Useful links - special educational needs

General

http://www.askability.org.uk/
This is a website designed specifically for disabled children and young people. Children and young people can access news, both local and national, sport, celebrity news, book and club reviews, jokes, places to go and more importantly it offers children and young people who may have become isolated an opportunity to share their views and feelings by posting statements onto a "graffiti wall".

www.childreninscotland.org.uk/asnn
The Additional Support Needs Network (Scotland) is led by Children in Scotland and funded by the Scottish Executive. It is a network of organisations and individuals working with children and young people who require a specialist approach to meet their communication, learning, care, physical, emotional and recreational needs. Its services include acting as a information exchange and resources.

Springboard for Children, an education charity, which has achieved a 90% success rate in returning inner city children with severe literacy problems and learnign difficulties to mainstream classrooms. The secret of the scheme’s success is getting immediate help to children once a reading problem is identified in their first term in primary school. Pupils helped by the unit are normally selected by their schools by the end of their first term. Volunteers are recruited to read and work with the children. www.springboard.org.uk/

www.vips-in-sen.co.uk
SEN website resource providing help, advice, support, and information, for parents, carers, teachers and governors, for achieving a better understanding and the most appropriate education for each child and young adult's special needs. Includes key documents, reports, publications, legislation, and policy.

www.addiss.co.uk
The Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service is for anyone dealing with attention deficit disorder - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals. 
Contact: ADDISS, PO Box 340, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 9HL. Tel: 020 8906 9068. Fax: 020 8959 0727. Email: info@addiss.co.uk.

www.hacsg.org.uk
The Hyperactive Children's Support Group has been helping hyperactive children and their families for more than 25 years. They run clinics and workshops and provide information on nutrition and food supplements and food additives which could cause problems. Tel: 01243 551313.

ABC for Reading
ABC for Reading is a national charity to support those with Irlen Syndrome, a sensitivity to light that can cause reading difficulties due to  distortions in print and problems with visual perception. The problems are worse when print is on a white background. 
Contact: ABC for Reading, 4 Park Farm Business Centre, Fornham St Genevieve, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6TS. Tel: 01284 724301. 

www.abilitynet.co.uk
AbilityNet is a national organisation providing information and assessment services to ensure disabled people can make effective use of computer technology. It is committed to helping people find the best and most cost-effective way to get round difficulties in using a computer. 
Contact: AbilityNet, PO Box 94, Warwick CV34 5WS. Tel: 0800 269 545.

www.ace-centre.org.uk
Aiding Communication in Education (ACE) provide a focus for the use of technology to support the communication and educational needs of young people with physical and communication difficulties.
Contact: The ACE Centre, 92 Windmill Road, Oxford OX3 7DR. Tel: 01865 759 800. Fax: 01865 750 188. Email: info@ace-centre.org.uk.
ACE North, Units 11 & 12 Gatehead Business Park, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5DE. Tel: 01457 829444. Fax: 01457 829441. Email: acenorth@ace-north.org.uk.

Advisory Unit Computers in Education
The Advisory Unit has expertise in the use of IT to support pupils who have severe learning difficulties, moderate learning disabilities and specific learning difficulties. 
Contact, Advisory Unit Computers in Education, 126 Great North Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5JZ. Tel: 01707 266 714. Fax: 01707 273 684. 

www.afasic.org.uk
Afasic is a parent-led organisation that helps children and young people who have a speech and language impairment. 
Contact: AFASIC, 2nd Floor, 50-52 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DJ.
Tel: 020 7490 9410 (administration). The Afasic helpline: 0845 355 55 77. Email: info@afasic.org.uk.

www.assupportgrouponline.co.uk
An online support group for parents, support workers and teachers of children with Aspergers' syndrome.

www.sebda.org
Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Association (SEBDA) is a professional association that exists to promote excellence in services for children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties and to support those who work with them. It supports workers in schools of all types, social service units, voluntary societies and in health settings. 
Contact: SEBDA, Church House, 1 St Andrew's View, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7YF. Tel: 01768 210510 Fax: 01768 210512. Email: tcole@sebda.org.

