Helplines, guides and resources
Supporting children with additional needs online
Explore the below guides and resources from Internet Matters and other trusted organisations to support digital wellbeing in children with additional needs.
What kind of support do you need?
- Quick helplines and contact numbers
- Activities to do together
- Information on online safety issues
- Organisations that support those with additional needs
Quick helplines and contact numbers
The following organisations can offer quick help and guidance for you and/or your child.
Additional needs helplines
- Contact (0808 808 3555): Find support and advice if your child has a disability or additional need, even if they’re not diagnosed.
- SOS!SEN (020 8538 3731): You can call the helpline for support on a range of needs and navigating different systems. Email support is also available.
- Autism Helpline (01344 882248): Get support with questions related to autism, including how to navigate the school system.
General helplines
- Childline (0800 1111): Your child can talk to a counsellor via the helpline, email and chat.
- Coram Family Lives (0808 800 2222): You can call Family Lives for support on a range of issues. Live chat, email and WhatsApp support also available. England and Wales only.
- Children First (08000 28 22 33): You can call Children First for a range of advice and support. Web chat and email support is also available. Scotland only.
- Parentline NI (0808 8020 400): You can call the helpline for support on a range of parenting issues. Web chat, email and 1-to-1 options also available.
- FamilyLine (0808 802 6666): You can call the helpline, text 07537 404 282, email or use the online chat to discuss a range of issues.
Activities to do together
Find highlighted activities you can do with your child to support their safety online.
Social media check-in
Social stories activity
Get help cards
Be scam smart social stories
Digital Matters stories
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Information on online safety issues
Explore the highlighted online safety issues guides available within the additional needs advice hub.
Navigating risky information
Managing screen time
Dealing with online bullying
Stranger contact
Sending or receiving nude images
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Organisations that support those with additional needs
To find more support with your child’s additional needs beyond online safey, explore the below organisations.
Click an additional needs category to see the organisations.
- Contact: Find guidance for concerns you might have about raising a child with additional needs, covering early years support, education and more. They also offer a freephone telephone helpline to answer any questions you may have.
- SOS!SEN: Get support in tackling issues faced when securing the right educational provision for your child.
- The Brain Charity: Get information about neurological conditions, such as navigating communication and supporting social and emotional health.
- Ambitious About Autism: Offers a range of services support autistic young people. This includes an online community for parents and carers, providing information and webinars.
- National Autistic Society: Find advice and guidance to help support your autistic child, covering challenges like communication, mental health, education and more.
- ADHD Embrace: Get information about ADHD and supporting a child with ADHD. You can also join their parent community, offering post diagnosis workshops, seminars and advice clinics.
- Down Syndrome UK: Explore a range of information to support children with Down Syndrome in life.
- Down’s Syndrome Association: Learn more about Down Syndrome and advice to support your child’s wellbeing.
- Scope: Explore advice designed for families with disabled children, with tips for school and activities for children.
- Whizz Kids: Find skills, training and social advice for children in wheelchairs.
- National Deaf Children’s Society: Get advice and resources to support deaf children.
- Royal Society for Blind Children: Explore advice and guidance along with opportunities to connect with other parents.
- Mind: Explore advice to help parents talk to and support children with mental health problems.
- YoungMinds: Find guides to support children struggling with mental health, with a helpline available for any questions you may have.
- The Mix: Young people can find support, advice and a community to help them with life or mental health struggles.
- Childline: Children can find advice for any issue they have via information on the site and through the Childline helpline.
- Ditch the Label: Free, confidential support for 12-25 year olds to help navigate issues, from bullying and mental health to identity.
- Dyscalculia Network: See their top tips to help parents and carers support children with dyscalculia.
- British Dyslexia Association: Explore information and resources to support children and teens with dyslexia and dyscalculia.
- The Dyslexia Association: Find advice to ensure your child receives the support needed from their school.
- Dyslexia Assist: Get answers to the most common questions asked by parents of dyslexic children.
- Dyspraxia (via The Brain Charity): Learn about dyspraxia and access an information helpline.