Here to help

If you have a question or a problem and would like some help or you feel you have been treated unfairly.

We want to make the lives of people with disabilities and their families better.

We will work with you to get the help you need.

We can help with your rights, or what services you could get and equipment.

 Call Our Freephone
Helpline 0800 7831824

You can visit us, write to us or send
a tape with your questions to

West Lothian Ability Centre
The Ability Centre
Carmondean Centre Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 8PT
Scotland

You can e-mail us at -

enquiries@dwl.demon.co.uk

You can call us on the telephone - 01506 774030

or the text phone - 01506 774044

Disability West Lothian is a Charitable Company

Limited by Guarantee No. SC111744

Registered in Scotland as a Charity No. SCO10605

What is Disability West Lothian's
Information and Advice Service ?

The Service provides information and advice for people with disabilities, their families and carers and other individuals and groups in West Lothian. It is a free and confidential service giving you the enquirer practical, local and national information on all disability matters.

Our aim is to provide a comprehensive information and research facility which will enhance knowledge, increase choice and that is responsive to individual requests. Working in the areas of Disability and Community Planning we seek to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families.

The Service sensitively meets the individual requirements of people with disabilities by working in partnership with them and encouraging individuals to exercise their rights. This links to our work with the disability forums.

By working in partnership with providers, practitioners, planners, politicians and the public we ensure that awareness of disability issues is heightened. This links into our consultative, training and seminar services.

We aim to provide locally available, accurate information by continuously updating and increasing resources. We subscribe to a wide range of local and national information networks and work proactively with local organisations to increase the provision of accessible and quality information. This links to the newly developed Communications Group.

Disability Awareness Training programmes are continually developed to a high standard and within good practice guidelines. The training is delivered by disabled consultants and sessions in 2003 have included: - West Lothian Council, Countryside Access Forum and local Voluntary Groups.

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Resource Base

The Resource Base offers access to:

Reference books, magazine section, audio, and video materials.
Information on holidays, trusts and grants, using CD-ROM and the Internet databases.

Text reader, screen magnifier and accessible computer equipment with Internet access.

Low Tech and High Tech Communication Aids available for demonstrations and short-term loans.

A passport photograph facility, photocopying, lamenating and NKS RADAR key supplies. (There are charges for these services)

Disability West Lothian quarterly Newsletter called Bulletin is now on PDF format for you to download and read.

Bulletin Edition Autumn 06

Bulletin Edition Winter 05 - Spring 06

Bulletin Edition Autumn 05

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

Click here to download Acrobat Reader

Branch Library

Branch Library Disability West Lothian’s Library is an active branch of the West Lothian Council’s Library Network holding : - 1000+ books and publications, 100’s of fact sheets on an A - Z of topics, With access to thousands more through the West Lothian Council Library database. Membership is FREE, joining is quick and simple, if you have a West Lothian Council Library Card you are already a member. Click here for more details.

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Communication and Accessibility

Conferences and Seminars -
can be facilitated, we will undertake Talks, Road shows and Displays highlighting a wide range of disability issues.

Disability Awareness Raising

The main objectives of Awareness Raising and Training courses: - To challenge the myths and false distinctions that relegate people with disabilities to the status of a discriminated against minority. To identify ‘GOOD PRACTICE’ for people with disabilities within participants’ immediate areas of life. To explore ways in which constructive changes can be made in participants day-to-day living.

Disability Agenda

Disability issues are positioned within the broader agenda of human rights, equal opportunities and diversity.

Disability Models

Participants within the context of the broader agenda examine the social model and other models of disability.

What can the Information and
Advice Service do for you?

It can seek to find an answer to your queries on topics such as:

• Access - Audits and Advice on Accessibility

• Community Care

• Disability Discrimination Act

• Aids and Adaptations to Daily Living

• Employment / Training

• Transport / Mobility Issues

• Holidays

• Research on Charitable Trusts

• Publications

• Local Community Facilities

• Voluntary Organisations

• West Lothian Council Services

• Health Services

• Government Services

• Leisure and Recreation

• Places of Interest to Visit

• Welfare Benefits (Only General information given)

Where does the information come from?

The Advice Team gather and organise in one place the confusing mass of information which is available on a wide range of disability services. Disability West Lothian collects information from organisations and groups in the voluntary, statutory and private sectors,and ensures that it is referenced and kept up to date. Information is also available on CD-ROM for you to access and utilise.

The Advice Team are available for
an office consultation during the hours of:
Monday to Thursday
9.30am to 4.00pm
Friday
9.30am to 12.30pm
All Internet enquiries call:
01506 774030

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