Grapevine Advice Subjects
The Grapevine Disability Information Service provides information on a wide range of disability issues including:
Money
Information provided on grants, trust funds and other financial concessions available to disabled people. We can provide a list of charitable trust funds than help individuals to pay for things like furniture, household goods, disability equipment, holidays, fuel bills and general living costs.
Disability Benefits
We provide information on claiming disability benefits including advice on entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. Help is available, on an appointment basis, with completing application forms for Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.
Social Work Services and Direct Payments
We provide information on support to live independently in the community, including advice on Social Work Services, options for paying for care including Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund.
Access to Transport
Grapevine provides information on all aspects of transport, including entitlement to the Scottishwide bus pass, Taxicard, Blue Badge for parking, the Disabled Person's Railcard, the Motability Scheme and the Free Road Tax Disk. The information service also provides advice on access to travel by train, bus, plane, car and ferry.
Housing and Adaptations
Information provided on accessible housing, including advice on grants for adaptations, local housing suppliers, renting, buying and supported accommodation.
Aids and Equipment
We provide information on a wide range of disability equipment including local equipment suppliers, equipment available on the NHS, hire and purchase of powered and manual wheelchairs and assessments by an Occupational Therapist.
Holidays and Leisure
Information on accessible holidays in Scotland, the UK and abroad. We have information on a wide variety of holidays including self catering, hotel and guest house accommodation, adventure holidays, group holidays and holidays with care provided. We also provide information on accessible leisure and sports activities.
Employment and Education
Grapevine provides information on employment including how work affects benefit entitlement, how to get support through the Access to Work scheme, employment rights under the Disability Discrimination Act and where to go for employment advice.
We provide information on education, access to local day and evening classes, support for disabled students and help with funding for studying.
Access Issues
We provide general information on improving access for disabled people to employers, organisations and individuals. If you are looking for information on where to get an Access Audit, how to meet your duties under the Disability Discrimination Act, or how to improve access for disabled people, then contact Grapevine for more information. We also provide information on access for disabled people to local places of interest and venues in Edinburgh.
Disability Equality and the Law
We provide advice on promoting disability equality and good practice in ensuring that services are accessible to disabled people. We also provide information on the rights of disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act and information on where to get further advice if you feel that you have been discriminated against.
