Disability Lincs is a countywide organisation administered by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, offering help and information on all matters relating to physical disability. We have twenty-two Disability Lincs Clubs/Branches around the County including four Graft Glasses. Branches are run independently and each have their own committee and organise their own programme, social events and fundraising.

 

The Organisation came into being in 1974 at a time of reorganisation of counties throughout the Country, and when Lincolnshire ‘s northern area became South Humberside. There were organisations for physically disabled people in Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland areas, and Lincoln had a number of clubs representing specific disabilities. A decision  was made to amalgamate these to become ‘The Lincolnshire Society for the Physically Handicapped’, which covered the whole of Lincolnshire with an office base in Lincoln City. Charity status was gained in 1976 and several of the original members are still involved in the organisation today.

 

In order to comply with politically correct terminology, the name of the Organisation was changed from ‘The Lincolnshire Society for the Physically Handicapped’ to ‘Disability Lincs’ in 1993.

 

The Disability Lincs office is made available to the Society by Lincolnshire County Council, Social Services Directorate and is based in the Ancaster Day Centre, Boundary Street, Lincoln. One full—time Co—ordinator and one support worker are employed. Volunteers play a vital part in the running of the Organisation.

 

Services include advice on accessible holidays, grants, benefits and form filling, access, equipment, housing and many other matters. The Society also has its own adapted holiday chalet at Mablethorpe.

 

As a result of Opportunities for Volunteering funding from RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) Disability Lincs has a growing Information Service. This funding has now ceased but the service continues to expand relying on our own fundraising efforts. Disabled volunteers regularly staff information surgeries around the County and this is particularly beneficial to enquirers who because of their disabilities, find it difficult to get to the Lincoln office and whose queries cannot be resolved over the telephone.