Bag Books
Bag Books produces multi-sensory, age-appropriate story bags for children, young people and young adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Bags are developed along the lines of the Storysacks concept and include storybooks along with props, puppets, music and other artefacts to engage participants in the story and develop their reading and speaking skills. 
Contact: Bag Books, 60 Walham Grove, London SW6 1QR. Tel: 020 7385 4021.

www.bild.org.uk
British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) works towards improving the quality of life of people with learning disabilities. 
Contact: BILD, Campion House, Green Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 1JL. Tel: 01562 723010. Fax: 01562 723029.

www.ncb.org.uk/cdc
The Council for Disabled Children is an independently elected consortium established under the aegis of the National Children's Bureau. Its membership is drawn from a wide range of organisations with an interest in children and young people with disabilities and their families. 
Contact: Wendy Beecher, CDC, National Children's Bureau, 8 Wakely Street, London EC1V 7QE. Tel: 020 7843 6058. 

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
The Dyspraxia Foundation offers advice, information, support, professional and parental conferences. 
Contact: The Dyspraxia Foundation, 8 West Alley, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1EG. Tel: 01462 454 986. Fax: 01462 455052.

www.enquire.org.uk
Enquire is a Scottish helpline for parents and children affected by special educational needs. Helpline: 0845 123 2303.

www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
The Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties is a UK based organisation which aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning difficulties. The website provides information on issues that affect the lives of people with learning difficulties and the work of the Foundation.

http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk
The Department for Education has teamed up with BECTa to create this website to provide special needs teachers and learners with access to a wide variety of inclusion / special needs educational resources. The site also provides special needs discussion groups, email notification about news and new resources, and an opportunity for visitors to recommend a resource of their own.

www.key4learning.com
Specialists in the area of cognitive processing differences in the workplace, working with people diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD/ADHD, Asperger's syndrome or similar effects following llness or injury. They work with individuals through mentoring, coaching and advocacy and with organisations through workplace assessment, training and education and provision of information.

KIDS
Kids is a national charity set up in 1970 to provide a local service to children who have special needs and their parents/carers. 
Contact: KIDS National Office, 80 Waynflete Square, London W10 6UD. Tel: 020 8969 2817.

www.listening-books.org.uk
Listening Books provide audio books for people with special needs, has a library of 2000 audio books, fiction and non-fiction, popular and highbrow all lent out by post for people with difficulty reading because of illness of disability. Membership costs £50 per year. 
Contact: 12 Lant Street, London SE1 1QH Tel: 020 7407 9417 Fax: 020 7403 1377 Email: info@listening-books.org.uk.

www.nasen.org.uk
National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) aims to promote the development of children and young people with special educational needs and support those who work with them. 
Contact: NASEN, NASEN House, 4/5 Amber Business Village, Amber Close, Amington, Tamworth, Staffs B77 4RP. Tel: 01827 311 500. Fax: 01827 313 005.  NASEN Wales - Contact: NASEN Cymru, North East Wales Institute of HE, Plas Coch, Wrexham LL12 8YU. Tel: 01978 290666.

www.nas.org.uk
The National Autistic Society was established to encourage a better understanding of autism and to pioneer specialist services for people with autism and those who care for them. 
Contact: National Autistic Society, 393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG. Tel: 020 7833 2299. Fax: 020 7833 9666.

www.portage.org.uk
The National Portage Association is a home-visiting service for pre-school children who have special needs. It is based on the common-sense principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their child. Portage assesses the needs of pre-school children, including those with physical  difficulties, and then, in partnership with parents, builds on the abilities the child already has, teaching skills the child has yet to master. Provision of portage services varies from authority to authority, sometimes being based within the education department's early years services and sometimes within psychology, education learning support services, health agencies, joint education and health bodies, or a voluntary management team.
Contact the NPA by email at npa@portageuk.freeserve.co.uk.

www.nptrust.org.uk
The National Pyramid Trust believes that low cost, positive intervention in a child's education avoids the need for expensive and often ineffective remedial treatment later on and aims to make preventative intervention available whenever it is needed. Schools that join the Pyramid System identify children aged about seven or eight years old who have unmet developmental needs or who are in need of extra support. The school sets up clubs, led mostly by volunteers, which offer a wide range of activities reflecting the children's own choices, but which are designed to build self-esteem confidence and social skills. 
Contact: National Pyramid Trust, 84 Uxbridge Road, London W13 8RA. Tel: 020 8579 5108. Fax: 020 8579 5108.

