The government says that Access to Work is 'a publicly funded employment support grant scheme that aims to support disabled people start or stay in work'. We recognise that this grant is invaluable for many and the high year on year rise in disabled people going into work has surely been helped by this.

However, at Wired Differently (www.wireddifferently.co.uk we are a largely neurodivergent team supporting neurodivergent clients AND their neurodivergent clients. Across all of our projects, we hear daily of examples where neurodivergent people are subject to added stress, reduced income, increased shame and worry and overall a reduced ability to get on with their lives over the stress of how Access to Work is administrated. 

We believe this constitutes a public health concern and needs addressing. By employees of the DWP alongside neurodivergent people. 

Over 37,000 people claim Access to Work (2021 figures https://tinyurl.com/yexjj9ah 16% of people are neurodivergent. This is an umbrella term for autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and related conditions. Therefore around 6,000 people could very likely be recipients of Access to Work for their neurodivergent and other conditions and we want to help change things.

The form, while relatively simple for a neurotypical person, represents a real challenge for people who struggle with their Executive Function. We have plenty of anecdotal evidence of this and we want to be part of the solution.

Thank you so much for signing.