HOTLINES AND HELPLINES
| Benefits Hotline | 0800 882200 |
| BT Age and Disability Group | 0800 919591 |
| Disability Rights Commission Helpline | 08457 622633 |
| DSS Pensions | 08457 313233 |
| i for d | 01344 755528 |
| NHS Direct | 0845 4647 |
| Ricability | 0207 427 2460 |
| RNIB Helpline | 0303 123 9999 |
SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS AND INFORMATION
| Action for Blind People | 0207 635 4800 |
| Deafblind UK | 01733 358100 |
| FAST - Friendship and Support Team | 07530 525416 |
| Macular Disease Society | 01264 350551 |
| National Blind Children's Society | 0800 279 1555 |
| Parent Partnership | 0118 939 9821 |
| Reading Association for the Blind | 0118 957 2960 |
| RNIB Customer Services | 08457 023153 |
| Wokingham Information Network | 0118 974 6772 |
READING AND AUDIO
| Big Print | 0800 124007 |
| Calibre Cassette Library | 01296 432339 |
| National Talking Newspaper Service | 01435 866102 |
| Slough Talking Newspaper | 01753 527035 |
| Bracknell Talking Newspaper | 01344 304567 |
| Maidenhead Talking Newspaper | 01628 635385 |
| Windsor Talking Newspaper | 01753 861624 |
| Kennett Cassette | 01488 668530 |
| Reading Talking Newspaper | 0491 682063 |
| RNIB Talking books | 08457 626843 |
| RNIB products and publications | 01733 375135 |
Below is a list of web sites with a variety of useful information and contact details for the visually impaired. New links welcome. BCBS is not responsible for the content of external internet websites
Ableize
Ableize is the biggest UK and Ireland resource of disability mobility and special needs information. It covers products and services, sports and holidays and houses the largest collection of disabled clubs, groups and charities throughout the UK. Ableize is run and maintained by disabled people.
Action for Blind People
Working towards the day when visual impairment is no longer a handicap. Information on living with blindness and details of ABP's Information Service.
Benefits Now
This site provides comprehensive information about Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
Big Print Newspaper
A national weekly newspaper in large print covering national and international news, and leisure reading for those with sight problems.
British Blind Sport
Since its beginnings as a registered charity in 1976, British Blind Sport has become the leading voice for visually impaired people (VI) in the world of sport and leisure, both at home and internationally. The work of the charity enables visually impaired people to have the same opportunities as sighted people to access and enjoy sport and recreational activities in the UK.
British Computer Association of the Blind
Aims to promote the special needs and interests of visually impaired people who either work in the computing field or have an active interest in computing.
Calibre
Free cassette library for blind and print disabled people.
ClearVision Project
A nationwide lending library of braille/print children's books.
COTIS
A self-help grouping of tape recording services and cassette libraries.
Deafblindness Web Resource
An excellent resource about deafblindness.
Disability Alliance
Alphabetical list of benefits and other help.
E-access Bulletin
A free, independent monthly email newsletter on information technology issues for people with visual impairment and blindness.
FAST Friendship and Support Team - The main aims of FAST are to provide friendship and support, to people with sensory needs and physical disabilities, of a working age, living in the Wokingham area.
Guide Dogs
Breeding and training guide dogs, training visually impaired people to use guide dogs, and providing other services and facilities for the visually impaired.
The Karten Centre
Improving the quality of life and independence of people with physical, cognitive, sensory or learning disabilities through the use of innovative Adaptive Computer Technology.
Living Paintings
A free, postal library service bringing pictures to life for blind and partially sighted people of all ages, from children's books with braille and feely pictures and audio description, to albums of raised images with audio description on a wide range of topics.
Macular Disease Society
UK charity dedicated to helping people with macular degeneration.
National Blind Childrens Society
Information and support for parents of visually impaired children and young people.
National Library for the Blind
Free library service for visually impaired readers who want books in accessible formats.
Reading Association for the Blind
Royal National College for the Blind
College for people who are blind or partially sighted, based on a large residential campus where students prepare for a wide range of nationally recognised academic and vocational qualifications.
Royal National Institute for the Blind
RNIB is one of the UK's biggest and most diverse charities. It provides over 60 different services for over 2 million people with serious sight problems throughout the country.
Sense
The national deafblind and rubella association.
Society of Visually-Impaired Lawyers
Promoting the interests of blind and partially sighted lawyers in the UK.
Talking Newspaper Association of the UK
Records on to audio cassette over 185 national newspapers and magazines for visually impaired and disabled people.
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
Specialists in the supply of equipment and systems for visually impaired people, both in Britain and abroad.
Torch Trust for the Blind
Publishes Christian material in braille, large print, on tape and in moon in many languages for use by blind and partially sighted people.