Getting the Support You Deserve: Access to Work for Neurodivergent Professionals
There’s funding available if you’re neurodivergent and struggle with challenges at work. It’s called Access to Work, and it’s something I want to shout about for a few reasons:
So many people who could really benefit from it don’t even know it exists—and they absolutely should.
The process of applying can seem a bit daunting, but it’s actually much more straightforward than it seems – and (in some cases – see below) can be accessed more quickly than you might think
If you’re neurodivergent, you’ll likely have areas of great strengths, but often great challenges too—and that’s why it’s important to get the support you need.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to apply. The application is about what you find difficult at work and what support could help you with that.
Access to Work covers loads of things, depending on your role—anything from assistive technology to a personal assistant, coaching, or mental health support.
I’m passionate about this because I know how much neurodivergent and disabled people have to offer and the struggles that often mean they aren’t able to work at their best. Many of my clients are facing difficulties, whether that’s staying in a role, managing self-employment, or even getting a job in the first place. A lot of our work together is around patterns that may have contributed to those difficulties, whether that’s problems with relationships at work, challenges with organisation leading to burnout, or staying quiet in meetings only to realise what you wanted to say afterwards.
One of the first things I do when a client secures a new role is tell them about Access to Work. It’s available to anyone in a job or about to start one—and yes, even if you’re self-employed. Apply as soon as you can because the wait can be a long one.
An important tip if you’re about to start in a new role. Apply for access to work before you begin. A recent client of mine had the funding come though within a few weeks of applying. 16 sessions of Workplace Strategy Coaching for ADHD and Autism all fully funded. The reason is that Access to Work are prioritising people about to start in new roles so you’ll jump to the front of the queue. Any time after you start and you’ll face a much longer wait (up to six months).
The process includes an assessment to identify what support you need. And that support can be coaching, counselling, or both. It’s helpful if you already have some ideas about what might help before the assessment, but for some that in itself can be a difficulty. Even those with a diagnosis don’t necessarily understand how being an ADHDer or being autistic for example, is affecting them and what might be useful. That’s where tools like Genius Finder from Genius Within can be really useful. It’s a questionnaire designed for anyone—neurodivergent or neurotypical—that looks at your strengths and challenges, and gives you specific strategies to try. I often use it with clients as a starting point and find it can be a useful springboard to coming up with strategies that really suit them.
Access to Work is a brilliant opportunity that could make a massive difference if you’re facing challenges at work. Don’t let the thought of applying put you off—there’s help out there, and I can support you through the process. Whether you’re in a job, about to start one, or running your own business, there’s support available.
If you think this could be useful, feel free to get in touch with me. I’m here to help you figure out the best way forward. And if you know someone who could benefit from this, share it with them. You never know how much of a difference it could make.
Contact Jules@diversethinkers.org or visit diversethinkers.org
For more information on applying for Access to Work visit
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
