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Hi, I'm TomT35! What kind of support is realistic under access to work?

TomT35

Hi,

I am autistic with Asperger's Syndrome, dysphasia, and dyspraxia. I also have a limited working memory, and I work as a machine learning engineer.

Can I ask what kind of support is realistic, under access to work? As I have applied, and I am self employed as a contractor, I don't currently work as an employee.

Also if there are alternative methods of support, then I have no idea what these are, and I'm very interested in finding out.

Finally am I correct that as I'm self employed, any equipment I get from this, is mine to keep? As I work for different clients when I can get work, but I'm not their employee.

Thanks,

Tom T.

P.s. you mentioned a personal workstation, as a reasonable adjustment, for employed office workers. Can this be done for self employed people, with access to work?

P.p.s. I do have a desktop, but it's not up to the performance, needed for this type of work. It's an old gaming desktop, most of the parts are a few years old, and it doesn't work as fast as it used to.

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Cher_Alumni

Hello @TomT35 and welcome to our online community, I'm glad you found us. How's your Friday going?

It's great that you're aware of the Access to Work grant scheme. From the government's webpage about Access to Work, you can use the money to pay for:

changes to the equipment you use

special equipment

fares to work if you cannot use public transport

a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace

a support service if you have a mental health condition and you are absent from work or finding it difficult to work

disability awareness training for your colleagues

someone to help you at a job interview

the cost of moving your equipment if you change location or job

Whilst, Scope's advice page about Access to Work (which is definitely worth a read) furthers, it can fund:

specialist software, such as screen readers

a support worker, such as a driver or job coach

mental health support, such as counselling

training or mentoring

adapted equipment, such as chairs and desks

So a personal workstation does sound like something that could be funded.

Also, as you are self employed then you may be able to keep any equipment, however I'd advise speaking with the Advice to Work helpline to confirm this. Their contact details are:

Access to Work helpline
Telephone: 0800 121 7479
Textphone: 0800 121 7579
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 7479
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

I hope that helps and isn't bombarding you with too much information! Also, I've amended the title of your thread and moved it to our Work and employment category to help others spot it and reply.

Good luck and please keep us posted with how you get on.

TomT35

Thank you for this.

Can I just briefly ask, does the fact that my desktop, isn't really up to the job that I'm trying to do affect this in a negative way?

As it does work but it was never really designed, or intended to do this work, and so it has performance problems.

I'm not sure how much knowledge you have, of computing specifications, but it's basically an old gaming desktop with a high end GPU from last year or maybe the year before that.

Most of the parts are about 4 maybe 5 years old.

Also do you know, if there are alternatives for support, for someone with the disabilities I've listed?

Like for example limited working memory, Asperger's Syndrome, dysphasia? As I'm very sensitive to loud noises, such as Christmas carols in supermarkets, over the Christmas period.

The same with cross talk, if too many people talk at once, or during a sermon or lecture or meeting for example.

This causes sensory overload for me, unfortunately. Sorry for the long post.

Please note that I have read your rules and I have, absolutely no problem with that at all, although I would hope that you'd warn me if I do anything wrong.

TomT35

Hi,

Can I just ask, do you have any information, on what kind of support is available through access to work for people with my disabilities?

E.g. limited working memory, dyspraxia, dysphasia, and Asperger's syndrome?

As while I can use any computer I can access, I don't know if there are alternative, forms of support.

Thanks,

Tom T.

P.s. I tend to get stress from sensory overload, and I don't learn well, from people just talking verbally for a long time.

P.p.s. I'm not entirely biased towards a new workstation, but obviously I would use one if I could.

L_Volunteer

Hey @TomT35. Please could I ask you to clarify what you mean by ‘this’? The context I am referring to is where you said “Affect this in a negative way?” I just want to make sure we hear you as clearly as we can.

In terms of performance problems, that would depend if it is related to your medical conditions/disabilities or if other employees would experience similar difficulties using the same IT. Access to Work and reasonable adjustments are designed to focus on medical.

Support is likely to be dependent on the specific difficulties you experience as a result of the diagnoses you have mentioned, rather than the diagnoses themselves. This is just because people with the same diagnoses will have different experiences.

In terms of limited working memory, would you feel comfortable sharing a little more with us about what this looks like for you? Again, I just want to make sure we hear you as clearly as we can to enable us to provide you with the most suitable support possible.

With regard to sensitivity to loud noises, examples might include:

Headphones/earphones/earplugs/ear defenders
Being based in a quieter area of the space

I talk from experience on this one as I am also autistic and struggle with sensitivity to noise. These are some reasonable adjustments I have experienced for this.

Access to Work is not really necessary for addressing cross-talk. This refers more to the communication styles of the people you are around. It is something for them to be mindful of, and does not require money to address.

Similarly, in regard to learning/not learning, a reasonable adjustment your employer could provide (rather than Access to Work) is providing information in a different format. For example, they could provide you with written notes or the opportunity to write notes as they talk. You might also have opportunities to shadow someone else’s practice (which is more visual than auditory). How do you learn best?

Please do not apologise for the size of your posts. We are glad you feel able to talk to us on Scope’s forum and we are here to listen to you and support you the best way we can

TomT35

Yes I can do that, I'll reply in detail later today, as I have no problem at all with that.

Besides didn't you actually say on the scope guidelines, for this forum that we can make friends? Well if that's true then why not do that?

Tom T.

L_Volunteer

Take your time @TomT35. It is just that I want to ensure we are able to support you the best way we possibly can.

I like to think we are all friends/friendly here on Scope's forum! Though, we encourage all communication to be through these posts and threads wherever possible

TomT35

I mostly get problems with for example, working memory, noise (like my brother sniffing a lot), and with things like understanding what's said verbally in a meeting rather than written down.

As that makes it difficult to work.

Those are the areas I can think of so far.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @TomT35

I see Cher has already mentioned Scope's Support to work programme. I would also suggest reaching out to them for advice on work for people with disabilities. They have some online resources too