It’s a difficult time when you are faced with the uncertainty of a diagnosis which will lead to your child living their life with disabilities. Sometimes one of the hardest things is feeling alone and isolated. As you find more people who understand what you’re going through, you’ll find more and more spaces you can use for support. Below is a list of organisations (some across Scotland, others regional) which will give you and your child access to support, fun activities and experiences to support them to have fun, thrive and live their childhood to the fullest!
PAMIS is the only organisation in Scotland that works solely with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families for a better life.
Whether it’s for a few hours a day or seven days a week, we can offer you tailor-made support throughout Scotland. Our free advisory service is at the heart of Sense Scotland and is often the first point of contact for disabled people and their families.
SDS is the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body of all sports for children, athletes and players of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability. SDS has the vision of developing opportunities and improving performance in disability sport for children, athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Scotland and contributing to UK and international initiatives.
We work with individuals and families to agree what sort of support best meets their needs. This could be providing specialist accommodation on a full–time basis for people with more complex needs, to just a few hours befriending a week to help an individual build confidence and make friends. We support individuals of all ages, ranging from after school care for children with disabilities, to day care support for older people with dementia.
We will work with people with complex and diverse needs, building on our extensive experience to create personalised care, support and education that reflects our values. We will deliver care, support and education that provides choice and progression across all age groups and will support individuals to achieve their outcomes.
Looking after a child with a disability can be demanding. Our services are designed to make life easier, so that all family members can thrive.
The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability(SCLD) is the lead strategic partner to the Scottish Government in the delivery of learning disability strategy and policy. We are an intermediary organisation for the learning disability sector in Scotland, and we are committed to finding new and better ways to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Disability Information Scotland enable positive change by sharing information on disability when people need it, in a way they want it.
Starting in 1988 as one project PLUS has grown over the years, introducing new projects which target specific age ranges, support needs and individual outcomes. Services are primarily separated by age, into our under 5’s service, children and young people from ages 5 -17, and our adults services which caters to those over 18 years of age.
bOunceT is a brand that describes a rebound therapy service created by Occupational Therapist (OT) Callum MacKinnon. We exist to promOTe independence one bounce at a time!. bOunceT is a multi-award winning social enterprise aiming to improve the quality of life and participation in occupations (meaningful activities!) for children and adults with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities.
Disability Shetland supports the efforts of disabled people to realise their full potential in all areas of life.In addition to providing advice and information to service users and service providers, Disability Shetland runs a variety of clubs and recreational activities throughout the year.
SupERkids provide children in East Renfrewshire with additional support needs with weekly club activities, for social interaction, independence and learning new skills.
A voluntary organisation which supports parents of children with additional support needs, whether physical, learning, sensory or behavioural which is associated with the disability. It also supports parents of children who are seriously or terminally ill or parents who have suffered a bereavement of a child. It provides advocacy for children and young people with additional needs. All families must live in Angus, Dundee or Perth & Kinross.
Thornton Rose provides riding opportunities for people of all ages and disabilities to enjoy a safe, stimulating, therapeutic and recreational sport. We are the only Riding for the Disabled Group in Midlothian and although mission is to serve the people of Midlothian, we do take in participants and volunteers from across Edinburgh City and the Lothians.
We lend, at no cost (i.e. for free), tandems and tag-alongs to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.
DSUK believe that taking part in adaptive snowsport has the power to transform a person’s relationship with their disability. We are committed to enabling all disabled people to redefine their relationship with not just the snow, but with all aspects of their lives. We are committed to enabling all people to participate in snowsport, regardless of disability, injury, or experience.
We lend, at no cost (i.e. for free), tandems and tag-alongs to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.
Our aim is to provide a dance experience that will enhance and enrich the lives of people with and without disabilities and to create inclusive performance opportunities and continue to provide for lifelong learning.
Our parent run club is open to any family affected by a child/children’s Autism and/or disability. We offer various Sports activities (both indoors and outdoors weather permitting) and Arts & Crafts to suit all abilities.
Our aim is to give people with disabilities the opportunity to learn to ride or drive a horse and benefit from this therapeutic activity and to support this activity by ensuring they can learn in a pleasant, safe and supportive environment.
