Useful information and support groups

Websites

• Scope is a disability equality charity. It aims to provide practical information and emotional support, along with campaigning to create a fairer society. Have a look at their advice and support section for information on a wide range of issues.
• The Council for Disabled Children is an umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector. It aims to brings together professionals, practitioners and policy makers. The website includes information and resources for parents, young people and schools and others.
• Find out more about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Further information here. 
• Find out more about cleft lip and palate and find support and information to help you and your child.
• The Communication Trust is a coalition of over 50 not for profit organisations. They work to support everyone wo works with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
• Find out more about how using Talking Mats can help children and young people express their views – even if they find it difficult to communicate verbally.
• Find out information about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) which can be used to support your child to communicate alongside their unaided communication.
• Find out more about Signalong. This is the signing system used in Hillingdon to support your child to understand and express themselves alongside talking.
• Find out information about how to support children and young people with selective mutism. There is information to support parents and professionals.
• Developed by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, ICAN and AFASIC, Talking Point provides parents, carers and professionals with information about speech, language and communication. 
• The National Literacy Trust is a charity working with children and young people and their families to improve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The charity's website is called Words for Life and has tips, advice and resources for parents and carers.
• ICAN is a charity that supports children with speech language and communication needs (SLCN). It gives information on useful books and DVDs to support children, explanations of what SLCN is and how to access support.
• AFASIC is a charity for children with SLCN. It has speech and language developmental milestones, what to look for, resources to support children, a parents helpline, information about what to do if you are worried about your child’s speech and language development and information about AFASIC groups near you.
• Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children is a specialist centre for children and young people who stammer. The website has information for parents, professionals and young people. It has useful information and courses. There are also videos of children describing their experiences.
• The National Deaf Children's Society website provides information for families, and their children, school and professionals working with deaf children. It has information on family support, activities and events for deaf children and their families and advice sheets on a range of issues.
• The British Stammering Association provides advice and support, including a helpline, for parents of children/young people who stammer. It has advice sheets and information packs for parents, teenagers and teachers.
• The National Autistic Society website provides information about supporting children/young people with autism. There is a helpline available. It also has a parent forum.
• Headway is a UK based charity providing support, services and information to brain injury survivors families and carers through a network of groups and branches across the UK.
• Speech link provides lots of advice and resources for parents to support their children’s speech sounds and language skills. This site is mainly aimed at parents of primary aged children – but others might find it useful.

• Thinking Talking has some ideas for word games to play at home to develop vocabulary skills in school aged children.

Local support groups and organisations

• Hillingdon Local Offer has more information about the support for children with special education needs or disability.
• Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS) is a local charity based in Hillingdon. There is information about local events, family support, training, autism awareness, information and advice about autism.
• Hillingdon Parents Carers Forum represent the views of parents and carers in Hillingdon in discussions with the local authority in policy and service development.
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Services Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) signposts parents and carers to useful information and advice, explains local policy and special education needs (SEN) law, supports parents and carers understanding and interpreting of information and supports resolving disagreements (email: sendiass@hillingdon.gov.uk or telephone 01895 277001)
• Centre for ADHD and Autism Support gives advice and information about ADHD and Autism.
• Hillingdon Dad’s Support Group is a local support and social group for fathers of children with a disability or special needs (email: hillingdondads@gmail.com)
• Disablement Association Hillingdon (DASH) is a user led charity that provides advice, support and activities that allow disabled people to become more independent, confident and part of the community. The offer help with finding information to enable them to access services and relevant support they require.
• Friends of EarlyBird is a monthly support group run by parents for other parents. It runs on the third Friday of the month at Colham Manor Children’s Centre, Violet Avenue, Hillingdon, UB8 3PT. For further information call 01895 250211. Children are welcome to come along and access the play facilities including a sensory room. For more information about any of the above please email jsmith3@hillingdon.gov.uk.