How can I get help for adaptive technology when I get a job?
You can get support through a scheme called Access to Work. This is a fund which you and your employer can apply to for things like IT equipment and Software, reader support, amongst other things. It's all about making any adjustments to the workplace which will enable you to do your job. You can talk to a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local JobCentre Plus about applying for Access to Work funds. You could also check out the following weblink for full details of Access to Work http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/HelpForDisabledPeople/AccesstoWork
It’s a good idea also to do your homework when you are looking for jobs so that you can let a prospective employer know the nature of adaptive technology that you may need. If you are not sure, you can ask a DEA about this even before you get a job.
Here is an example of a person whose use of adaptive technology was crucial to her career:
I was 28 when I became visually impaired and just submitted my dissertation for an MA in Education. I was in a managerial role at the time and was confident and enjoying my work. The sudden deterioration in my vision did affect my confidence. I had to adjust to suddenly finding tasks that I had once found straight-forward; challenging and tiring. Perhaps the biggest of these related to reading and computer work. At first I struggled on, feeling ashamed and anxious about declaring my disability. I then discovered adaptive technology, including software screen magnifiers, bright-field handheld magnifiers and even portable CCTV. Through Access to Work, a government scheme which funds equipment for people in employment with disabilities, I underwent an assessment of my needs and received the equipment for free. The difference having adaptive technology has made for me is remarkable. In relation to employment, it has enabled me to focus my attention on my competencies and not on my disability. In terms of disclosing my disability to employers, when I did apply for other posts, the support from Access to Work allowed me to inform employers that my disability was something I could manage and that it would not impair my performance or cost the employer money.
Overall, I no longer feel the need to be apologetic about my disability and now see it as part of who I am. If I need help I ask for it, explaining why I need help. I find that my openness regarding my disability and how it impacts on my life enables other people to express their curiosity and breaks down their fears regarding what disability means.
