dealing with the provision of information came into force in autumn 1999. With this in mind we carried out a survey of the existence of accessible information strategies in local authorities.

Designing for Inclusion Report - [Library Type]

The accessibility challenges of some active travel infrastructure for people with vision impairment and other disabled people. This research focuses on bus stops and footways which have been designed to accommodate cycle lanes and the associated element of continuous footways, where sometimes the distinction between being on a footway and being in a roadway could be blurred.

Disabled Children's Service - Information Directory Leaflet - [Library Type]

A leaflet summarising the services available to disabled children and their parents/carers in Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.

Employing disabled people and people with health conditions Guidance - [Library Type]

Guidance to help employers to recruit and employ disabled people.

Framework for action on independent living Report - [Library Type]

The aims of the Framework for Action are:- to set out a positive vision for disabled people in Wales in the challenging context of recession and the UK Government’s programme of welfare reform, combined with public expenditure cuts; to challenge stereotypes and negative attitudes; to bring together for the first time a strategic approach to disability in Wales bringing together issues that have previously been dealt with separately; - to set out what the Welsh Government is doing across portfolios to promote an inclusive and enabling society; and to highlight the key roles of local delivery partners and stakeholders.

Gardening for people with sight loss (various publications) Book - [Library Type]

Thrive (the charity which encourages disabled people to enjoy gardening) have various publications about gardening for people with sight loss which can be purchased via their website. Topics covered include growing food and growing in containers.

Guidelines for the design of accessible information and communication technology systems Guidance - [Library Type]

These Guidelines are written for designers of information and communication technology (ICT) and provide advice and recommendations on accessibility issues for all types of disabilities.

Holidays, play and leisure - information for families Guidance - [Library Type]

Information on all aspects of holidays, play and leisure for disabled children, including details of useful contacts.

Personal Independence Payment - information for parents of disabled children in England & Wales Leaflet - [Library Type]

Guide for parents of disabled children in England and Wales on how to claim PIP as a young person.

Sight tests at home Leaflet - [Library Type]

If you are unable to visit a high street optician by yourself because you have a physical or mental disability, then this leaflet sets out how to arrange for a sight test in your own home.

This is your future: a career guide for disabled students, by disabled students Guidance - [Library Type]

This guide is full of information about starting your career if you have a disability. It covers looking for work, the recruitment process, being in a job and can tell you about the different types of support available to you at each of these stages. Learning about your rights and the support you are entitled to will help you make the most of every opportunity at the beginning of your career.

UK benefit uptake among blind and partially sighted people Research paper - [Library Type]

This new research shows a substantial deficit in the take-up of disability benefits among people who are registered blind or partially sighted due to multiple barriers, including poor communication and the challenge of getting to face-to-face appointments.

Words to Wales Magazine - [Library Type]

Collection of writing by disabled people in Wales about their lives.