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Scope’s online community
Share experiences, get disability advice and discuss the disability issues that matter to you.
Our online disability forum is a vibrant and supportive space for disabled people, parents and carers to get disability advice and information, and talk to people with similar experiences.-
Introduce yourself to the community, or welcome those who have just joined.
For whatever reason you’ve joined, welcome to Scope’s online community. Here you can tell the rest of the community a little about yourself, or if you’ve been here a while, do take a moment to welcome our newest members. -
Community chat
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Chat with other disabled people.
Here you can chat with other disabled people about all things related to disability, from accessibility and attitudes, to issues that you are currently facing or changes and improvements you’d like to see.
683 discussions
3K replies
Most recent: Staying Cool When It’s Hot, Hot, Hot! by Blue Frog on
11:01AM
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The place to chat and seek help for carers of disabled people and parents of disabled children.
If you need advice about caring for disabled children or adults, our online community can provide help and reassurance. Join one of our discussions on everything from childhood disability and development to home care, or start a new one to discuss your needs and concerns as a carer. -
Share your experiences of parenting as a disabled person and get advice from other disabled parents. Join an ongoing discussion below, or start a new one by clicking the 'New discussion' button.
19 discussions
88 replies
Most recent: Calling all lovely disabled parents by Kathy_Bramley on
June 22
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Pour yourself a brew and chat about anything.
Want to chat about something outside of our disability forum categories? Enter our virtual coffee lounge, and chat to other community members about anything and everything.
96 discussions
542 replies
Most recent: Is My Dad Trying To Control Me With Fear? by dedus on
7:23AM
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This is the place to post all events, surveys and opportunities relating to disability and related issues. -
Regularly updated blog posts on a wide variety of issues.
There are always key issues relating to disability worth talking about, and here you can read disability articles from disabled bloggers, professionals and people with a story to tell. If you’re interested in writing a guest post, contact Scope’s community team at community@scope.org.uk.
83 discussions
1.1K replies
Most recent: It's not a competition: why we need to stop comparing mental and physical illnesses by Zeezee on
June 22
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Life can be difficult sometimes, and we see many of these stories here in the community. But there are also stories of hope, little moments that bring a smile to your face and lift your spirits. This is the place for those stories, and we hope that you will share with the community your successes, your positive slants and any other reasons that you have found to be cheerful. -
Employment, finances and disability benefits
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Get advice and tips on employment and disability, jobseeking, financial issues and ESA benefits.
Do you have questions about Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)? Are you looking for advice about working and budgeting as a disabled person, about housing benefits or claiming carer’s allowance? Ask our community by starting a new discussion, or join an existing one below.
403 discussions
1.6K replies
Most recent: Those Awkward Moments - Applying for a Job with a Disability. by MikeBroderick on
June 22
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If you’re not sure what benefits you or someone you care for is entitled to, start here.
PIP, DLA, ESA, carer’s allowance... disability benefits can seem very confusing when you first approach them. If you’re not sure what you’re entitled to, Scope’s benefits calculator is a good place to start. If you’re still not sure, start a discussion to get advice from people who’ve been there. -
Advice on all issues relating to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Applying for PIP for the first time, or in the process of transferring from DLA? Need advice prior to attending your PIP assessment, or for appealing against the result of a recent PIP claim? Many of our community members have gone through the process already and can help you navigate your way through the system. -
Practical support and information
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Your questions about disability housing and accessible housing issues.
The place to discuss disability housing, housing benefits for disabled people and independent living issues. Share your experiences, discuss accessible housing needs or ask the community for advice.
77 discussions
354 replies
Most recent: Need Advice - flat with care for daughter (Learning Disability) by steve51 on
June 22
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Ask the community about schools, further education and learning for disabled children.
Take a look at some of our community discussions on learning, schools, special educational needs (SEN), educational health and care plans (EHC) and more. If you’ve got any questions or views on related issues like SENCO co-ordinators or educational psychologists, go ahead and post a new discussion.
118 discussions
366 replies
Most recent: Grand-daughter with LD being dismissed from College; Need HELP with Motivation by MikeBroderick on
June 22
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Talk to other disabled people about everything and anything related to dating and relationships. Join in an ongoing conversation or start your own by clicking the 'new discussion' button.
16 discussions
107 replies
Most recent: Learning to love myself and be loved – life after ostomy surgery by Sam_Scope on
May 24
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Get advice and discuss issues on everything from wheelchairs and mobility scooters to AFOs, hearing aids and screen readers.
Today there are a great variety of assistive technologies available to help disabled people go about their everyday lives. If you’ve got a question or concern about mobility aids, disability equipment, accessibility software or anything else, the community may be able to help. -
If you have an ongoing mental health disorder or are currently experiencing mental health issues, here you can chat and seek advice from the community.
Any advice given here should not be seen as professional advice or as a substitute for professional evaluation and care. Mental health charity Mind have a wide range of resources and can advise you on seeking help.
If you are feeling suicidal, please call the Samaritans on 116 123.
22 discussions
107 replies
Most recent: Help courage keeps disappearing on me by DannyMoore on
June 1
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Expand for more options.Share experiences and tips relating to chronic pain with people in a similar situation.
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Join our discussions on leisure activities and disability sports, or create a new discussion and tell us what activities you enjoy.
29 discussions
124 replies
Most recent: Would you like to try wheelchair basketball? by steve51 on
6:33AM
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Talk about specific conditions
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Whatever stage of life you or your child are in, Scope’s community can provide support and advice on cerebral palsy.
