Well we'll soon find out how 'caring' the charity I work for are. I recently underwent (at my request) an Access to Work assessment to see what adjustments/equipment could be provided for me to do my job. It involves a lot of typing, statistical analysis, stat stuff generally and fits perfectly to my geek mentality

Anyway, the recommendations came in at over £1k, some of which Access to Work will fund but my employers have to fund the rest. I'll be having my 'feedback' interview on Wednesday which I presume will be about what they will and won't pay for. Watch this space.

In the meantime I'll pass on that the Access to Work people, including the JobCentre+ staff were fantastic. I've been very impressed with the entire process which, to be honest, was my first step to acknowledging I'm disabled and have a serious, disabling condition. They were very supportive, kept in contact throughout and made the process very straightforward. The real hard work starts now lol.

Ooer I'm not sure how different the experience will be for ESA I'm afraid

This is Access to Work, for employed people with disabilities and people who are about to start work.

Access to Work

The Access to Work bit was the easy bit, it's the dealing with my miserable employers that makes me anxious. Get this, I asked for £3k worth of training so I can qualify in my field. I said after 18 months of farming my now qualified services out to external organisations they'd make their money back. They turned me down. Two months later they sent me on an event to learn how to use graphics in communication - or in layman's terms, how to draw cartoons. That cost £1.5k per session and I went on one of two sessions. Now they tell us our jobs are at risk, no payrise for two years etc because of public sector cuts.

No wonder the charity sector is in such a state

Sorry I can't help with the ESA process but there are plenty here who I believe have been through it so may be better placed to advise

I found the fantastic, the woman that came out did a work place assessment, we found i needed a slope for writing as i was having neck probs and also a resting stool, as i was having great difficulty with my ankle.


I had already contacted them on the phone and they put in order a system where i booked Taxis to and from work and they paid most of the cost, the difficulty was getting a taxi company who would agree to this as there was a lot of form filling to do on both sides.

It was a great help to me,as i went p/time due to R.A i would never have been able to pay. I only hope that i will not need the taxi,s any more as i am hoping to be able to use public transport when i rtn to work.

GOOD LUCK!

Anne-m xx

I had my 'employer feedback' meeting today and although nothing's been said it was pretty obvious they weren't happy about the expense.

Tough, seeing as I found out later that my job is changing - only nobody actually had bothered to tell me my job was changing. Know how I found out? Through a draft services brochure I was asked to proofread!! The caring, sharing charity sector. Whatever.

But otherwise it was ok apart from some questions about the chair that had been recommended. I suppose at £700 a pop I'd question it too but that particular one was recommended because of my short stature. Most of the others are made for standard sizes which won't support my neck.

There's an issue with the voice-type software which may not be compatible with our systems so that's an issue.

I must see if all this equipment can be taken to new jobs seeing as I may be looking for another one soon after what I found out today.

I know how tirering this fighting for rights can be. Hang on in there, Mairead.