Education and employment

ACE (Advisory Centre for Education)
1c Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London, N5 2DQ
Tel: 020 7704 3370 (Admin only)
Advice Line: 0808 800 5793
Exclusion Line: 020 7704 9822
Fax: 020 7354 9069
Email: enquiries@ace.dialnet.com
Website: www.ace-ed.org.uk
Gives independent advice on education. Extremely helpful regarding parents' rights and current legislation. Publishes good booklets, particularly on the Statementing process.

Ace Centre Advisory Trust (Aiding Communication in Education)
92 Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DR
Tel: 01865 759800
Fax: 01865 759810
Email: info@ace-centre.org.uk
Website: www.ace-centre.org.uk
Assessment, advice and information for young people in education who have communication difficulties. Good leaflets.

CSIE (Centre for Studies in Integration in Education)
New Redland, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QU
Tel: 0117 328 4007
Fax: 0117 344 4005
Website: http://www.csie.org.uk/
Works towards inclusion in education. Free advice service on all aspects of legislation and practice relating to ending segregation.

Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
Public Enquiry Unit, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT
Tel: 0870 000 22 88
Website: www.dcsf.gov.uk/index.htm

Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
53 New Broad Street, London EC2M 1SL
Tel: 020 7448 5420
Fax: 020 7374 6684
Website: www.opportunities.org.uk
Email: info@eopps.org
Help people with a wide range of disabilities find and retain work, persuading others to recognise ability and potential. Regional centres offer practical help with training and advice on searches, CVs, application forms and interviews.

IPSEA (Independent Panel for Special Education Advice)
6 Carlow Mews, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1EA
Tel/Fax (Admin): 01394 380 518
Advice Line: 0800 018 4016
Tribunal appeals: 01394 384711
Website: www.ipsea.org.uk
Charity offering independent advice for parents on the Special Educational Needs of their children.

NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs)
4/5 Amber Business Village, Amber Close, Amington, Tamworth, Staffs B77 4RP
Tel: 01827 311500
Fax: 01827 313005
Email: welcome@nasen.org.uk
Website: www.nasen.org.uk
Promotes development of children with special educational needs; good publications. Branches throughout UK.

National Union of Students
Website: www.nus.org.uk/
Most student unions in universities and colleges have a welfare department or welfare officer who can give advice about benefits and provide help with calculations.

Network '81
1-7 Woodfield Terrace, Stansted, Essex CM24 8AJ
Tel: 0870 7703262
Fax: 0870 770 3263
Website: www.network81.co.uk
Umbrella organisation with over 60 affiliated groups who support parents of children with special needs.

Papworth Trust
Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB3 8RG.
Tel: 01480 830341
Fax: 01480 830781
Email: info@papworth.org.uk
Website: www.papworth.org.uk
Specialist assessment service to enable individuals to determine suitable careers, including advice on adaptations and aids, often for computers.

Parents For Inclusion
Unit 2, 70 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1RL
Tel: 020 7735 7735
Helpline: 0800 652 3145
Email: info@parentsforinclusion.org
Website: www.parentsforinclusion.org
Registered charity set up by parents to help parents so that disabled children can learn, make friends and have a voice in ordinary schools and throughout life.

ParentsCentre
Website: www.parentscentre.gov.uk
Information and support for parents on how to help with your child's learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare. Good section under Education and Learning on special needs and disability.

Rathbone
Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU
Tel: 0161 236 5358
Helpline: 0800 917 6790
Fax: 0161 238 6356
Email: info@rathboneuk.org
Website: www.rathboneuk.org
A national organisation giving young people who are experiencing significant disadvantages the right opportunities to learn and achieve.

Skill
4th Floor, Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London, SE1 3JW.
Tel: 020 7450 0620
Fax: 020 7450 0650
Helpline: 0800 3285050:
Fax: 020 7450 0650
Email: info@skill.org.uk
Website: www.skill.org.uk
National Bureau for young people and adults with any disability in post-16 education, training or employment. A range of information booklets and publications are available in different formats.