Choices and Rights Disability Coalition(CARDC) are an organisation exclusively run by disabled people in the Hull and East Riding area. We believe that the best experts on the needs of disabled people, are disabled people themselves. As a result, Choices and Rights’ reputation has grown because agencies and organisations know that when they seek consultation with us, they are guaranteed a dialogue with a delegation of disabled people. Originally set-up in 1994, as a small campaigning group with funding of only £150, Choices and Rights have be come the leading organisation of disabled people in the Hull and East Riding area and have a growing regional and national reputation. One of our key roles is to support disabled people and their families to employ Personal Assistants, via the Direct Payment Scheme, so they can live independent lives. We also run and manage the Hull and East Riding Centre for Independent Living (CIL), providing information, advice and a range of services for disabled people, their families and service providers.

• Provide advice and support to all users of Direct Payments and Personal Health Budgets, including recruitment of Personal Assistants, employment law advice and community care advice.

• Campaign on a wide variety of disability issues.

• Run the Hull and East Riding Centre for Independent Living (CIL); providing information, advice, and a range of services for disabled people, their families and service providers.

• Provide consultancy and advice to other organisations in the voluntary, statutory, and private sector, both locally and nationally.

• Provide a wide range of information and resource packs.

• Recognised as the leading local organisation on the Equality Act (Disability); and we offer support and advice on the Act in relation to disability.

• Organise conferences, workshops and forums so that disabled people can be informed of new developments, and have an opportunity to voice opinions face-to-face.