- Homepage
- Information and Advice
- Clinical Health and Adult Social Care
Disabilities
Disability Groups
The York Disability Rights Forum is led by disabled people and works to promote equal access to human rights for all those with disabilities who live or work in York.
The Forum aims to be a collective voice, to raise awareness of issues affecting disabled people in York and create positive changes.
York Human Rights City is a group that is a catalyst for York people, businesses and organisations to champion a vibrant, diverse, fair and safe city.
Learning Disabilities
The Services for people with learning disabilities page on the City of York Council website includes, along with other details, information on:
- arranging your care and support
- supported tenancy
- support in the workplace for carers
- short breaks (respite care)
- day support
- disabled person’s bus pass
- reporting adult abuse
The Live Well York Service Directory provides a list of different types of services suitable for people with learning disabilities.
The Learning Disability Register is designed to ensure better healthcare for people with learning disabilities. By joining the register, individuals can get reasonable adjustments personalised to their needs such as longer appointment times and accessible information. Being on the register brings extra benefits like eligibility for free annual health checks and priority access to services like flu vaccinations. Find Out About the Learning Disability Register.
Humber and North Yorkshire Dynamic Support Keyworker Service supports those with learning disabilities aged up to 25 at risk of admission, who have been to hospital or are about to be discharged. It aims to provide personalised, timely care, ensuring the right support for their needs and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary or prolonged hospital stays. Find out more here and watch the Dynamic Support Keyworker Video.
All Age Learning Disabilities Strategy 2019 - 2024
The All Age Learning Disabilities Strategy 2019 - 2024 was the first all-age strategy for York, developed in partnership with the Learning Disabilities Partnership. As we reach the end of this period, we are currently reviewing and updating the strategy to reflect new priorities and ensure it continues to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities in York.
View the All Age Learning Disabilities Strategy 2019 - 2024
View the All Age Learning Disabilities Strategy Accessible Summary 2019 - 2024
Community Team - Adult Learning Disability Services - Vale of York
The Learning Disabilities Team within York’s Adult Social Care provides dedicated support to adults with learning disabilities, helping them live as independently as possible while ensuring they receive the care they need. The team, made up of social workers and review officers, carries out assessments to understand individual needs and develop personalised support plans. They work closely with individuals, families, and carers to coordinate care, access appropriate services, and ensure people have the right support in place. This includes assistance with supported living arrangements, day opportunities, and transition planning for young people moving from children's to adult services.
The team also helps individuals access community activities, employment support, and advocacy services to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are protected. By offering advice, guidance, and ongoing reviews, the Learning Disabilities Team aims to promote well-being, inclusion, and greater independence for people with learning disabilities in York
Acquired Brain Injury
Headway is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury. Through its network of more than 125 groups and branches across the UK, it provides support, services and information to brain injury survivors, their families and carers, as well as to professionals in the health and legal fields. There is a York Headway branch.
In 2023, The Disabilities Trust and BIRT became Brainkind – the UK’s leading charity helping people to thrive after brain injury. They also opened the Brainkind Neurological Centre in York, a state-of-the-art facility to provide rehabilitation to people with a brain injury and other complex needs. As a registered hospital, Brainkind York can work with people detained under the Mental Health Act or subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
York House is a specialist neurobehavioural assessment and post-acute rehabilitation hospital for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and complex needs and / or challenging behaviour.
They specialise in the rehabilitation of people who are experiencing behavioural disorders following a brain injury. Individuals may also have severe cognitive, physical and / or emotional problems including verbal and physical aggression, impaired social functioning, disinhibited behaviours and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Their goal is to enable service users to function as independently as possible, develop their lives as they choose and participate in the wider community.
Autism
What is Autism? – the National Autistic Society describes autism as a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
Autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be cured. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity.
Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels of support. All people on the autism spectrum learn and develop. With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing.
The National Autistic Society provide information, support and services for people with Autism, and campaign for a better world for autistic people.
Specialist Autism Services has worked exclusively for and with adults (18+) on the autism spectrum and their families since 1999. They are a non-profit organisation that works with the charity Sacar to provide autism specific services across the Yorkshire region. They now provide a range of services including group social skills workshops (through an autism-specific learning programme), information and guidance, autism-specific counselling, employment support, autism awareness training and community outreach support. Under the name Autism First they also provide bespoke support for adults with autism and additional needs.
They aim to make a positive difference to the lives of their service users (members) and through person-centred support create opportunities for people to work towards their personal goals, build confidence, develop social skills, increase independence and ultimately fulfil their potential.
A variety of information about York's Local Offer for young people affected by autism is available on York Send - Local Offer.
Humber and North Yorkshire Dynamic Support Keyworker Service supports those at risk of admission, who have been to hospital or are about to be discharged. It aims to provide personalised, timely care, ensuring the right support for their needs and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary or prolonged hospital stays. Find out more here and watch the Dynamic Support Keyworker Video.
We Care Project
We Care is a North Yorkshire Police scheme designed to support anyone who is vulnerable and needs some help and assistance when they are out and about in York.
The scheme has been designed, with the support of York People First, to enable people to go out into their community and live their lives, but at the same time feel a bit safer and secure.
It also provides important information to the police about a scheme member, so if they ever need to dial 999 or 101, the police are aware of any special needs the caller has and can assist them and provide a level of service in line with their requirements. Get in touch by email: wecare@northyorkshire.police.uk
The Access Card
The Access Card (sometimes referred to as the CredAbility Card or a Nimbus Card) is a card that translates your disability/impairment into symbols that highlight the barriers you face and the reasonable adjustments you might need. Think of it as a Disability Passport.
This can then inform music venues, cinemas or other service providers about the support you need and may gain you access to things like concessionary ticket prices and complex reasonable adjustments without having to go into loads of personal detail.
It’s all based on your rights under the Equality Act and providers’ responsibilities. Apply for the Access Card here.
Read more about the card and other tips for disabled people on Money Saving Expert.