> Other organisations (ones that aren't HEIs) are often supported by Access
> to work. Other organisations dont just automatically pick up the entire
> cost of reasonable adjustments.
AtW doesn't provide computers, ergonomic equipment, fire-alerting
equipment, telephony (including textphones at one point) and requires an
employer contribution depending on the employer size. Right now AtW are
screwing people over left right and centre and there are all manner of
reviews into mis-administration and disablist practices. I once compared
AtW to DSA point for point assessment, ordering equipment, arranging
support workers etc.
As a disabled person I have had my AtW agreed/recommended support delayed
or simply not provided because I ended up caught in the trap between what
AtW would fund and what my employer would agree to. Or more maddeningly
had employers just fail to actually do their bit but keep promising that
they would. If I complained it wrecked my professional reputation and
affected how I was treated.
AtW is brilliant in principle, but in practice it is a complete pain (and
getting worse) and if an employer is difficult the only come back an
employee has is to threaten or actually take legal action and employers Do
Not Like That. Right now, I don't know who I contact if my AtW goes funny
cos they've made all the caseworkers redundant. Also their caseworkers'
knowledge of disability/deafness was usually very limited.
I don't want DSA becoming more like AtW, but that is clearly where it is
heading!
Natalya
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