Resources for: Teachers and Disability
Here you will find information for people living with a disability.
Aberlour Children's Urgent Assistance Fund
Aberlour supports children, young people, and families across Scotland with practical and emotional help. Services include:
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Support for families affected by addiction
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Residential care and fostering
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Early years and disability support
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Early intervention
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Urgent Assistance Fund – providing emergency cash grants for families struggling with food, heating, clothing, and other essentials. Families must have a child under 21 and be facing extreme hardship. Applications are made by a professional (e.g. social worker or health visitor) through the Aberlour website.
Phone: 0800 0856 150
Web: www.aberlour.org.uk
Action for Children
Action for Children supports children, young people, and families across the UK by providing practical and emotional support. They help with issues like mental health, disability, fostering, and early years care, aiming to ensure every child has a safe and happy childhood.
Includes 'Parent Talk' page - down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust.
Web: www.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Benefits and Grants
mygov.scot – Benefits in Scotland is the Scottish Government’s official site for information on social security and benefits. It covers disability, carers, family support, heating help, crisis funds, and more, with guidance on eligibility, claims, and appeals. The site also links to support services like financial advice and independent advocacy.
Web: www.mygov.scot/browse/benefits
Clifftops Project
Clifftop Projects CIC is a community arts organisation in West Dunbartonshire offering free, inclusive creative activities for all ages. They run Art Youth Clubs (ages 5–18), an Intergenerational Dance Company, monthly youth creative nights (ages 13–25), and regular art challenges and workshops with local artists. Through projects like Creative Mental Health, they use art and dance to support emotional wellbeing and bring people together across generations.
Web: www.clifftopprojects.co.uk/
Children and Young People's Comissioner Scotland
An independent organisation that protects and promotes the rights of children and young people in Scotland. They raise awareness of children’s rights, challenge unfair policies, and help young people have their voices heard. The Commissioner works to ensure every child’s rights are respected across Scotland.
Phone: 0800 019 1179
Web: www.cypcs.org.uk/
Children's Health Scotland
The only charity in Scotland dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children and young people with health conditions. They provide information, support, and self-management programmes for young people and families, including help with anxiety, hospital stays, and healthcare rights. The charity also works with professionals to promote child-friendly, rights-based healthcare across Scotland.
Phone: 0131 553 6553
Web: www.childrenshealthscotland.org/
Cost of Living Campaign
A government-run website offering a comprehensive guide to financial and practical assistance available across Scotland during the cost of living crisis. It provides information on areas such as energy and household bills, benefits and income, debt and money management, support for children and families, health and wellbeing, and help for older or disabled individuals. The site also includes details on discounts and offers from businesses to help people make savings across groceries, retail, utilities, entertainment, travel, and more. Additionally, it directs users to local council support for urgent needs like food or fuel.
Web: https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/
Disability Sports Finder
A free online guide that helps people of all ages and abilities in Scotland discover accessible local sports and physical activities. Simply enter a postcode or region to find community clubs or leisure centres offering adapted sessions tailored to various needs. It’s a user-friendly platform run in partnership with local councils and disability sports organisations, aimed at making sport inclusive and empowering everyone to get active Some activities have a cost.
Web: www.disabilitysportfinder.org.uk/
Independent Living Fund
provides funding and support to help disabled people live independently and take part in their communities. They work alongside local services to make life more flexible and empowering.
Phone: 0300 200 2022
Web: www.ilf.scot/
I Am Me
I Am Me Scotland is a charity supporting disabled and vulnerable people through accessible education, training, and resources. Their Learning Platform offers schools, parents, and organisations tools on disability awareness, mental health, and inclusion to promote positive change.
Web: https://iammescotland.co.uk/
Sibs
Web: https://www.sibs.org.uk/
Clydebank Can
Clydebank Can is a community-based project that aims to bring to life the canal and bandstand area of Three Queen’s Square in Clydebank. It will bring more arts and leisure activities into the area for local people to enjoy, giving everyone in the community more opportunity to take part in events and activities which improve health and wellbeing, and increase social and economic activity in the area.
The website also contains a 'What's On' section with a wealth of information on local events, clubs, activities and more.
Web: https://www.clydebankcan.com/
Mentally Healthy Schools
Mentally Healthy Schools from Anna Freud brings together quality-assured mental health resources, information and advice for primary and secondary schools and further education settings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Web: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/?
Edinburgh Psychoeducation Intervention for Children and Young People (EPIC)
EPIC is a research programme that takes an individualised ‘tool-kit’ approach to child development. It aims to facilitate optimal learning, behaviour, and wellbeing in children and young people.
The principles of EPIC apply to all children but are particularly relevant to children with ADHD, ASD, DCD/dyspraxia and those born prematurely.
Our resources can be used outwith taking part in an actual intervention. The booklets in the resources section can be used by parents and teachers to identify a child’s strengths and difficulties and help with understanding of them (‘Understanding’ booklets). The Strategy booklet can be used to practice strategies to optimise thinking skills, learning and well-being.
Web: https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sciences/research/epic-edinburgh-psychoeducation-intervention?
Improving Lives West Dunbartonshire
They believe everyone should be able to access the support and information they need quickly and easily. They are also passionate about making sport accessible to everyone.
Phone: 0141 237 4560
Web: https://www.improvinglives.co.uk/?
Cerebral Palsy Scotland
Cerebral Palsy Scotland is a Glasgow-based charity supporting children, young people, and adults with cerebral palsy across Scotland. They offer access to specialist therapy, including the Bobath concept, and provide fully funded therapy sessions for children through the Better Start programme. The charity also hosts social events, provides mental health and wellbeing support, and maintains a comprehensive support directory to connect families with relevant services.
Phone: 01413525000
Web: https://cerebralpalsyscotland.org.uk/
Compass
Compass is for young people preparing for change, and for parents and carers of young people aged 14-26 who have additional support needs of any kind, including learning disabilities, physical or mental health difficulties, autism, complex or profound disabilities, and experience of care (either as a young carer or a care experienced young person). Compass helps you explore choices and make confident decisions about your future.
Compass also supports parents and carers of young people in Scotland who need help as they make the transition to young adult life.
There is also a version of Compass for professionals and practitioners who are supporting young people and their families through the transition to young adult life.
Web: https://compasslaunch.scot/?
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) supports people in Scotland living with chest, heart, stroke conditions, and Long Covid. They offer free advice, one-to-one support, peer groups, and online resources to help manage health and wellbeing. CHSS also runs volunteer programs and educational tools to empower patients and carers.
Phone: 808 801 0899
Web: https://www.chss.org.uk/
Outside the Box
Outside the Box provides development support to groups and people across Scotland who want to make a difference in their communities.
They have loads of downloadable resources such as cost of living guides, info for LGBTIQ+ families, and human righths and equality.
Phone: 0141 419 0451
Web: https://otbds.org/
Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy
Weekly Therapy Advice Lines in West Dunbartonshire
Speech & Language Therapy
For advice about your child’s speech, language or communication:
- Tuesday, 11am–1pm: 01389 828265
- Thursday, 11am–1pm: 0141 562 8862
Occupational Therapy
For questions or worries about a child’s self‑care, play or school skills:
- Tuesday, 1:30pm–4pm: 0141 531 6536
- Friday, 9:30am–12 noon: 0141 531 6536
Physiotherapy
For concerns about movement development or recovery from joint pain/injury:
- Thursday, 2pm–4pm: 01389 817246
If the line is unavailable, please try again the following week.
Web: https://www.nhsggc.scot/hospitals-services/services-a-to-z/specialist-childrens-services/contact-us/