Access to Work Support

 

Support at work that actually fits your brain

Being diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or with another neurotype in adulthood can feel like discovering you’re an Android phone in a world designed entirely for iPhones.

Everyone else seems to know where to turn for support. You’re handed a label, perhaps a leaflet, and then left to work the rest out on your own.

I know that place first-hand.

Before I discovered Access to Work, I was juggling exhaustion, anxiety, and the constant fear of burning out.  At the same time, I was managing parenthood, university, and employment, while trying to fund therapy and doing everything I could to stay afloat. When I finally learnt that the UK government could fund ADHD coaching, it felt almost too good to be true.

But it isn’t.

Access to Work is real. It exists. And for many neurodivergent people, it can be genuinely life‑changing.

 

Many clients come to coaching because work has become harder than it needs to be.

That might look like constant overwhelm, difficulty keeping on top of tasks, exhaustion from masking, or feeling stuck despite working incredibly hard. For others, it’s a new role, a promotion, or self employment that suddenly exposes how unsupported their nervous system feels.

Neurodiversity coaching can be self funded, employer funded, or fully or partially funded through the UK Government’s Access to Work scheme.



Coaching for Work: What Support Can Look Like

Work-focused coaching is practical, grounding, and tailored to how your brain actually functions.

Coaching can support you to:

  • Reduce overwhelm and burnout

  • Build reliable organisational systems

  • Navigate new roles or changing expectations

  • Communicate needs and request adjustments

  • Work with more confidence and sustainability

“Working with Chiara changed how I approach business and visibility. I now have clarity, confidence, and practical tools to move forward.” 
— Tes Macpherson, Co-Founder, CoachOnline

What Is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a UK Government grant designed to help disabled and neurodivergent people stay in work.

It can fund practical support such as neurodiversity coaching, support workers, and tools that reduce the barriers you face at work.

It’s often described as the DWP’s best‑kept secret. Fewer than 1% of eligible people ever use it.

You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. What matters is how your neurotype or health condition affects you in your job.

 

Who can apply?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Are employed or self‑employed

  • Are about to start or return to paid work

  • Feel overwhelmed, disorganised, or exhausted at work

  • Mask heavily just to cope

  • Struggle with focus, planning, emotional regulation, or communication

  • Need support to request or use reasonable adjustments

Access to Work is not about proving how unwell you are. It’s about identifying what support would help you work more sustainably.

 

What can Access to Work fund?

Depending on your situation, Access to Work can cover:

  • 100% of coaching costs if you are self‑employed

  • Full or partial funding if you are employed

  • Ongoing support over several months

  • Renewals if your circumstances change

Coaching is typically funded in structured packages, such as 3–6 months at a time, with the option to reapply.

For official guidance, visit the UK Government website:

What’s the catch?

Access to Work is genuinely supportive, but it isn’t perfect.

It helps to know a few realities upfront:

  • Waiting times are currently around 5–6 months

  • The process can feel bureaucratic and unclear

  • Assessments focus on individual support, not changing your workplace systems

  • Employers have limited involvement beyond confirming employment

That said, your employer still has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments while you wait. Access to Work is additional support, not a replacement.

How do you apply?

You apply directly, either online or by phone.

The application asks about:

  • Your health condition or neurotype (no medical certificate required)

  • Your role and work situation

  • How your condition makes work harder for you

  • Any coping strategies you’ve tried

  • What support you think might help

It’s okay not to have all the answers. Many people are referred for an independent assessment to explore options in more depth.

If you do have a clear sense of what you need, applications can sometimes move more quickly.

What happens after you apply?

An Access to Work adviser will contact you, usually several months later.

You may be:

  • Approved for the support you requested, or

  • Referred for an independent workplace needs assessment

Assessments are separate from your employer and often feel much safer than Occupational Health. Assessors focus on understanding your work and how your neurotype affects it.

Recommendations are then sent to your adviser, who will confirm funding and ask for quotes from providers.

While they may choose the lowest‑cost option, you can usually use your grant with your preferred coach or provider.

Paying for support

  • Employed clients: your employer may pay upfront and claim costs back

  • Self‑employed clients: you usually pay first and reclaim monthly

The paperwork can be fiddly. Administrative support does exist, and I can guide you through what’s required.

What if you disagree with a decision?

You can challenge or request a reconsideration within four weeks.

This often involves explaining why the recommended support doesn’t meet your needs and how the right support would help you stay in work long‑term.

As a coach, I regularly provide clear proposals and quotes to demonstrate cost‑effectiveness and ensure support is genuinely tailored.

Receiving the wrong support helps no one.

Is Access to Work the same as reasonable adjustments?

No.

Employers have a separate legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. This might include flexible hours, clearer communication, admin support, or coaching.

Access to Work sits alongside this. It does not replace employer responsibility.

How I support you

I support clients by:

  • Talking through eligibility calmly and honestly

  • Helping you identify what support would actually help

  • Providing tailored coaching proposals

  • Supporting you to navigate the process without overwhelm

Ready to explore Access to Work support?

If you’re working, struggling, or simply want things to feel more manageable, we can talk.

No pressure. No jargon. Just clarity.

Book a free consultation and we’ll explore your options together.

Coaching for Organisations and Employers

Workplaces thrive when different minds are supported, not flattened.

I work with organisations that want to move beyond awareness and into meaningful inclusion. Coaching and training help teams function more like a well-balanced ecosystem, where different strengths are recognised and supported.

Support includes:

  • Neurodiversity awareness grounded in lived experience

  • Inclusive communication and leadership practices

  • Reducing burnout and overload

  • Supporting managers and HR teams

  • One-to-one coaching for neurodivergent staff

Delivery is available online across the UK, with in-person options by arrangement.

 

“Chiara helped me uncover limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones. I now see the bigger picture and take action with confidence.”

Is This the Right Support for You?

If you’re exploring coaching for work, the best place to start is a free, no-pressure conversation.

This is a calm space to ask questions, explore funding options, and see whether coaching feels like the right fit.

 

Clarity comes first. Decisions come later.

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