Home adaptations or equipment

Start with your local authority or NHS occupational therapy service. Independent occupational therapists can also assess privately.

What to do first

  1. For many people the first step is to ask the local council (and, if relevant, the NHS) for an occupational therapy or social care assessment. Some adaptations may be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant or other local schemes.
  2. Free advice charities such as Scope, Contact or Citizens Advice can help you understand the process and any grants.
  3. If you want a private assessment, or you need an independent report, you can look for an independent occupational therapy practice. Therapists should be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council — always check the named therapist on the HCPC register.
  4. You can also search the Royal College of Occupational Therapists independent practice directory for a therapist near you.
  5. If a council has refused or delayed an assessment or adaptation, a community care adviser may be able to help.

This is information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines change. Confirm with an adviser and official sources before you act.

Listings that may help

48 listings in the relevant categories.

Access to Public Law

Legal aid

Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and community care, with an office listed in Lancaster.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Advance Occupational Therapy

Paid

Independent occupational therapy practice. Confirm current locations, specialisms and HCPC registration of the treating therapist on the website and the HCPC register. This is a paid private service.

Independent occupational therapists

Advice NI

Free

Independent advice network covering Northern Ireland, including benefits and money advice. Use the website to find a local advice service.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Barcan and Kirby LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in Bristol with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.

Community care and discrimination

Bindmans LLP

Legal aid

London law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 484856.

Community care and discrimination

Blackett Hart and Pratt LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in the North East with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.

Community care and discrimination

Bristol Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Law centre providing free legal advice in Bristol and beyond, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.

Community care and discrimination

Central England Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Law centre with offices in Coventry and Birmingham, holding Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, community care, discrimination and public law.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Citizens Advice

Free

National charity network offering free, independent advice, including benefits, debt, housing and discrimination. Use the website to find your local service or get advice online.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Citizens Advice Gateshead

FreeLegal aid

Citizens Advice service in the North East with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination, as well as general free advice.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Citizens Advice Scotland

Free

The national organisation for Citizens Advice bureaux in Scotland. Free advice on benefits, money, housing and other issues, with a bureau finder on the website.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

CJCH Solicitors

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.

Community care and discrimination

Contact

Free

National charity supporting families with disabled children and young people, including a free helpline and information on benefits, education and care.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Coram Children's Legal Centre

FreeLegal aid

Not-for-profit legal centre part of the Coram group, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, including work for children and young people.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Deighton Pierce Glynn

Legal aid

Solicitor firm with a Legal Aid Agency public law contract and offices listed in London and Bristol, listed on the SRA register as organisation 552088. In the November 2026 Legal Aid Agency directory the contract recorded for this firm is public law only.

Community care and discrimination

Direct Help and Advice

FreeLegal aid

Independent charity listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory for a welfare benefits contract in the Midlands and East, with an office in Ilkeston. Check the website for how to access advice.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Disability Law Service

FreeLegal aid

Charity providing free legal advice for disabled people and carers on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits. It also has a legal aid service for some cases.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Disability Rights UK

Free

National disabled people's organisation. Its own helplines cover personal budgets and direct payments, and disabled students in post-16 education in England — not general social security benefits advice. Opening hours are limited; check the website.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Legal aid

Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law at offices across England and Wales, listed on the SRA register as organisation 309586.

Community care and discrimination

Enable Therapy Services

Paid

Independent therapy organisation that states it works with a UK-wide network of HCPC-registered occupational therapists. This is a paid private service.

Independent occupational therapists

Equality Advisory and Support Service

Free

Free service providing advice on discrimination and human rights issues in England, Scotland and Wales. It can help you understand your rights and next steps; it is not a solicitor firm.

Community care and discrimination

Gold Jennings

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Greater Manchester Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Not-for-profit law centre offering legal advice in Greater Manchester, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Harrow Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Law centre in north-west London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, education and public law, including education work that can cover special educational needs.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · SEND and education · Tribunal representation

Hodge Jones and Allen LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.

Community care and discrimination

Independent Age

Free

National charity offering free advice for older people, including money, benefits and care. Check the website for who they can help and how to get in touch.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Irwin Mitchell LLP

Legal aid

National law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education (including work that can cover SEND), community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 570654. Legal aid is means- and merits-tested.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Julie Burton Law

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in North Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.

Community care and discrimination

Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Citizens Advice and law centre serving Kirklees, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Law Centre NI

Free

Independent legal charity in Northern Ireland offering advice and representation on social security benefits, including disability benefits and tribunal appeals.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Lawstop

Legal aid

Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in London, Brighton, Cambridge and Nottingham.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Legal Services Agency

Free

Scottish legal charity based in Glasgow. Its Disability and Social Justice Project helps disabled people with legal issues, including disability discrimination and related social welfare matters.

Community care and discrimination · Benefits advice and welfare rights

Leigh Day

Legal aid

Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care, discrimination and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 67679.

Community care and discrimination

Mackintosh Law

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in London with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.

Community care and discrimination

Mary Ward Legal Centre

FreeLegal aid

Not-for-profit legal centre in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and public law.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Merseyside Law Centre

Legal aid

Law centre with a Legal Aid Agency welfare benefits contract covering the North, with offices listed in the Liverpool area.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Riverside Advice

FreeLegal aid

Independent advice centre in Cardiff providing free welfare benefits advice, including Upper Tribunal work, with a Legal Aid Agency welfare benefits contract.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, listed on the SRA register as organisation 667458.

Community care and discrimination

Scope

Free

National disability charity offering free, independent information and advice for disabled people and families, including a helpline and webchat. Check the website for current opening hours.

Benefits advice and welfare rights

Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory as Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre, with a welfare benefits contract. The public website is Citizens Advice Sheffield.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Simpson Millar LLP

Legal aid

Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 424940.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Sinclairslaw

Legal aid

Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in Cardiff and London.

SEND and education · Community care and discrimination

Southern England Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Not-for-profit law centre. The Legal Aid Agency directory (updated 4 November 2026) still lists this provider as Wiltshire Law Centre, with welfare benefits contracts. The organisation now presents itself online as Southern England Law Centre.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation

Southwark Law Centre

FreeLegal aid

Law centre in South London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.

Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation

Stephensons Solicitors LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in the North West with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and discrimination.

Community care and discrimination

T V Edwards LLP

Legal aid

Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law.

Community care and discrimination

The OT Centre

Paid

Independent occupational therapy and sensory integration provider. It states that its therapists are HCPC-registered and that it is independent of equipment suppliers. This is a paid private service.

Independent occupational therapists

The OT Practice

Paid

National independent occupational therapy practice. It states that every therapist in its network is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. This is a paid private service, not an NHS referral.

Independent occupational therapists