The Open School Trust
The Open School Trust is a national educational charity whose aim is to tackle problems of access and underachievement, particularly in the essential skills of literacy and numeracy, improving children's learning through new technology and innovative materials. It includes teletutoring for supporting pupils with special educational needs. 
Contact: The Open School Trust, Park Road, Dartington, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EQ. Tel: 01803 866 542. Fax: 01803 866 676. E-mail: openschool@campus.bt.com. 

Rathbone
Rathbone runs a programme called Choices designed for young people aged 14 to 16. It is a range of education and training programmes designed for learners at Key Stage 4 who are experiencing difficulties in their mainstream education. Rathbone helps and supports young people who have been excluded or are at risk of exclusion. For example, a part time Choices programme can help them keep going with their existing education. Alternatively, if formal education isn't meeting their needs or they have been excluded, Rathbone can provide a full time programme. Choices works through a combination of individual support, tailor-made programmes, specialist training, and education and work placements. Contact: Rathbone CI, Head Office, Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EU. Tel: 0161 236 5358. Fax: 0161 238 6356 Email: info@rathbone-ci.co.uk

www.redlettersltd.co.uk
Red Letters Ltd is an independent company providing workbooks and computer activities for children with literacy difficulties and/or dyslexia. All the material has been written, tried and tested on dyslexic children from Y5 to Y11.

www.skill.org.uk
Skill is the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. It aims to develop opportunities for young people and adults with learning difficulties in further, higher and adult education, in training and the transition to employment. Head Office: Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW. Tel: 020 7450 0620, Fax: 020 7450 0650.

www.snapcymru.org/
SNAP Cymru is the leading provider of Independent Parental Support Services in Wales providing information and support to families of children and young people who have or may have special educational needs. They also provide a mediation service to authorities and training to professionals, colleges and individuals in all aspects of the special educational needs decision making process.

www.sendist.gov.uk
Special Educational Needs Tribunal was set up by the 1993 Education Act. It considers parents' appeals against the decisions of local education authorities about a child's special educational needs where the parent cannot reach agreement with the LEA. 
Contact: Special Educational Needs Tribunal, 7th Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0NW. Tel: 020 7925 6925. Fax: 020 7925 6926.

www.snip-newsletter.co.uk
Special Needs Information Press (SNIP) is a monthly newsletter that provides on all aspects of special education needs teaching. This site has information about the newsletters, details of back issues and useful links.

www.toebytoe.co.uk
Toe by Toe is a book designed for people with reading difficulties, especially dyslexia. The enthusiasm that many have felt for its structured approach is reflected in the endorsements on the website

Disability

Disability Equality in Education (DEE)
Charitable organisation which provides training and resources for schools, colleges and LEAs on inclusion issues. It has a national network of disabled equality trainers and has produced three course books for Early Years, Schools and Post 16 (£10 plus £1.50 p&p).
Contact: DEE, Unit GL, Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London N1 3QP. Tel: 020 7359 2855 Email: info@diseed.org.uk.

Dyslexia

www.adultdyslexiacentre.co.uk
The Adult Dyslexia and Skills Development Centre provides assessment, tuition, training and telephone advice to adults with suspected dyslexia. It also offers services to employers including workplace assessment, tuition and strategy development for employees. 
Contact: Adult Dyslexia and Skills Development Centre, Second Floor 1-7, Woburn Walk WC1H 0JJ
Tel: 0207 388 8744. Email: dyslexia@adsdc.freeserve.co.uk.

www.futurenet.co.uk/charity/ado/index.html
The Adult Dyslexia Organisation (ADO) was established in 1991 to advance the cause of adults with dyslexia through research, education, campaigning, lobbying and training. Its services include a helpline, referrals for assessment, tuition and counselling, a wide range of information and support groups. 
Contact: Adult Dyslexia Organisation, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA. Helpline: 020 7924 9559. Admin 020 7737 7646. Fax: 020 7207 7796.

