A good education is crucial for everyone these days. Now that so many jobs are office based and no longer require lots of physical effort there are more chances for disabled people to work. However the key to getting a good job is having a good education and getting the qualifications that prove your knowledge and skills.
For a child who is born with an impairment or acquires it at an early age they and their parents will want to get the best out of the school system. This may be a special school or a mainstream school, sometimes with additional support (SGDEN recognises that there is controversy about the merits of special schools, we are not going to take a position on this debate). For an adult who becomes disabled it will be a matter of getting the best out of the further and adult education services.
Schools: For education in schools one of the best sources of local help is South Gloucestershire Parents and Carers http://www.sglospc.org.uk/
South Gloucestershire Council’s information about pupils with special education needs is available on their website http://www.southglos.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/special-educational-needs/
A useful national source of advice is Independent Parental Special Educational Advice http://www.ipsea.org.uk/
Allfie (the Alliance for Inclusive Education) is a disabled people’s organisation campaigning for disabled pupils to be included in mainstream education http://www.allfie.org.uk/
The Government’s website Gov.uk also has helpful advice https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs
If you or your child has a specific medical condition which causes their disability you may find it helpful to contact a charity or organisation dedicated to supporting people with that condition. Some examples are:
Autism: National Autistic Society http://www.autism.org.uk/
There is an active local branch covering the former Avon area which is listed in the section on local disability groups
Cerebal Palsy: Scope http://www.scope.org.uk/
Dyslexia: British Dyslexia Association http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Hearing Impairment: National Deaf Children’s Society http://www.ndcs.org.uk/
Learning Difficulties: Mencap http://www.mencap.org.uk/
This is just a sample of the many support organisations available. A quick internet search is likely to find a support organisation for all but the rarest conditions.
Adult Education: South Gloucestershire is served by two main Further Education Colleges both of which have an established track record of meeting the needs of disabled students.
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College http://www.sgscol.ac.uk/index.aspx
City of Bristol College http://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
As a general rule we would suggest that you focus on finding the course that suits you and then try to ensure that it will be accessible rather than limiting yourself to one particular College or site. Nevertheless we do appreciate that some of the transport difficulties of this area (see transport section for more information)
South Gloucestershire Council runs a community learning service for adults with few formal qualifications. You can find out more here http://www.southglos.gov.uk/education-and-learning/adult-and-community-education/community-learning/
If you are receiving benefits and looking for work it is likely that you are eligible for free training. (See our Employment section for more information)
Higher Education: If you are looking for a degree level course, or a post graduate qualification both the Colleges above run courses. However the main provider of higher education in South Gloucestershire is the University of the West of England (UWE) http://www.uwe.ac.uk/
UWE is the largest University in the South West, and with much of its campus made up of relatively modern buildings has a good reputation for physical access, although as with all large institutions the distances involved in getting round the campus can pose problems. Their website has section on disability services (which includes support for disabled staff) http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/disabilityservices.aspx
Wherever you are studying if you are following a degree or post graduate course you may well be eligible for Disabled Students Allowance. Eligibility is based on needs rather than a means test so everyone should enquire about applying. Information about DSA is on the Gov.UK website https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas
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