SEN & Disability Tribunal is the independent judicial body that considers parents’ appeals against local authority decisions on SEN, and disability discrimination by schools or local authorities. http://www.justice.gov.uk/tribunals/send

Citizens Advice Bureau >provides information and advice on rights in benefits, housing, education, employment and debt, and consumer protection http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Civil Legal Advice offers free, confidential and independent legal advice. It features a legal aid eligibility calculaltor that should help you find out whether or not you qualify for legal aid. https://www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice

Just for Kids Law is a charity that provides specialist support, advice and legal representation to young people. http://www.justforkidslaw.org/

Simpson Millar are specialist solicitors, providing legal advice and assistance for clients who face difficulties with the key public services of education,  health and social services http://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/services/education-law/special-educational-needs-solicitors.aspx

Andrew Barraclough c/o HCB Solicitors http://www.hcbgroup.com/site/sectors_serv/education-solicitors/for-parents/educational-needs/

IPSEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice and support https://www.ipsea.org.uk/

SOS!SEN is a charity which helps parents and carers of children and young people with SEN and disabilities, particularly in relation to the processes involved in accessing the right support in education. Helpline 020 8538 3731 or online  http://www.sossen.org.uk

SEN Legal is solicitors who have particular expertise in obtaining special educational provision for children who have special educational needs that require specialist input. http://www.senlegal.co.uk/index.html

The websites below provide details of independent professionals. These can be useful when, for example, your local authority has refused to assess your child’s special educational needs and you need independent specialist advice.

Dr Lindsay Peer CBE is a Chartered and Educational Psychologist widely recognised as an expert in dyslexia, special educational needs and mainstream education. Tel: 01923 238751 Email: lindsay@peergordonassociates.co.uk   Web: www.peergordonassociates.co.uk

Dr Hilary Dyer is a Consultant Educational Psychologist who specialises in children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders including Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA). Tel: 01905 42 88 63    Email: hilary@drhilarydyer.co.uk    Web: http://drhilarydyer.co.uk/

Jon Whittock has 29 years experience as headteacher in a specialist independent school and is now an Education Adviser. Tel: 01934 827 742  Email: jonwhittock@gmail.com

Nick Logan is a Chartered Psychologist who specialises in assessments and intervention packages for children, young people and adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Tel: 07767 822 217  Email: nick@stillwaterspsychology.com

Paula Holden is a specialist support adviser providing guidance and support to those living or working with children and young people with SEN & disabilities. Tel: 07725 550 927  Email: touchthespectrum@talktalk.net

HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) is a regulator set up to protect the public. They keep a register of health and care professionals who meet certain standards in training, skills, behaviour and health. http://www.hpc-uk.org/

Suzanne Boyd, Chartered Educational Psychologist: Tel 0121 551 7561, email suzannemboyd@blueyonder.co.uk

Dr Neville Brown, Chartered Psychologist: Maple Hayes Dyslexia School, Tel 01543 264387, email office@dyslexia.gb.com

Independent Educational Psychologists: http://www.indepsych.co.uk/

Independent Speech & Language Therapists: http://www.helpwithtalking.com/

Independent Occupational Therapists: http://www.cotss-ip.org.uk/find

The DfE (Department for Education) is the English government department responsible for education and children’s services. http://www.education.gov.uk/

Direct Gov is a UK government-run site that acts as a portal for public-sector information and services. Lots of information about special educational needs, together with links to online resources. https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/overview

The LGO (Local Government Ombudsman) looks at complaints about councils and some other authorities and organizations, including education admissions appeal panels. It is a free, independent service. http://www.lgo.org.uk/

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect and regulate services which care for children and young people, and those providing education and skills for learners of all ages. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s role is to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the nine “protected” grounds – age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

The Care Quality Commission checks whether hospitals, care homes and care services are meeting national standards. http://www.cqc.org.uk/

Bullying UK provides a range ofservices around issues such as bullying, special educational needs, and support for specific communities. http://www.bullying.co.uk/

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) claims to be the voice of dyslexic people. http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

Dyslexia Action is a national charity that takes action to change the lives of people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. http://dyslexiaaction.org.uk

National Autistic Society (NAS) is a leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger Syndrome) and their families. They provide information, support and campaign. http://www.autism.org.uk/

ADHD Pages is a website centred around ADHD, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia and similar neurological differences. http://www.adhd.org.uk/

Dyspraxia Foundation supports children, families and adults with dyspraxia. http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/index.php

Dyscalculia Centre provides support to anyone affected by dyscalculia.http://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/index.html

British Stammering Association is your first point of contact for information and support on stammering, also known as stuttering.  http://www.stammering.org/

Scope is all about changing society for the better, so disabled people and their families can have the same opportunities as everyone else. http://www.scope.org.uk/

Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) is the only organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which supports people with Down’s syndrome at every stage of life. http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

NSPCC aims to end cruelty to children in the UK. They campaign to change the law, provide ChildLine and the NSPCC helpline service offering advice for adults. http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Epilepsy Action exists to improve the lives of everyone affected by epilepsy. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/

Shine is dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they face the challenges arising from spina bifida and hydrocephalus. http://www.shinecharity.org.uk/

Child Brain Injury Trust provides support to people affected by childhood acquired brain injury. http://www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/index.html

Diabetes UK works with anyone affected by diabetes. http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

Action on Hearing Loss provides support to anyone affected by hearing loss/deafness. http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/

OCD-UK provides support to those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. http://www.ocduk.org/

I CAN is the children’s communication charity. http://www.ican.org.uk/en.aspx

RBIB offers support to blind and partially sighted people. http://www.rnib.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Dysgraphia UK helps those people who have (or suspect that they may have) dysgraphia, which is a neurological disorder, characterised by a difficulty with handwriting. http://dysgraphia.org.uk/

IDEAS Walsall Dyslexia Association offers advice and support to parents of children with dyslexia including dyslexia screenings and visual stress assessments. They also run a dyslexia support group http://ideaswalsall.org/

Autism West Midlands (AWM) is a leading charity in the West Midlands for people affected by autism. http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/

ASC (Autism Sharing & Caring) is a parent led support group based in Walsall for parents of children with autism.

PSNA (Parent Support Network for Autism) is a parent led support group in the Birmingham area for parents of children with autism. http://www.parentsupportnetworkforautism.co.uk/

PROUD (Parents Relatives & Others Understanding Down’s) is a parent led support group based in Walsall. http://www.proudwalsall.org/