http://artsdyslexiatrust.org/
The Arts Dyslexia Trust is a membership organisation that helps dyslexic individuals to develop and promote their artistic skills. A free help and advice service provides guidance on choosing the right school, college or university course; preparing a portfolio of work for job interview or art college entrance; completing a dissertation or other set writing task; and where to find help for other problems related to dyslexia. Members also receive regular newsletters including news on competitions, job opportunities, remedial aids/methods, and software as well as features on members' artwork, reviews of books, and profiles of dyslexic artists/designers. 
Contact: Susan Parkinson, The Arts Dyslexia Trust, Lodge Cottage, Brabourne Lees, Ashford, Kent TN25 6QZ. Tel/Fax: 01303 813221. 

www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Barrington Stoke specialises in publishing books for reluctant, disenchanted and under-confident readers, from young children to teenagers and adults. The Barrington Stoke website, a imed primarily at teachers and parents, features extracts of all children's titles, as well as interviews with authors, competitions, games and news. It gives lots of advice about helping reluctant readers aged 8-16 and children with specificlearning difficulties such as dyslexia.

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is the national organisation for specific learning difficulties - represents over two million dyslexic children and adults. Made up of over 100 local dyslexia associations and 28 support groups, as well as 86 corporate members, it forms one of the world's leading dyslexia organisations and a channel for the latest thinking and research on the subject. The helpline, handling over 40,000 enquiries each year, is the main link to the dyslexia community. In addition, the BDA supports a national network of befrienders whose aim is to enable parents to get the right help for their child. As a lobbying organisation, the BDA works with Government and national agencies to put in place the policies that will help the professionals to deliver lasting improvements for dyslexic people. 
Contact: BDA, 98 London Road, Reading, RG1 5AU. Helpline: 0118 966 8271. Admin: 0118 966 2677. Fax: 0118 935 1927.

Scottish Dyslexia Association
Contact: Scottish Dyslexia Association, Unit 3, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen, Stirling FK8 2DZ. Tel: 01786 446650. Fax: 01786 471235. Email: dyslexia.scotland@dial.pipex.com

www.dyslexia.bangor.ac.uk
The Dyslexia Unit at the University of Wales, Bangor is active in all fields of dyslexia work: teaching, assessment, supporting dyslexia students, training teachers and research.

www.dyslexia.uk.com
British Dyslexics is an organisation that provides free information, advice, assessment and support to parents of children and teenagers with dyslexia. 
Contact: British Dyslexics, 28 Deeside Enterprise Centre, Deeside, Chester CH5 1PP. Tel: 01244 815552 (for information) 01244 822884 (advice line).

www.crested.org.uk
Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils (CReSTeD) is a charity set up to provide guidance and assurance to parents who are seeking a school for their dyslexic child. It acts as a source of school names which parents can use as their first step towards making a placement decision. 
Contact: CReSTeD, Greygarth, Littleworth, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 5BT. Tel/Fax: 01242 602689.

www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk
Dyslexia Action (formerly The Dyslexia Institute) was established in 1972 as an educational charity to provide assessment, teaching, teacher-training, and advice and information. It has a nationwide network of centres and teaching outposts inside and alongside schools, colleges and employment. 
Contact: Dyslexia Action, Park House, Wick Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HH. Tel: 01784 222300.

www.dyslexic.com
Website offering resources and information for dyslexia and those providing support to dyslexic learners. Includes useful information on how ICT may be used to aid dyslexics, including recommendations of particular software and tips on how to make web pages more accessible to dyslexics.

www.dyslexics.net
This site has a wide range of links to websites relating to dyslexia, where visitors can access free resources, information about dyslexia organisations, books on the subject, newsletters, support groups and discussions.

Healthcall Dyscovery Centre
The Cardiff centre is the first of a nationwide network of centres offering advice and assessment on dyslexia and dyspraxia. 
Contact: Dyscovery Centre, 12 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF1 9LJ. Helpline: 029 2078 8666. 

www.iamdyslexic.com
A fun and informative site, run by an 11-year-old dyslexic, that offers spelling tips, product reviews, news updates, games and quizzes for all dyslexics, but particularly children.

www.inclusive.co.uk
Produces a series called Readit that offers full or simplified versions of stories. There are animated stories for young children, including those in the Foundation Stage. Each story has opportunities for interaction and include a CD-Rom and full-colour illustrated book. Children can also choose the colours for words, background and highlighting.

www.interdys.org
The International Dyslexia Association provides a huge range of general information and background on dyslexia  resources, detection, and support, as well as details of its own activities that take place through branches based primarily in the US.

