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Seeking legal assistance

John07

I'm looking for some legal assistance. 

I'm physically disabled in a wheelchair I'm also autistic epileptic and have dyslexia. my local council Greenwich has rehoused me in an accessible apartment in an assisted living block but refused to give me any support with respect to my autism and dyslexia.

One of the adult social workers set up all my utility accounts but refused to give me any assistance with managing them. All of them have failed I've been unable to make the payments.

I'm now facing legal action by the utility companies although the money they want is safely in one of my accounts. 

I need some legal help perhaps a firm of Lawyers who specialize in forcing councils to provide the support that I should have i.e a social worker an advocate and possibly someone in the council to take on the responsibility for handling my finances. If you can help with the name of a reliable firm please let me k

now.

  • If you search for Energy Ombudsman a page will come up giving help and advice, including contact phone numbers and a whole page linked to raising a grievance. They're an impartial service to help people who are having problems with this sort of thing.

  • Hi,

    I'm so sorry this is happening to you. So many organisations are discriminating against autism now, it's so upsetting to hear. 

    For now, make sure you have a 'paper trail' of their refusals and legal threats.

    Have you tried making a Subject Access Request? This request makes the company which holds data on you legally obliged to hand over everything they have on you (there are some exceptions). It also means they have to hand over internal communications about you. 

    I once faced a situation after being bullied out of a university society when a few people made a complaint and the university automatically took their side and broke the law twice in doing so. After I realised it and made a Subject Access Request, their case was automatically lost and they panicked, U-turned and offered compensation to me just when the Office of the Independent Adjudicator was about to rule against them. 

    From what I hear, their actions could be in breach of the Equality Act. If this is confirmed, a Subject Access Request may result in an instant loss for them in any court.

    But I really hope it doesn't get so far. Many back down then a Subject Access Request is even made. 

  • Also, check your local area for any disability support charities, community centers offering assistance and guidanceetc.. I know there's some my way that help with advice, form filling for claims etc 

  • Do you have a person nominated as a legal guardian? If so then I would ask them for help in doing what you ask.

    John07 said:
    I need some legal help

    As the mods have pointed out, we cannot offer legal advice but there is a directory of legal services here on NAS where you may be able to find what you are looking for:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/autism-services-directory

    Good luck

  • If you contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau they may be able to advise you on what support is available.

  • Hi John,

    Online community users can share personal experience but Rule 6 prohibits them offering legal advice.  

    Rule 6 - No Medical or Legal Advice