Well, September has been quite a month! I’ve given what feels like a million talks, attended my first full day at uni for my coaching and mentoring training and had my kitchen ripped out (they are installing a new one, don’t fret!).
I’ve also really struggled with my own health this month – seeing my capacity reduced probably by half. This has been very challenging, and I’m still frantically playing catch-up with the work I dropped.
Inside, you’ll find renewal tips and my updated AtW Directory, free talks with funded 1:1 support, autumn events and a new practitioners group, campaign updates, an Otter AI spotlight, and ways I can help your team. Read on.
Quick tips
- Is your Support Worker funding up for renewal? Make sure your Case Manager has included the ability to use your hours flexibly in your business case (if relevant). Many claimants are finding that this flexibility has not been automatically transferred from one award to the next.
- Looking for a supplier of funded support, such as Assistive Technology, coaching or a Support Worker? Use my Access to Work Directory – which has recently moved from a spreadsheet to my website.
What I’m up to in October, November and December
1. Regular Free Talks from NeuroRocket
Access to Work talks aimed at neurodivergent workers, run by NeuroRocket and delivered by me. There is always plenty of time to ask questions.
Timetable
10th October- Part 1: Before you apply
7th November- Part 1: Before you apply
28th November- Part 3: Using and managing your grant
12th December – Part 1: Before you apply
Don’t worry if you can’t make it on the day – you will be sent a link to the recording to view later.
FREE 1:1 SUPPORT – once you have attended one of NeuroRocket’s talks you will be eligible to book a fully funded 30 minute advice session with me. You will be sent the details of this in your follow-up email. These sessions are funded by The People’s Postcode Lottery and NeuroRocket. Spaces are limited and aimed at those for whom cost is a barrier to support and need help with their personal situation (rather than generic information which can be given at a talk).
2. Attending innovATe 2025 Manchester, 23rd October
Catch me hanging out at innovATe 2025 Manchester. This one-day in-person event showcases Assistive Technology from a range of suppliers, including Habitat Learn, Dolphin Computer Access, Glean, Everyway, Brain in Hand, Ayoa and Spellex. Grab me for a chat if you’re coming.
3. Delivering a talk to the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA), 29th October
I will be joining Andy Rigby, Enablement Lead from Posturite, to talk about the latest Access to Work updates, looking at both operational and policy changes.
This event is for BATA members only. If you’d like to access the webinar and are not a BATA member, get in touch by emailing info@bataonline.org.
You can read more about this Workplace Special Interest Group meeting on the BATA website.
4. Bristol Professionals Meetup, 6th November
I’m really excited to invite you to a casual networking opportunity for professionals in the Bristol area who support disabled people in the workplace.
I’ll be providing tea, coffee and hopefully cake!
If you have a professional interest in disability and work then you are extremely welcome. Some examples might be: DEI professional, Assistive Technology trainer, Workplace Coach, Workplace Needs Assessor, Support Worker, HR professional, disability consultant, Job Coach, researcher, Supported Employment organisation, Assistive Technology supplier.
Please pass on this invite – the room has plenty of space 🙂.
- What: FREE casual meetup for disability and work professionals in Bristol
- When: 6th November 2025, 2-4pm
- Where: Pulp Room, St Anne’s House, Brislington, BS4 4AB
- How: let me know you’re coming and if you have any dietary or access requirements
- Access: carpark, 4 disabled spaces, ramp and accessible electric door, room is on the ground floor, accessible toilet
You can read more about St Anne’s House and accessibility at St Anne’s House.
5. Access to Work Practitioner’s Discussion Group, 11th November
I have set up a new discussion group for professionals regularly involved in supporting people with Access to Work. To share experiences and knowledge, develop community understanding, and share best practices.
This will be our first meeting with the aim of:
- Introduce ourselves and our role in relation to Access to Work
- Decide on how the group will be run, including frequency and length of sessions; discussion topics; objectives of the group; confidentiality; any outputs; and roles.
DWP Disability Services Advocacy Team
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Disability Services Advocacy Team are running a series of ‘external stakeholder sessions’ (for organisations outside the DWP) about Access to Work (alongside other benefits and grants such as PIP, DLA and others).
The sessions cover what Access to Work is, what it can support with, eligibility criteria and the customer journey. There is an opportunity for Q&A at the end of the session.
Sessions can be booked through Eventbrite using the information on these leaflets provided by the DWP (you need a direct booking link and password):
Campaign updates
The Access to Work Collective is conducting an academic study into the socio-economic impact of Access to Work, its value to the economy, workplace inclusion and individual wellbeing to produce evidence-based recommendations to improve the scheme. They are working in partnership with the Centre for Innovation Management Research at Birkbeck, University of London. They have set up two boards: a stakeholder board and an academic research board to guide the project.
I’m excited to say that I have joined the stakeholder board and am looking forward to getting stuck in. I met my fellow board members at an initial meeting last week, and I think it’s going to be a great opportunity.
You can find out more about the Access to Work Collective on LinkedIn.
Access to Work has continued to be in the news this month.
- BBC News ‘I created a successful business thanks to a disability grant – but cuts will sink it’
- Disability News Service ‘Minister admits signing off on order that led to widespread cuts to Access to Work’
- Disability News Service ‘Darling accuses DWP of ‘absolutely shameful’ cover-up over Access to Work changes’
- Forbes ‘Promoting Disabled Peoples’ Careers: Access to Work’
Simply click the underlined text above to read each article.
Spotlight on…
Otter AI
My regular monthly slot to showcase products, services, organisations, tools and strategies that you might find useful.
This month, it’s Otter AI.
Otter is one of many AI notetakers that can be funded through Access to Work. AI notetakers join online calls with you, record the conversation, and create a transcript. Each notetaker has unique features; what I love about Otter is the built-in AI. The AI chat can be used to interrogate individual transcripts and groups of transcripts. It can answer questions and create summaries, and follow-up emails.
Get help from me
Did you know that I carry out standard and bespoke talks and workshops on all areas of Access to Work?
Some examples include:
- Using Access to Work to support neurodivergent people transitioning into employment
- Filling out the Support Worker Record of Tasks form – a workshop for Job/Work coaches supporting disabled people into employment
- How Access to Work fits in with Reasonable Adjustments and inclusion by design
- How Access to Work has changed and what we might expect in the future
When you commission a session from me, you can expect:
- A 1-hour prep call – to help me understand what you want to achieve with the training, what problems you have with Access to Work, what areas I should focus on and what knowledge and experience the audience already has.
- A slide pack sent to you to share in advance (and an agenda/activity descriptions if relevant)
- A training session (talk or workshop) delivered on your preferred platform. Session length will vary, but would normally be between 1 and 3 hours.
- A follow-up call to discuss the session and get feedback.
I can deliver sessions to a number of audiences – it could be coaches, support workers, managers, a disability network, employees, and disabled service users.Costs vary, but normally start at £400. Book a chat with me to discuss your requirements and get a personalised quote.
Simply click the underlined text above to visit my website.
That’s all for now
See you next month,
Alice 😊
P.S. Missed an issue of the newsletter? You can catch up in my newsletter archive.