Disability

Discover more about local services and support for disabled people. If you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities you are classed as disabled. Find out more about your rights.

All disability articles

helping you to plan your visit to Newcastle so you know where public and accessible toilets are available

Help to plan a trip to Newcastle and find places to visit that are accessible

Please report any abuse in Newcastle. Abuse can be emotional, physical, sexual, financial, discriminatory, exploitation, psychological, organisational, domestic, neglect, self neglect or modern slavery.

Advance decisions allow you to set out your decisions and choices about refusing medical treatment in certain situations, should you lose the mental capacity to make these decisions in the future.

Advocacy is where someone helps you to get your views and opinions heard. They can support you to access services if you are unable to do so by yourself.

Airport assistance is available if you have mobility issues or a disability. Assistance can be arranged before you fly to help make your travel easier.  Book early to ensure everything is in place.

Attendance allowance is a benefit for people with disabilities or long term health problems who need support, care or supervision

is a life-long condition which affects a person’s ability to communicate or to do everyday things. This page has more information about local support organisations and groups in Newcastle.

Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another.

The Blue Badge Scheme allows people who have difficulty getting about to park their cars close to the sites and services that they need to use.

The Message in a Bottle scheme helps you store your personal and medical information in your fridge door, so it can found quickly by emergency services. This simple idea could help to save your life.

Sign language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions and body language. Sign language is used mainly by deaf people and people with hearing difficulties.  Some television programmes have subtitles or text on screen which describes the spoken word and sounds taking place during a programme.

Getting help at the right time can help improve your quality of life and allow you to continue enjoying life, plan ahead and make choices that are right for you.

Carer’s allowance is a state benefit, for people over 16, who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone and the person you care for receives certain benefits.

As a carer you may be entitled to a Carers assessment from the council to find out what support is available to you in your caring role.

carers can apply for funding to help improve their health and wellbeing. It can be used to take breaks and opportunities that give them choice, independence and control.

If you are not happy with the service that you receive, or if you feel that something has gone wrong, Adult Services need to know.

There are approximately nine million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. More than half of people over the age of 60 years old have a hearing loss, which is usually related to the ageing process.

Dementia is a term used to describe various disorders involving a loss of brain function, such as thinking, memory, reasoning and language.

Newcastle is committed to becoming a Dementia Friendly city.

There are different types of depression or low mood. The symptoms can be mild or severe and impact people differently. Help and support is available if you are feeling sad, lost, lonely or in a low mood.

a way of paying for Adult Social Care support services such as home care, day services or respite care. Direct Payments allow you to buy and arrange your own care and support services.

Disability Living Allowance is a payment for disabled children who need additional support for their care or mobility needs. Disability Living Allowance for adults is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment.

The Equality Act protects disabled people’s rights including employment, education, and access to services and facilities.

can happen to anyone. It’s described as any incident or pattern of incidents that are: controlling, coercive, threatening, violent.

You may have been driving for years, but there are some things that you need to think about as you get older and your circumstances change.

is for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability and under pension age.

Income related ESA has been replaced by Universal Credit for new claims

Employees may first be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay

Epilepsy is a neurological condition which causes seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy and seizures.

Looking to connect and make new friends? There are many places to meet up with people in Newcastle.

There are lots of venues and lunch clubs in Newcastle. Some offer discounts for older people or a tailored service such as lunch clubs where you can socialise with other like minded people.

Gardening is good for you. It is therapy and fitness rolled into one.

A hate crime or incident are acts of violence, aggression, prejudice or hostility directed at someone because of their, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age.

Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health, this article looks at what they are and how we can work to improve inequalities.

This information includes: the blue badge scheme, concessionary travel, Senior railcard, Motability car scheme, NexusTaxicard, Shopmobility and Hop to the shops.

There are supported shopping schemes that can help you buy your essential items or have them delivered.

You can make changes to your home or get  equipment to help you with day-to-day tasks and activities.  This can be important to your wellbeing and quality of life.

This section looks at the different ways you can raise concerns you may have about health services.

If you are not happy with the service or goods that you have received you can make a complaint, or in some cases you may be able to return the goods and secure a refund.

There are grants available to help pay for adaptations and equipment to make life easier around your home.

Tips on how to stay active at home including chair-based exercise, strength and balance exercise and aerobics.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is a benefit for people who are disabled caused by certain types of work or because of an accident at work.

Other useful and reliable online information services in Newcastle

There are a range of organisations that provide interpreting and translation services in Newcastle

A learning disability is a life-long condition. It affects a person’s ability to communicate or to do everyday things. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.

These services are available to you if you have eligible care and support needs. This is decided when you have a needs assessment with Adult Social Care at Newcastle City Council. Care and support can be arranged by the Council.

There are some steps that you can take to help make your computer easier to use without having to purchase new equipment.

Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. 1 in 4 people in the UK have a mental health problem which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.

For many people the main symptom is a painful headache. Other symptoms include disturbed vision; sensitivity to light, sound and smells feeling sick and vomiting.

Manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs make it possible for you to get out and about and participate in the activities you enjoy. There are different vehicles available to choose from.

The TaxiCard scheme is for those who have a disability or impairment that means using public transport is difficult.

Palliative care is a term that is used when someone is supported through a serious life limiting progressive illness. It also includes care for their families.

Telecare can help you live confidently and independently at home. Gadgets, monitoring systems and alarms can be used to keep you safe and well. Giving you and your carers and family peace of mind.

The NHS offers personal health budgets and personal wheelchair budgets to certain groups of people.

PIP is a benefit to help towards some of the extra costs associated with ill-health or disability

Information on the types of public transport available in Newcastle.

Self-care and self-management for people with a disability are terms that are used regularly in today’s society, particularly by the NHS and associated health and social care organisations. There are services and benefits that can help too.

Commissioned services, have a contract with Newcastle City Council to provide a service. There is an agreement in place to provide a service for a certain amount of money. The organisation must meet the quality standards set by the council.

a helpful list of equipment and aids that you can buy to help make life easier.

Social Prescribing is where you are prescribed activity or exercise to improve your physical and mental health. It may be used in place of medication or alongside treatment.

Dealing with thoughts of suicide, self harm how to help someone and help if you are bereaved by suicide.

What’s going on in and around Newcastle over the school summer holidays for adults, children and young people

This article signposts you to support and help if you are on a low income.

There are a range of support groups in Newcastle that help, advise and support people through difficulties including offering emotional support to those people dealing with illness, social isolation, end of life or a long term condition.

 

This article explains the housing and support services that are available for people with a learning disability or autism.

Information to help you to plan a short break or holiday that takes into account your interests and needs.

Vision impairment means that your eyesight cannot be corrected by glasses or lenses.  Conditions include: cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and a condition related to stroke, hemianopia.

Walking is good for you. It is therapy and fitness rolled into one.

Find out more about places where you can receive legal advice in Newcastle.

When you have problems managing day to day tasks, you may have care and support needs. You can get a Needs Assessment to find out if you can get support from Adult Social Care