www.lacewingmultimedia.com
A UK based website providing multi-sensory educational resources for children aged 7-16 with dyslexia and learning difficulties; also includes fully illustrated children's fiction.

www.nida.org.uk
The Northern Ireland Dyslexia Association runs a helpline and provides information and support for children and adults in Northern Ireland with dyslexia. 
Contact: Northern Ireland  Dyslexia Association, 17a Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3HT. Tel: 028 9024 3100. 

www.techdis.ac.uk
The TechDis toolbar is a free download for the desktop that offers both high-contrast and pale-colour schemes, serif and non-serif fonts. It also has a zoom function to magnify the page.

www.toebytoe.co.uk
Toe by Toe is a book designed for people with reading difficulties, especially dyslexia. The enthusiasm that many have felt for its structured approach is reflected in the endorsements on the website.

www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/understandingdyslexia
Understanding Dyslexia is part of the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit's website, from which you can also access the publication A framework for understanding dyslexia, suitable for basic skills teachers.

www.widgit.com/index.htm
The Widgit Symbols Inclusion Project produces a wide-range of software solutions for special needs including downloadble symbol-based activities that are visual and encourage active participation. They also have advice and help for teachers planning lessons.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/wdnf/
The World Dyslexia Network Foundation provides information on dyslexia issues, resources and a wide range of links on the Internet.

www.welshdyslexia.info
The Welsh Dyslexia Project / Prosiect Dyslecsia Cymru aims to bring together professionals, the commercial sector, government agencies, parents and carers, as well as dyslexic individuals to create an environment where the dyslexic individual may develop to their full potential.

www.xtraordinarypeople.com
Xtraordinary People is a charitable initiative launched in partnership by the British Dyslexia Association, PATOSS and Dyslexia Action to raise awareness and funding to support dyslexia training in schools.

www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
Down's Syndrome Association is a membership organisation that exists to support those with Down syndrome and their family, as well as providing information for those with a professional interest.
Contact: The Down's Syndrome Association, 155 Mitcham Road, London SW17 9PG. Tel: 020 8682 4001.

www.downsed.org/
The Down Syndrome Educational Trust offers comprehensive, practical and accessible information and resources for families and professionals caring for individuals with Down Syndrome, including a magazine called Down Syndrome Issues and Information.
Contact: DownsEd, The Sarah Duffen Centre, Belmont Street, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 1NA. Tel: 023 9282 4261. Email: enquiries@downsnet.org.

www.batod.org.uk
The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) is a unique professional association for Teachers of the Deaf, BATOD organises CPD courses and national and regional meetings to provide relevant up-to-date information and disseminate good practice. Five magazines and three journals (Deafness and Education International) are published annually. Strong links are maintained between BATOD, Government and voluntary agencies, especially the RNID and NDCS, to contribute to policy development in this field.
Contact: Paul Simpson, BATOD Secretary, 175 Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3DB. Tel: 01494 464190. Email: secretary@batod.org.uk.

www.cuedspeech.co.uk
Cued Speech Association UK is a small national charity providing information about and training in Cued Speech, a language tool for deaf children. Cued Speech is used by families to enable their deaf children to fully access spoken language sound-by-sound and in real time. Also its use within a classroom enables deaf children to see visual representations of the sounds of spoken language and gives equal access to phonics-based teaching.

www.deafchild.org
Deafchild International is a catalyst for the creation of personal and educational opportunities for deaf and hearing children to communicate with each other throughout the world, by using face to face communication and Information and Communications Technology.

www.deafconnections.co.uk
Deaf Connections works with deaf and hard of hearing people across the west of Scotland, and is based in Glasgow. It runs community based clubs and societies, works with health and social services.

www.deafsign.com/ds/index.cfm
This site attempts to bring the deaf and hearing worlds closer together by taking an approach that follows examples from other countries, such as the USA. It provides information, contacts and discussion on issues related to deafness and sign language. Features include an interactive discussion forum, an email subscription list, BSL sample section, myth buster and resource for schools.

www.linkdp.org
The LINK Centre for Deafened People is a national UK organisation for deafened men and women - people who have grown up with normal or near-normal hearing, then become severely or totally deaf in adult life. It was set up in 1972 and provides the only national resource in the UK to offer specialist rehabilitation for deafened people. LINK provides rehabilitation and life skills programmes, trains health care professionals in acquired deafness, and conducts research that will advance the understanding of this type of deafness.
Contact: The LINK Centre for Deafened People, 19 Hartfield Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 2AR. Tel: 01323 638230.

