Access to work- autism

[SqueakyRadish]

Has anyone claimed for an access to work grant due to autism?

I've recently started working part time after a looooong break from the workplace and I'm finding it really hard coping with all the extra stresses. This is mainly focused around admin in terms of having a whole new set of things to remember and get done on time along with the regular childcare/school/kids health/my health/house/pets/car etc stuff

Just wondered how easy it is to be accepted for the grant, and if I could use it to pay a personal assistant to just help me keep on top of everything??

If you apply you will be assessed. I don't think anyone with a disability that impacts them gets told they will get nothing, as surely that is the point.

The point isn't to help you manage your life outside work, it's to help you cope at work, so things like noise cancelling headphones and you may also get 1.1 coaching with an Autism specialist. Some coaches will take into account the holistic factors around your life that impact on work and as far as I know you can find your own coach if you tell them in advance and give them the quote.

Personal assistants tend to be for self employed people.

I could be completely wrong and there may be some kind of support like you describe available to you but I am not sure it would be through Access to Work.

Heya I’m an ADHD coach and I deal with ATW a lot.

basically if it’s harder for you because of autism then you can get support for it

so if admin is harder for you you can get a support worker to help.

I have ADHD and I have an assistant through access to work

Yes, I have. Think about things that might help you cope better at work, like a Grammarly or ChatGPT subscription to help with choosing the right (friendlier) words in emails, a second monitor, or read-aloud software.