Aids and equipment

NB: HemiHelp also produces a regularly updated Equipment List for a more comprehensive list of supplies to meet the needs of people with hemiplegia. Please note that you may not have to pay VAT when:

• buying certain items that are intended exclusively and specifically for the use of a disabled person, such as a wheelchair or adapted computer keyboard
• having a vehicle adapted to suit their condition, or leasing a Motability vehicle
• having building work done to adapt your home because of your child’s disability

For more information go to the Revenue & Customs website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/consumers/disabled.htm

Able 2 - Tel: 01254 619 000 Email: enquiries@able2.eu Website: www.able2.eu
Producers of orthopaedic and electromedical products.

Anything Left Handed Ltd -Tel: 0845 8723 272 Email: enquiries@anythingleft-handed.co.uk
Website: www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk (includes online shop)
Specialist mail order company which provides properly designed, fully left handed versions of everyday items such as scissors, pens, cameras and kitchen utensils.

AskSARA www.asksara.org.uk An online advice guide designed to make daily living easier

Assured Mobility - Tel: 01452 529999 Email: sales@assuredmobilityltd.co.uk Website: www.assuredmobilityltd.co.uk
Mail order household equipment for disabled people with four stores around the country.

BIME (Bath Institute of Medical Engineering) - Tel: 01225 824103 Email: info@bime.org.uk
Website: www.bath.ac.uk/bime/
Registered charity carrying out design and development in medical and rehabilitation engineering. Works with both users and medical professionals. Informative website.

Children Today Charitable Trust - Tel: 01244 335622 Email: info@childrentoday.org.uk
Website: www.children-today.org.uk Local grants for equipment and aids to help children and young people with disability or sickness overcome their difficulties.

Disabled Living Foundation - Tel: 020 7289 6111 Helpline: 0845 130 9177 (10am-4pm Mon-Fri)
Email: info@dlf.org.uk Website: www.dlf.org.uk
Huge amount of information about useful gadgets, plus an equipment centre.

The Family Fund - Website: www.familyfund.org.uk
A government financed charity, can make grants to low income families with disabled children (aged under 18) to help with the cost of such things as washing machines, computers, driving lessons for parents/carers, hospital visiting costs and holidays. It also runs www.familyfundextra.org.uk where families can get discounts on products and services from high street retailers and organisations.

Fledglings - Tel: 0845 458 1124 Email: enquiries@fledglings.org.uk Website: www.fledglings.org.uk
A brilliant charitable search and supply service, particularly for unusual items designed for children with special needs. Also, the cheapest supplier of coilers shoe laces we have come across.

Good Designs (David Good) - Tel: 01248 713624
Father of a child with hemiplegia who has designed adjustable stabilisers in two sizes.

Great Little Trading Co. Tel: 0844 848 6000 Email: enquiries@gltc.co.uk Website: www.gltc.co.uk
Ingenious household gadgets and clothing aids.

Homecraft - Tel: 08444 124330 Email: homecraft.sales@patterson-medical.com
Website: www.homecraft-rolyan.com The UK’s largest distributor of daily living, therapy and paediatric products.

Hotter Comfort Concept - Email: mailorder@hotter.co.uk Website: www.hottershoes.com
Velcro fastening boots and shoes.

Inclusive Technology Ltd - Tel: 01457 819790 Email: inclusive@inclusive.co.uk Website: www.inclusive.co.uk
Provides a range of software and hardware for learners with special needs. Sells Five Finger Typist, a typing programme for learning to type one handed, for around £50 (exc. VAT).

Lodgesons - Tel: 0870 013 2420 Email: sales@lodgesons.co.uk Website: www.lodgesons.co.uk
Gadgets for the disabled driver, such as infra red controls, bleeper systems and steering balls.

MERU (Medical Engineering Resource Unit) - Tel: 01372 725 203 Email: info@meru.org.uk
Website: www.meru.org.uk MERU design and manufacture bespoke equipment and devices to meet the needs of disabled children where there is no commercially available alternative.

NES Arnold - Tel: 0845 120 4525 Email: enquiries@nesarnold.co.uk Website: www.nesarnold.co.uk/default.aspx
Catalogue of educational products for Early Years, Primary and Secondary children. Includes Special Needs products.

Nottingham Rehab Supplies - Tel: 0845 121 8111 Email: customerservice@nrs-uk.co.uk Website: www.nrs-uk.co.uk
Enormous catalogue of products for the home, educational toys, hobbies and haberdashery.

OT Direct www.otdirect.co.uk A useful list of occupational therapy and disability equipment suppliers, including mobility aids, sport and leisure accessories and household equipment.

Posturite UK Ltd - Tel: 0845 345 0010 Email: support@posturite.co.uk Website: www.posturite.co.uk
Producers of the desk top sloping boards, with a magnetic facility for holding paper in place.

Remap GB - Tel: 0845 1300 456 Email: data@remap.org.uk Website: www.remap.org.uk
Teams of engineers who make up one-off pieces of technical equipment or modify commercial equipment free of charge.

Ricability www.ricability.org.uk Consumer research for older and disabled people. The website offers independent product reviews on areas including driving, personal care and mobility.

Schein Paediatric Footwear - Tel: 0121 333 209 Email: techsteporders@salts.co.uk
Website: www.salts.co.uk Shoes, sandals and bootees in various colours and patterns. Open to the toes and extra depth.

BLI Education - Tel: 01666 843 200 Email: sales@semerc.com Website: www.semerc.com or www.blieducation.com
Publisher of ICT resources for learners of all ages with special educational needs.

Whizz-Kidz - Tel: 020 7233 6600 Email: info@whizz-kidz.org.uk Website: www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
Charity providing tailor made mobility equipment for disabled children. Phone or refer to their website to apply.