Disability groups and networks
Disability groups and networks
Connecting with other people who have a disability and their families can be a good way of getting informal advice and support. You can get to know other people with disabilities through local support groups, disability organisations or online disability forums.
Disability networks, support organisations and groups for people with disabilities
Contacting an organisation or community group that supports people with your specific disability can be a good way of meeting people, getting advice and sharing experiences.
Many national and state-based disability organisations run regular support group meetings and social activities. Some may also be active on social media and have online discussion forums where you can chat to other people with the same disability. Many also offer support for families.
Self-advocacy groups are run by people with disabilities who have joined together to have their voices heard and support each other. They work together to make sure people with a disability have the same rights, choices, and opportunities as anyone else. Investigating these disability groups online can be a good place start.
Networks and advocacy for people with disabilities
The following organisations provide networks or advocacy for people with disabilities:
Able
Australia
External Link
– offers support to people living with multiple disabilities
Action on Disability within Ethnic
Communities
External Link
(ADEC)– offers assistance to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds living with a disability and their carers and family
Arts Access
Victoria
External Link
– creates opportunities for people with a disability to participate in and experience the arts
Association for children with a
disability
External Link
– offers free information and support, training and NDIS funded supports.link to service profile
Belonging Matters
Inc.
External Link
– offers education and support to help people with a disability to live fulfilling lives in the community
The
Disability Advocacy Resource
Unit
External Link
– offers a directory of disability advocacy organisations based on geographic location
Department of Family Fairness and Housing disability
services
External Link
page provides information for people with a disability
First Peoples Disability Network
Australia
External Link
– the national peak organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability and their families
National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders
External Link
- NOFASD Australia - offers telephone and online support, including referral to local services, for parents, carers and individuals with FASD.
Women with Disabilities
Victoria
External Link
– advocates for the rights of women with disabilities
VALID
External Link
- The Victorian League for Individuals with a Disability is an advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Organisations for people who are blind or visually impaired
Blind Citizens
Australia
External Link
- provides a united voice of Australians who are blind or vision impaired
Guide Dogs
Victoria
External Link
- provides orientation and mobility services to Victorians who are blind or vision impaired
Vision
Australia
External Link
- provides blindness and low vision services.
Organisations for people who are deaf or hearing impaired
Deaf
Australia
External Link
- an advocacy and information organisation for Deaf people who are bilingual – using both English and Auslan
Deaf Children
Australia
External Link
- works to remove barriers to the personal development and social inclusion faced by children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Deaf Sports
Australia
External Link
- facilitates and supports the participation of deaf Australians in all levels of sport
Deaf
Victoria
External Link
a non profit organisation that provides information and referrals about deaf and deafness issues
Expression
Australia
External Link
- provides information, programs and education to deaf and hard of hearing adults through its diverse range of services
Organisations for people who are deafblind
Able
Australia
External Link
– offers support to people living with multiple disabilities
Organisations for people with intellectual disability
VALID
External Link
Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) is an
advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. VALID also supports a number of groups and runs the annual ‘Having a Say’ conference that connects people with intellectual disability.
Reinforce
External Link
- self-advocacy group for people with an intellectual disability.
Organisations for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
arbias
External Link
- provides support services to people with an ABI
BrainLink
External Link
- provides support and services for people with an ABI and their families and carers
Brain Injury
Matters
External Link
- a self advocacy group for people with an ABI.
Organisations for people who have a mental health illness
The following organisations provide support for people with mental health issues:
Dementia Australia
(Victoria)
External Link
- advocates for the needs of people living with all types of dementia and provides support services, education and information
Anxiety Disorders Association of
Victoria
External Link
- provides help and support for anxiety and depression, including “grass-roots” support, information, and resources
beyondblue
External Link
provides information and support for people with mental health issues
Mind
Australia
External Link
- is a leading provider of community mental health services
SANE
Australia
External Link
- is a national charity helping all Australians affected by mental illness.
See our
Mental Health Services
section
External Link
.
Organisations for people with communication difficulties
The following organisations provide support to people with communication difficulties:
Amaze
External Link
(formerly Autism Victoria) -
the peak body for people on the autism spectrum and their supporters in Victoria.
Aspergers
Victoria
External Link
provides information and support to those living with Asperger Syndrome
Autistic Family Support
Association
External Link
(AFSA) -
assists and supports individuals with ASD by providing emotional and practical support for parents, carers and families
BrainLink
External Link
- support for people with acquired brain disorders
Huntington’s
Victoria
External Link
supports and assists people affected by Huntington’s Disease (HD)
Laryngectomee Association of Victoria
Inc.
External Link
- is a support group for people who have laryngectomees and those with similar vocal conditions
Parkinson’s
Victoria
External Link
- provides information and resources to people with Parkinson’s, their family,carers and health professionals
SCOPE Communication
Access
External Link
- recognises and promotes businesses and services where people with communication difficulties are heard and understood
Speech Pathology
Australia
External Link
- is the national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia.
Organisations for people with education and training difficulties
The following organisations support people with education and training difficulties:
Down Syndrome
Victoria
External Link
- works to empower individuals with Down syndrome for a lifetime of meaningful inclusion in the community
Dyslexia
Victoria
External Link
- provides awareness and teaching solutions
SPELD
Victoria
External Link
- provides support for people with dyslexia or other learning disabilities.
Organisations for people with physical disabilities
The following organisations provide support for people with physical disabilities:
AQA
External Link
- support for people with a spinal cord injury.
Arthritis
Australia
External Link
- provides support and information about arthritis
Musculoskeletal
Australia
External Link
- represents Victorians living with arthritis and many other muscoskeletal conditions
Australian Leukodystrophy Support
Group
External Link
- raises funds to provide counselling, support and information to families
Cerebral Palsy Support
Network
External Link
provides information and support services
Cystic Fibrosis
Victoria
External Link
- promotes research and awareness of cystic fibrosis as well as education, support and advocacy
Epilepsy
Foundation
External Link
provides services to people living with epilepsy and works to raise awareness of the condition
MND
Australia
External Link
- support for people with motor neurone disease
MND
Victoria
External Link
- support for people with motor neurone disease
MS
External Link
- support for people with multiple sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Australia
External Link
- provides a range of resources including information, programs and research information
National Stroke
Foundation
External Link
- raising awareness, preventing stroke, facilitating research, improving treatment for stroke survivors
Physical Disability
Australia
External Link
- works to r
emove barriers through systematic advocacy to government and promotes rights
Polio
Australia
External Link
- Polio Australia is a not-for-profit organisation supporting polio survivors living in Australia.
Scope
External Link
- supports people with physical, intellectual or multiple disabilities.
Stroke Association of
Victoria
External Link
- support service for people re-entering their lives after having a stroke
Yooralla
External Link
- supports people with physical, intellectual and multiple disability.