Do's & Don'ts - IndividualsFor your best chance of success with Access to Work… Do work hard at establishing a dialogue with your employer - their support will be invaluable. Do know who your contacts are at Access to Work and at your work. Do make sure you’re clear about what your work requires of you. If you are self-employed this includes the roles you play in your business and what stage you are at, for example setting-up or expanding. Do make sure you’re clear about what your access requirements are and, if you’re not sure about what sort of support is available (technology, software and other equipment for example), get advice. Do read the information on this site to help you know what Access to Work might fund and what other support they might realistically be expected to offer. This will help you make your case. Do have someone with you when meeting with Access to Work. This can help you make a clear case and to remember afterwards what was said. Do be aware that some Access to Work advisors still operate within the medical model of disability so you may find you have to explain your experience in medical terms. If you’re prepared for this, it can reduce the distress it can cause. We have been assured that this issue will be dealt with in training so it should become less of an issue. Increasingly, then, you should be able to meet with an Access to Work advisor who understands about disabling barriers and doesn’t ask questions based on your medical condition. Do let Access to Work know if anything changes about your circumstances. Don’t be afraid to be creative when thinking about the support you need. Don’t hesitate to ask for a face to face interview, rather than being assessed purely on the basis of your form if you think it will help your case. Don’t spend any money on the support you’re seeking help with before you are given authorisation - Access to Work won’t give retrospective funding. Don’t hesitate to ask for a formal review if you think your assessment is inappropriate. 
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