Can I get government help to access work?

Yes. The Access to Work (ATW) scheme, run by the Employment Service, provides financial assistance towards some of the extra costs of employing you if you have a disability. It is available to employed, unemployed and self-employed people, and can apply to any job, full- or part-time, permanent or temporary.

Support available includes:

• A communicator at job interviews for people with a hearing impairment;
• A reader for someone who is blind, or has a visual impairment.
• Special equipment, or alterations to existing equipment.
• Alterations to premises or to the working environment.
• Travel-to-work costs.

Applications for support under the Access to Work (ATW) scheme are available from the Disability Employment Adviser in the Disability Support Team at your local JobcentrePlus. If you are unhappy with the support provided, you can ask the support team to review its decision. Outside agencies, such as the RNIB, provide advice on adaptations, and on appeals if you are unhappy with a decision.

Key provisions of Access to Work are summarised at the Employers' Forum on Disability web site: www.employers-forum.co.uk.