Access to Work - UK

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Hello

Does anyone have any experience of using the Access to Work service to help with adjustments to their job?

I have just been diagnosed with ASD at 46 and am currently signed off sick due to depression/anxiety.

The Occupational Health Dr at work has suggested that Access to Work is a good way to agree reasonable adjustments to my role to get me back into work again (as he does not believe I can do several aspects of my current role without causing problems).

I'm happy to go along with it but just wondered if anyone else had found it useful as I'm a bit worried it will be a horror story like some of the OH assessments I have had in the past.

Thanks

So, Access to Work are telling me that they can't help me but that I can use REMPLOY's 'Workplace Mental Health Support Service'.

Anyone have any experience?

I was under the impression REMPLOY had gone bust My experience with every "back to work" thing has been sh*te; either they disappeared on me or wouldn't take me on at all because I was "too difficult" (I told the truth that I have issues, which is your f***ing job!! !").

They seem to be up and running with an impressive website.

I spoke to an adviser and they have put a referral in to DWP for the 6 month Workplace Mental Health support, which should be able to help with sorting out adjustments to my role as well as on-going support once I get back to work for 6 months. But, when I asked it is would be someone who has experience of Aspergers they said no, it would be whoever is the support worker for my area. They did say they are all very experienced but I have heard that before.

I am going to go along with it and see what happens but will push for someone that has Neurodiversity experience. I am definitely getting the impression that no one knows how to help!

Austism is a very hard disorder to help with employment.
Every case is different. It is also a social communication disorder.
A lot of autistics aren't employed.

It may help to put in writing your strengths and issues.

It may help to first teach the social worker about your form of autism.

And give them time to figure it out.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/access ... eness2018/
Microsoft has a special program for hiring people with autism. Most companies don't have the resources to do that.

Pity it has to be something as hard to get into as microsoft, not everyone with autism is a genius or has above average intelligence or special interest in technology.

To be on a more related note, I was once with remploy not so long ago and they are anything but impressive. Waste of time, made me do things I didn't want to do, although them being part of the government makes me realise nothing of value ever materialised from what they did or will do in the future.

I'm not very optimistic about REMPLOY but I guess I can only give it a go and see if they can help.

My social worker told me that she no longer refers people to them because they are hopeless in my area, which filled me with confidence.

In Connecticut there is a private organization that specializes in helping with employment. They do get government grants and donations. They have found that adults on the spectrum can actually do just about everything which is contrary to how folks in employment agencies think.

You find that here as well. You point out that something can't be done and someone says that they can do it!

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... h-2017.pdf
Only 7.5% of the cases looked at by Access to Work-UK involve mental health.

So today was the telephone assessment with REMPLOY. It was OK and they can help find a Neurodiversity specialist to carry out a workplace assessment to see what adjustments are needed to my role. They can also help with getting Access to Work to contribute. Also, they may be able to arrange training for my line manager etc.

Seems as though they may be more helpful than I had first imagined.

Lesson is to be keep an open mind!