Help for adults - disabled people

PHYSICAL DISABILITY:

West Lothian Council provides a range of services for adults with disabilities aimed at maximising independence. These include assessment and care management, day opportunities, respite and supported living and occupational therapy.

Some of these services are directly provided by the council, others purchased from the independent sector. The option of direct payments allows individuals to self manage their support.

Services are provided for people with:

Physical disability
Sensory impairment
Head injury
Chronic long term illness
Aids/HiV

Services include access to outreach groups that are part of the Ability Centre Support Service (see our downloadable leaflet below) and occupational therapy equipment and adaptation.

In addition, people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, blind or partially sighted can contact the Sensory Resource Centre for information, advice and access to specialist workers including technical support and equipment.

Physical Disability Strategy

The Lothian Physical and Complex Disability Strategy is being developed to look at the needs of people with disabilities in Lothian and how these should be met. There is a very broad spectrum of conditions and problems which people can experience and, as a result, the services that support people have to meet an extremely diverse range of health and social care needs. Lothian Health and the four Lothian Local Authorities, including West Lothian, are working in partnership with service users, carers and relevant organisations in the private and voluntary sectors to develop the Strategy. There will be a regular newsletter throughout this process which will be posted on this webpage - see downloadable documents below.

Contact details:

Jill Derby
Service Development Officer
West Lothian Community Health & Care Partnership
Tel. 01506 775663

Lothian Joint Physical & Complex Disability Strategy

The Lothian Joint Physical and Complex Disability Strategy - "Our Lives, Our Way" - addresses the needs of people from 16 to 65 years of age who have physical or complex disability. There is no national statement of policy for this group of people. The Strategy provides a blueprint of how services should be developed to help disabled people live their lives the way they want to.

The development of a Lothian Physical & Complex Disability Strategy is an opportunity to shape an effective and enhanced partnership between all sectors, including service users and carers and the voluntary sector.

The Report resulting from the work done in the past year has been produced in three formats:

• A Full Report of the work
• A Summary Report for Consultation
• A Summary Booklet

A period of consultation is taking place from October 2007 until 31st January 2008. After this a final report will be produced. We would welcome any comments or feedback on the Strategy and a response form is attached to all three versions of the report which can be obtained from the downloadable documents section below.

Ability Centre Support Services

The Ability Centre is a purpose built resource located in Carmondean, Livingston and provides support for people with disabilities in West Lothian.

Some regular activities which take place at the Ability Centre:

Ability Support Services ? Staff support
Peer group support in outreach settings
Social, leisure, educational opportunities
Independent living skills
Drop-In Cafe Bistro - 9.30am - 1.30pm Monday to Friday

Contact details:

Marlyn Young
Ability Centre
Carmondean Centre Road
Livingston
EH54 8PT
Tel: 01506 774046 

Sensory Resource Centre

The centre provides advice, information and equipment for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, who have a visual impairment (either partially sighted or blind) or who are deafblind. 

If you feel you may benefit from our specialist services, or would just like more information, please contact the Sensory Resource Centre as follows:

Steven Laidlaw
Sensory Resource Centre
St.John's Hospital
Howden
Livingston
EH54 6PP
Tel: 01506 774490

Acquired Brain Injury - Directory of Services

Acquired Brain Injury is a traumatic event for the person affected and for their family and it is important that information on the services and people who can offer support is readily available. This Directory draws together information about the range of support available to people in West Lothian and also includes services that are available across the Lothians.

Please view the directory from the list of downloadable documents below.

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LEARNING DISABILITY:

West Lothian provides a wide range of services for adults with a learning disability, including day services, overnight respite, socially inclusive activities, advice and support at home and various forms of housing with support. There are adult support centres at these locations;

• Blackburn Adult Day Centre
• Eliburn Adult Day Centre, Livingston
• Clarendon House Adult Day Centre, Linlithgow
• Community Inclusion Team, Livingston

See the Downloadable Documents section below for leaflets about these centres.

Families and Carers needs are also very important. Carers should receive support and they should be involved in any major changes.

Contact details:

Social Work Learning & Disability Assessment Team
Cheviot House
Owen Square
Livingston
EH54 6PW

Please see the Contact section to the right of this webpage for our telephone and email details.

Learning Disability Accommodation & Respite Service

Deans House in Livingston and Burnside Respite Unit in Uphall provide residential accommodation and care for adults with learning disabilities and other associated social problems.

More detailed information on these facilities can be found in the downloadable documents section below.

Contact details:

Deans House
Glen Road
Deans
Livingston
EH54 8DH

Tel. 01506 777978

Burnside Respite Unit
9 Muirs Court
Uphall
EH52 5JQ

Tel. 01506 853212

Learning Disability Day Services

A newsletter called "My Life, My Future" is produced which shows how day support services for people with learning disabilities in West Lothian are always improving. The newsletters describe some of the exciting new services which have already started and also the planned changes ahead.

Copies of the newsletters can be obtained from the downloadable documents section below.