Hi
I think as of Nov 2012 Esther McVey (minister for disabled ppl) announced
that the standard equipment list would no longer be used.
Disability Rights UK at http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/f27.htm in
Section 4 "Future Changes" says "The standard equipment list will cease to
be used and instead access to work Advisers will be given flexibility in
deciding which equipment should be funded through the scheme." The page
also lists some of the items which were originally no longer covered.
I can't find the original government announcement but Dyslexia Action also
confirms it at
http://dyslexiaaction.org.uk/blog/access-work-%E2%80%93-support-overcome-barriers
If the equipment list is gone then I am cautiously pleased as I did write
a complaint to the relevant MP at the time and AtW after the list came out
arguing that this was adversely unfair to deaf people given my Minicom
cost £358 which is a good 10x more than a hearing person's phonestuff
would cost. Of course "at AtW case worker's discretion" could be annnoying
in other ways but is theoretically less hardline.
Natalya
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