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Here’s How We Make Your Disability Struggles That Little Bit Easier

Our job as a caseworker is to empower and support you.

WE LISTEN WHEN THEY WON’T.

WE UNDERSTAND WHEN NOBODY ELSE DOES.

WE SUPPORT YOU WHEN NOBODY ELSE WILL.

Karla Fido, Caseworker

Our casework team are able to help with: 

  • Adaptive Housing & Equipment
  • PA Recruitment
  • Benefits eg Universal credit, PIP, ESA
  • Disability Discrimination
  • Emotional Support
  • Employment & skills

Click here to download our Casework Terms & Conditions.

Join us for 1:1 Disability Support When You Need It Most

Monthly MembershipYearly Membership (2 months free)
Six Reasons To Join Today
Adaptive Housing & Equipment
We can support our members to get an OT assessment for housing adaptions or equipment, assist with bidding on the housing register, look at possible grants for adaptions, etc.
PA Recruitment: 

We can assist in writing job adverts, work with members with the selection process, help arrange & offer support in interviews, and help with care plans and contracts. We can also help with direct payment applications. 

Employment & skills

We can assist with securing jobs by helping with interview preparation and you can learn new skills through our Skills Academy. We highly encourage our employed members to join a trade union in conjunction to their disability union membership, as we currently do not have protection under employment law, meaning we cannot do the things offered by a trade union e.g. represent employees in work meetings. However,  we can attempt to find our members a local advocate to accompany them to their workplace meetings. We can also assist with Access to Work applications and offer advice on reasonable adjustments within the workplace.

Emotional Support: 
Although we are here to guide and support, we are also here to listen. We understand the frustrations. We hear you. We are a virtual shoulder to cry on. We want our members to feel like they are never alone.
Benefits

We can help our members with benefit applications. We can give advice on what benefits they may be entitled to. We can guide them on the appeal process and inform them on what steps need to be taken, however we cannot represent members in hearings, meetings, and tribunals. We can advise on benefits while working, and how your savings and income will affect your benefits. We can also help with carers allowance benefit applications.

Disability Discrimination: 

If our members feel as though they have experienced disability discrimination, we can refer them to a law firm whom we have a partnership with and they can assist with the application for Legal Aid.

Join us for 1:1 Disability Support When You Need It Most

Monthly MembershipYearly Membership (2 months free)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Trade Union?

A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment.

The typical activities of trade unions include providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action.

What Is the difference between a trade union and The Disability Union?

The Disability Union represents Disabled People and its purpose is to secure stronger disability rights, give us better access to public services and fight for our full inclusion in society. Any Disabled Person can join and we will support you in all your struggles as a Disabled Person. Whether it’s at work, with the government, your local authorities, a shop or something else entirely, we will be there to help you fight for your rights as a Disabled Person. We highly encourage our employed members to join a trade union in conjunction with their Disability Union membership as we currently do not have protection under employment law, meaning we cannot do the things offered by a trade union e.g. represent employees in work meetings.

Why do we need The Disability Union?

Disabled People are marginalised because, despite the fact we make up 24% of the population, we are spread out all over the place, often disadvantaged and have no collective way to get our views heard. That is until now. The Disability Union provides that collective voice for Disabled People. It allows us to fight to get a seat at the table in all decision made about us so that there is nothing about us without us.

Who is The Disability Union for?
The Disability Union is for all disabled people in the United Kingdom. That’s all nations; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you identify as disabled, then we are here to help.
Do I have to pay to join?

Yes, and we do our best to keep our memberships as affordable as possible. The Disability Union has to be independent so we are funded almost entirely by our members and only take funding for the set up of specific projects, or to help us expand quickly.

As we expand, we are saving money for a hardship fund that will eventually enable us to help all those who cannot afford a membership. For now, we do our best with what we have and will not leave you stranded.

Are you a charity?

No, we are not a charity. Our legal status is a Community Interest Company (CIC) Limited by guarantee. That means that all the money that goes into The Disability Union is spent on the organisation itself. We legally cannot take profits.

What is activism?

Activism is the act of campaigning for political or social change. The Disability Union exists for a political purpose to improve disability rights and make sure there is nothing about us without us. We consider everything we do from campaigning to helping individual members, to engaging with businesses and government to be a form of activism.

What is solidarity?

As Disabled People, we have an awful lot in common. With many shared struggles and life experiences, it is only by supporting each other that we can make things better. Solidarity means having and showing an awareness of our common interests, goals, conditions and needs. The Disability Union considers one of its main objectives to be the building of solidarity between Disabled People.

How can you help me?

We can help you in two ways; firstly, we can address your immediate needs by helping you get access to the services you are entitled to, fight discrimination and build a better life for yourself. Secondly, through our campaigning and political activity, we can increase your rights and fight for a more inclusive society.

Why should I join?

Firstly, joining us means you’ll never be alone in your disability struggles ever again. We will help and support you every step of the way. Secondly, you’ll find a community of like-minded Disabled People who can give you support and advice, and over time, become a new group of peers who truly get what it means to be disabled. Thirdly, your membership is directly contributing to the fight for equality and justice for Disabled People and any volunteering support you can give us will add rocket fuel to our progress.

What can I do to help?

By simply joining The Disability Union, you are helping the fight for equality and justice, while allowing us to support you and other Disabled People in their immediate needs. Very soon, we will be setting up local groups in your community and will be looking for volunteers to help us do this. If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to us at support@disabilityunion.co.uk and we’ll add you to the waiting list.

Do you cover N. Ireland, Wales and Scotland?

Yes. We cover the whole of the UK.

contact us

Call: 02382 546 695
Email: support@disabilityunion.co.uk

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