Are you wondering what the Access To Work programme is? Who benefits from it? How to apply? You’re in the right place!

The Access To Work scheme is a government programme designed to financially support people with physical or emotional impairments or disabilities at work. If you are Neurodivergent, or have a physical or emotional injury or illness that affects you at work, you are eligible for the Access to Work programme.

We are proud to have been an Access To Work (ATW) provider for many years, procuring software, hardware and services for users of the scheme nearly every single day.

Who is eligible for ATW funding?

In order to claim against the scheme you must also already have or be about to start a paid job. You must also be a Great Britain resident, above the age of 16 and have a disability or health condition.

There are various conditions that warrant government funding, some minor and some more severe. For many, the assistive technology accessed through the scheme is essential in maintaining their career.

Some examples of conditions that require support in the workplace are:

• Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) – Such as carpal tunnel, tendinitis or intersection syndrome.
• Learning impairment – Dyslexia, Dyspraxia.
• Learning disability – ADHD, Autism.
• Physical impairment – Broken arm, impaired vision.
• Physical disability – Multiple sclerosis, deaf or blind.

What exactly does ATW provide?

The Access To Work programme provides successful applicants with up to £62,900 per annum to purchase relative support products and services.

What can you spend your funding on?

As you can imagine, the funding can be spent on a variety of things depending on the condition. A few examples include:

• Hardware/devices: Voice recorders, special monitors, ergonomic mouses and chairs.
• Software: Dragon speech recognition, TextHelp Read & Write, automatic minute taking software.
• Services: Disability training (For colleagues), software training, technical support, transport services.

Read our article, featuring Dyslexia advocate John Hicks here to learn how speech recognition can empower those with Dyslexia.

How to apply to the Access To Work programme

Firstly, speak to your employer. They must make certain changes, known as ‘reasonable adjustments’, to make sure you’re not substantially disadvantaged when doing your job. These could include changing your working hours or provide equipment to help you do your job.

If you have already done this and feel as though you need further support, you can apply for the Access to Work programme.

Watch how a tragic car accident affected Dr Galvis’ work as a GP…