The first large-scale information web site for UK people with disabilities was launched last week.

The site, youreable.com, brings together information on goods and services for disabled people in ten lifestyle categories.

Joe Rajko, a disability consultant for companies in the retail and leisure industries, is the man behind the new service.

Four years ago, aged 34, Mr Rajko was involved in a motorbike accident which left him paralysed from the chest down.

He experienced first-hand the difficulties in finding access to goods and services needed for everyday life as a wheelchair user. Last July, he won £1 million on a Channel 4 show which helped to set up his site.

He said: "I had found the main problem was the fragmentation of the information. With more than 180,000 charities in the UK providing advice on a broad range of disabilities, there was no central point of contact.

"There are more than 8.5million disabled people and about seven million carers with an accumulated annual spending power of £40billion.

"We want to include information about the charities available for people to turn to. Anyone can send us details of their organisation and we will list their services for free."

Serena Mitchell, information officer for the East Sussex Disability Association, said: "It's good that a disabled person has created this site as they will have a better understanding of the issues involved."

She visited the site before it went live to provide details of the Eastbourne-based organisation.

"I found it very easy to use and useful as an information source. But it's worth remembering not everyone has access to the internet and there are many local organisations, such as ours, at the end of a phone to offer detailed local advice."

The UK's No.1 jobs web site, Fish4jobs, has provided a search facility to help people find employment in their area.

Chief executive Jonathan Turpin said: "We are providing users with access to information to help them widen their career choices."

The web site has attracted backing from major businesses and raised more than £400,000 from companies including Ford, Barclays and Fish4.

It is also supported by Radar and the Disabled Living Foundation.

www.youreable.com
www.esda.org.uk
www.fish4jobs.co.uk