The Disability Foundation history
The Disablity Foundation (TDF) is a charity that offers complementary therapies at heavily subsidised rates to any person with any disability or chronic health condition, their families and carers and was founded in 1998 by disabled actress Julie Fernandez and her friend Janet Desmond. With the first donation from Richard Desmond, TDF was set up as a ltd company and registered charity, gaining its charitable status and becoming operational to the public in 1999.
Julie has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, otherwise known as brittle bones. She is a permanent wheelchair user and has had over 70 operations. Julie highlighted that there was a gap in support for people affected by any disability/chronic health condition as well as those caring and working closely with disability and at the same time recognised the benefits of complementary therapies on the health and quality of life for this group of people. With over 10 million disabled people in the UK alone, there was not one charity that had no age, ethnic or religious barrier that dealt with every type of disability or chronic health condition. The formation of TDF changed this. TDF was set up to offer complementary therapies to disabled people and their carers and now covers a wider range of medical conditions.
TDF works closely with members and their health professionals to provide quality and continuance of care using a very holistic approach. Our dedicated and caring team at TDF offers a full range of complementary therapies from massage to acupuncture, from reflexology to counselling. Our rates for therapies are heavily subsidised which means that the people who need therapies the most can access them affordably and as often as is required. Our multi-disciplinary team of therapists are highly experienced in their field. They are also all fully qualified, insured and hold a CRB check.
At TDF's centre based at RNOH, Stanmore, we have 5 therapy rooms. As a charity, we provide our facilities (rooms etc) free of charge to therapists as well as all base materials (massage beds, hoists, couch covers, pillow cases, towels and oils). In addition, we also provide a full administrative and booking service for our therapists. In return, our therapists reduce their rates so that this can be passed on directly to our users. We currently have nearly 800 active members with new members joining on a monthly basis.
If you would like to find out more about TDF, its services or how you can help raise money to continue our important work, please contact us.
Telephone 020 8954 7373
Email info@tdf.org.uk
Fax 020 8954 7414
Minicom 020 8954 7413
Postal address:
The Disability Foundation
Based at RNOH, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, United Kingdom