Providing information and support to people with cerebral palsy (CP) is an important part of Scope’s heritage. Today you can find a wealth of information about cerebral palsy on our website, and share and discuss your experiences and issues here on our online community. -
Talk to others with physical impairments and mobility issues.
Share your experiences of physical disability and related mobility issues, or ask for advice from people in a similar situation to you. -
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Connect with others and get advice on visual impairments and hearing impairments
The place to seek advice regarding sensory impairments, or share your experiences of visual impairment, blindness, hearing loss and deafness.
17 discussions
64 replies
Most recent: tiny bit of hearing and meeting people by LiamO_Dell on
June 15
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Advice and support for neurological conditions
Ask our community about issues relating to neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Share your experiences and get support from others in similar situations. -
Explore our autism forum, covering all forms of autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger’s.
Start a new discussion relating to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), or take a look at the posts below on autism diagnosis, support and related issues.
143 discussions
856 replies
Most recent: Reasons for wanting a diagnosis in adult life by Kathy_Bramley on
June 21
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Get advice and support on issues relating to learning difficulties.
Whether you, your child or another family member has a learning difficulty, Scope’s community is here to offer advice on specific learning difficulties and all issues relating to adults and children with learning difficulties.
18 discussions
75 replies
Most recent: It's Learning Disabilities Week! Share your experiences of looking for work by Kathy_Bramley on
June 21
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Expand for more options.Not all impairments can be seen, but they are often experienced with no less severity than those that are more readily visible. This is a space to talk to others about your experiences and challenges of having an invisible or hidden impairment.
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Expand for more options.If you have an undiagnosed or rare condition, this is the place where you can get advice, chat and share experiences with people in a similar position.
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Talk to a community advisor
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Hi, I'm Kirsten Davies and I am a nutritionist, food psychology coach and founder of The Food Remedy. I combine my nutritional knowledge with food psychology helping clients understand the link between the food they eat and the thoughts they think.Ask me questions about diet, nutrition and body confidence now.
7 discussions
23 replies
Most recent: I cannot loose any weight really depressing. by KirstenNutritionAdvisor on
June 16
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Hi, I'm Rebecca. I am a qualified hypnotherapist and a counselor volunteering for ChildLine and the NSPCC. I work to support children and young people with a variety of mental health needs. I have spent 20 years working within local government in both social housing and social services supporting people who are vulnerable and with complex needs. I am a keen advocate of supporting survivors of domestic abuse. -
Hi, I’m Violet. My son has High Functioning Autism and I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in my forties. I am also diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, which I manage through a combination of meds, humour and downright bloodymindedness.Ask me questions about parenting autistic children, anxiety disorders and ASD.
23 discussions
254 replies
Most recent: Help!! ASD/ADHD son has extreme jealousy/paranoia with my other children by steve51 on
June 21
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Hi everyone, my name is Vicki. I worked as a paediatric audiologist with children with complex needs, and am now an advisor for the National Deaf Children's Society. If you need information and support on anything relating to the ears, hearing, hearing tests, types and causes of hearing loss, hearing aids or anything else, just ask me a question. -
I’m Will, an expert in challenging behaviour, specialising in working with people with severe learning difficulties, complex needs and autism. To help me answer your questions please include details of gender, age, physical difficulties including mobility, primary means of communication and level of learning difficulty/diagnosis.
18 discussions
92 replies
Most recent: disabled son has problems with aggression by Abi222 on
June 21
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Your benefits queries answered.
This is the place to post your benefits queries, from Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other disability benefits to tax credits. Scope has enlisted the expert services of The Benefits Training Co. to answer your benefits questions.
Nb. Only those posts which are marked as being from 'BenefitsTrainingCo' should be considered expert advice. During periods of high query volumes, your post may not be answered immediately. -
My name's Simon Wilson. I have cerebral palsy and use a communication aid, and I have a disability consultancy called SimonsAble, focused on promoting independence and equality for disabled people. Whether you're a parent seeking the right equipment and support, or a disabled person planning to live independently, I can advise you on steps to take and who to contact. Ask a question. -
My name is Hannah and I'm an educational psychologist. If you have concerns about how your child is progressing at school - including learning, concentration, behaviour or social and emotional development - ask me a question and I will try and help. -
Hi, I'm Noel Janis-Norton, founder of Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting, a not-for-profit consultancy/ training organisation, and I have many years of experience in special educational needs. Ask me questions about dyslexia, dyspraxia, sensory processing disorder, AD(H)D, Asperger Syndrome, non-verbal learning difficulties, oppositional defiance disorder, bi-polar disorder and extreme temperament. -
Hi, I'm Gill. I'm a personal, social and health education therapist at a specialist college near Birmingham for young people with complex disabilities. In my role there I deliver sex and relationship education sessions as well as 1:1 support. Ask me a question about anything related to body changes, staying safe, what resources are out there or anything else. -
I'm Chris and I'm a Speech & Language Therapist specialising in working with children(18 months upwards) with autism, Asperger's and learning disabilities. Ask me questions on anything from typical speech/ language development to understanding specific assessments and the process of diagnosis for children with autism & Asperger's. -
Hello everyone, I'm Kim. I am an Assistive Technologist working with children and young adults with profound and multiple disabilities at Craig y Parc School in Cardiff. -
Question and answer sessions with guest advisors on a wide range of subjects.
164 discussions
809 replies
Most recent: I'm Debbie and I work on Scope's helpline. I have a lead role in Benefits, Finance & Housing. by Debbie_Scope on
June 19