Help!

Although it is of no assistance to people desperate to find a way out of problems that fill their every day and for which there appear to be no answers, I do understand the desperation that comes from just coping with an apparently never-ending series of problems, or doing battle with 'the system' in an effort to get what you need.

The question that haunts me is how to offer some practical help to people whose human rights - even their very human dignity - are being denied, or family members seeing this going on and wanting to do something.

I wish that I could offer such practical assistance to people in this situation, but there is only me: one disabled man, working part-time... there is no organisation behind this site, no budget, no help lines, just me doing my inadequate best.

However, trying to point you in the right direction - suggesting places where you should be able to find the advice or help that you need - is the aim of this page.

Local sources of help

In most cases, national organisations that may be able to help you will expect you to have done something to try and solve your problems before contacting them, so don't forget sources of advice or assistance in your community. I realise that some of these suggestions may seem like the cause of your problems and, if so, please try some of the other agencies before giving up.

Local sources of help might include:

• your GP - although not all of us have a good relationship with our GP (some people have difficulty even finding a practice to take them on), your practice should be able to offer advice or referrals on issues affecting your health or welfare.
• CAB - The Citizens Advice service helps people with their problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 places around the country. Citizens Advice Bureaux help people to find solutions to nearly 5.5 million problems every year. You can find your local CAB by following this link.
• Your Local Authority - again, it would be hypocritical [based on my experience and communication with other disabled people] to claim that all local councils are helpful, or even make finding sources of advice and assistance easy, but some do, try the phone book or the council web site for clues.
• Local law centres - although they do not exist everywhere, local law centres can offer free help in solving problems, including discrimination or getting the benefits to which you are entitled. Follow this link to the Law Centres Foundation for more information.

The internet

The internet has been enormously helpful in making all kinds of information freely available, as well as putting people in touch with each other. Try your favourite search engine - Google, Yahoo, etc. - and see what comes up.

Perhaps one of the most useful resources are self-help groups: people who have or are facing similar difficulties to your own and who share advice, support and information or just provide a way of sharing your problems (for example, arachnoiditis is a condition that is not well known, but entering the word in Google provided about 191,000 relevant web pages).

Charities and non-governmental organisations

There are many national charities that offer advice and assistance, provide information and, in some cases, campaign to improve the situation for their members. Where your human rights difficulties are related to your impairment (or 'disability' for those who are not used to the language of the disability movement), try the phone book or internet to identify which charities serve people with that impairment. The Royal National Institute of the Blind, Scope, Mind and Mencap are well known examples, but there are also smaller or local organisations who may be able to help.

Liberty provides a very helpful online guide to the Human Rights Act, which should help with explaining your rights under this UK legislation.

Centres for Independent Living have existed in many areas for years and, if current government efforts are successful, there should be more in the future. Entering "centres for independent living" as a UK only search on Google produced about 223,000 entries and the National Centre for Independent Living is another useful source of information on issues concerned with independent living.

Government funded organisations

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was officially launched on 1 October 2007; the "Equality and Human Rights Commission champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society." The Commission has a helpline with specially trained staff who can offer information on discrimination and human rights issues. Information about the Helpline can be found by following this link.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection "regulate, inspect and review all social care services in the public, private and voluntary sectors in England" and their web site is a useful source of advice and information.

"The Healthcare Commission is the independent watchdog for healthcare in England. We promote continuous improvement in the services provided by the NHS and independent healthcare organisations." The Commission's 'Patients and the Public' page provides information on the performance of local healthcare organisations and offers information about complaining about healthcare organisations.

The Local Government Ombudsmen investigate complaints about councils, including matters relating to housing, planning, education and social services. The Ombudsman provides useful information about complaints regarding council services, which is available by following this link.

Do you have any helpful suggestions?

If you have found another source of help or advice that you think should be mentioned on this page, please let me know - just click on "Contact Me' at the bottom of this page.

Important notice

Please do not send requests for advice or assistance with individual cases as, no matter how much I wish that I could, insurance and legal restrictions prevent me responding.

Unfortunately, this appears not to be understood by some correspondents, who feel that they are being brushed off. This is not the case - I am not a practising lawyer and I do not have the professional indemnity insurance required to provide legal advice.