We believe everyone is entitled to adventure and through one to one support for young people with disabilities and additional needs we make sure everyone can take part.
The Yard is an award-winning charity running adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland. We offer disabled children and their siblings the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.
Starting in 1988 as one project PLUS has grown over the years, introducing new projects which target specific age ranges, support needs and individual outcomes. Services are primarily separated by age, into our under 5’s service, children and young people from ages 5 -17, and our adults services which caters to those over 18 years of age.
The Yard is an award-winning charity running adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland. We offer disabled children and their siblings the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.
We lend, at no cost (i.e. for free), tandems and tag-alongs to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.
Thornton Rose provides riding opportunities for people of all ages and disabilities to enjoy a safe, stimulating, therapeutic and recreational sport. We are the only Riding for the Disabled Group in Midlothian and although mission is to serve the people of Midlothian, we do take in participants and volunteers from across Edinburgh City and the Lothians.
We provide full day playschemes during school holidays for East Lothian children aged 5 -16 years with a wide range of special needs/disabilities. We offer one to one support and a wide range of activities such as swimming, horse riding, bouncy castles, art, bikes and days out.
The Yard is an award-winning charity running adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland. We offer disabled children and their siblings the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.
A voluntary organisation which supports parents of children with additional support needs, whether physical, learning, sensory or behavioural which is associated with the disability. It also supports parents of children who are seriously or terminally ill or parents who have suffered a bereavement of a child. It provides advocacy for children and young people with additional needs. All families must live in Angus, Dundee or Perth & Kinross.
Quarriers’ Family Support Service provides services to children, young people and families affected by disability throughout Dumfries and Galloway. We have two office bases, in Dunfries and Stranraer, where you will find helpful staff, information and activity area used for creative play and development of independent living skills.
parentsinclusionnetwork.org.uk
The Parents Inclusion Network (PIN) is an established group of families affected by disability – parents and carers with sons and daughters with a disability. The key to what PIN is about is in the title – it is first and foremost a group dedicated to and managed by parents and carers, so it is about what is important to them.
Our aspiration is to offer an extensive range of creative play and social activities to as many local children and adults with disabilities and additional support needs as possible. This includes the provision of user services such as play sessions, social groups, adult life skills workshops, playschemes, volunteer befriending, parent information sessions and respite care and support opportunities.
Starting in 1988 as one project PLUS has grown over the years, introducing new projects which target specific age ranges, support needs and individual outcomes. Services are primarily separated by age, into our under 5’s service, children and young people from ages 5 -17, and our adults services which caters to those over 18 years of age.
Ayrshire Sportsability is an investment in the future of people with a disability. These people will benefit from our activities by meeting other people, taking part in new and exciting sports, taking up sports regularly, developing further and taking part in competitive sports, in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport.
We are committed to doing our very best for the people we support and never giving up on someone we support. We are Reliable and always do what we say we will do. We are Honest and open in all of our relationships and transactions. We are Respectful of others, their views and their right. We are Inclusive in how we value diversity, support equality of access to opportunities and challenge discrimination. We are Creative and flexible in our thinking, in our work and in how we use our resources.
We are committed to doing our very best for the people we support and never giving up on someone we support. We are Reliable and always do what we say we will do. We are Honest and open in all of our relationships and transactions. We are Respectful of others, their views and their right. We are Inclusive in how we value diversity, support equality of access to opportunities and challenge discrimination. We are Creative and flexible in our thinking, in our work and in how we use our resources.
A voluntary organisation which supports parents of children with additional support needs, whether physical, learning, sensory or behavioural which is associated with the disability. It also supports parents of children who are seriously or terminally ill or parents who have suffered a bereavement of a child. It provides advocacy for children and young people with additional needs. All families must live in Angus, Dundee or Perth & Kinross.
VSA’s Richmondhill House offers independent residential and community based support and assessments for children from birth to five years and their families. Both residential and outreach support is offered to families where child protection and/or child care issues have been identified.
We are a Scottish charity supporting the wellbeing of patients and their families through an integrated, person-centred approach to health, education and social care. Our team has over 20 years of experience working with children, young people and adults who have learning disabilities and additional support needs.
Archway’s purpose is to create a network of care which supports the individual and the family, values their uniqueness, upholds their rights and respects their dignity.