www.ndcs.org.uk
The National Deaf Children's Society is an organisation for families, parents and carers which exists to enable deaf children to maximise their skills and abilities. 
Contact: NDCS, 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8PD. Tel: 020 7250 0123. Fax: 020 7251 5020.

www.rnid.org.uk
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
Contact: 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL. Tel: 020 7296 8000. Fax: 020 7296 8199. Text: 020 7296 8001.

www.sciencesigns.ac.uk
Science Signs is an online glossary of science terms in sign language, from the University of Wolverhampton.

www.bbc.co.uk/education/betsie
The BBC Education site also includes Betsie, the software system that enables blind and partially sighted people to access website information.

www.afb.org/braillebug
Website created by the American Association for the Blind to teach sighted children about Braille and encourage literacy among all children, sighted and visually impaired. Among other things, its online games aim to help sighted children to realise how visually impaired classmates learn to read.

www.calibre.org.uk
The Calibre Cassette Library is a national postal lending library of books on cassette with over 6000 titles to choose from. 
Contact: Calibre Cassette Library, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 5XQ. Tel: 01296 432339.

www.clearvisionproject.org
ClearVision is a UK postal lending library of mainstream children's books with added braille. The books all have braille, print and pictures, making them suitable for visually-impaired and sighted children and adults to share. There are over 12,000 books in the collection, including tactile board books, simple stories for young children and stimulating books for newly fluent readers. The project has fiction and non-fiction in grade 1 and grade 2 braille. Tel: 020 8789 9575.

Irlen Centres UK 
Irlen Centres (UK) provide diagnosis and treatment for Irlen Syndrome (scotopic sensitivity) a visual perceptual problem affecting approximately 20% of the general population. This can result in underachievement in school and workplace, mainly in reading, writing and computing activities, and often leads to headache and stress. 
Contact: Irlen Centres (UK), 137 Bishop's Mansions, London SW6 6DX. Tel: 020 7736 5752. Fax: 020 7371 8232.

www.nbcs.org.uk
National Blind Children's Society is a charity supporting blind children and their families. Support includes an education advisory service, large print children's books, advice on ensuring the child has the correct equipment at home and at school, and a grants programme.
Contact: National Blind Children's Society, Bradbury House, Market Street, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 3BW. Tel: 01278 764752.

www.rnib.org.uk
The Royal National Institute for the Blind website has lots of useful information on making reading materials - books, websites, learning resources - more accessible to those with visual impairment. It also includes details of how to teach literacy skills to children with visual impairment and guidelines on how to produce books which are clearer to read for both those with and without visual impairment.
Contact: RNIB Information Service, 224 Great Portland Street, London WIN 6AA. Tel: 020 7388 1266.


The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) National Library Service is a registered charity providing reading of all kinds in Braille (including music), Moon and large print. Formerly known as the National Library for the Blind (NLB). It is concerned with bringing reading materials, art information, literature and entertainment to visually impaired people across Britain and around the world. Braille and Moon are lent post free to individual readers in the UK; large print through public libraries. 

RNIB National Library Service (or RNIB Talking Book Service - see below)
PO Box 173
Peterborough
PE2 6WS
Telephone: 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50
Email: cservices@rnib.org.uk

RNIB Talking Book Service
The RNIB Talking Book Library caters for all ages and includes all genres - from romances to westerns, mysteries and biographies - and some titles are available in Asian languages and Welsh. The service includes free loan of a talking book player and membership is open to anyone in the UK meeting certain sight specifications. There is an annual membership charge but this can normally be paid by the subscribers' local authority. 
Contact: RNIB Talking Book Service, PO Box 173, Peterborough, PE2 6WS. Tel: 01733 370 777. Fax: 01733 371 555.

www.speakingvolumesonline.org.uk
The Speaking Volumes initiative is a partnership between public libraries in all 15 local authorities of the Yorkshire and Humber region. It aims to bring the enjoyment of reading and involvement in reading activities to people with a visual impairment, and is supported by Yorkshire Museums Libraries and Archives Council, and Arts Council England.