[access-uk] Re: Fw: [danmail] cuts to access to work funding
- From: william lomas <lomaswilliam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:26:10 +0100
i see no mention of standard equipment for a blind person though
screenreaders should be in that list if we are good enough at interview for any
job we should be catered for
On Oct 29, 2010, at 8:07 AM, Colin Fowler wrote:
> There's a couple of inclusions that I would hope wouldn't be dismissed out of
> hand as they appear on the list - scanners, and voice recorders.
>
> As far as the contribution element by employers goes, it I believe is correct
> that Public authorities shouldn't get Access to work funding, it just seems
> crazy that central government funding is being used for public authority
> support for employment in this manner. Private company contributions I think
> need to be looked at differently too, if you employ more than 500 people than
> you should be expected to contribute a minimum of 50% towards costs. Access
> to work has been used for so long for employees to duck their
> responsibilities to meet the costs of making reasonable adjustments.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Holdstock" <peterholdstock@xxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 9:26 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Fw: [danmail] cuts to access to work funding
>
>
>> I think the list of standard equipment an employer has to provide seems
>> pretty fare other than the voice activated software as that can be quite
>> costly. Everything else on that list is certainly what the public sector
>> would happily provide so I'd hope the private sector would do the same. As
>> for other changes I've got a meeting regarding them on Tuesday so I'll be
>> interested to hear what guidance is given to us.
>>
>> Peter
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Mike Higgins" <m.j.higgins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 7:03 PM
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Cc: <DISABILITY-RESEARCH@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: [access-uk] Fw: [danmail] cuts to access to work funding
>>
>>> FYI Apologies for cross-posting.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Burnip" <linda_burnip@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <danmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 7:55 PM
>>> Subject: [danmail] cuts to access to work funding
>>>
>>>
>>> this seems to have been kept quiet. Please pass it onto any organisation
>>> you're involved ina nd ask them to contact EHRC as well.
>>>
>>> Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC
>>> 3 More London, Riverside Tooley Street, London, SE1 2RG
>>> Please share the letter with others and ask them to persuade any other
>>> organisations and Trade Unions they are involved with to write to the
>>> EHRC as well - maybe we can persuade them to conduct a proper review.
>>>
>>>
>>> To: Mr. Trevor Phillips, OBE
>>> Chair of the Equality & Human Rights Commission
>>> London
>>> 25th October 2010
>>> Re: recent changes to the operation of the Access to Work scheme
>>> Dear Mr. Phillips
>>> The National Association of Disability Practitioners [NADP] is a membership
>>> organisation of over 700 people working towards disability equality in
>>> post-compulsory education and training. Many of our members are themselves
>>> disabled people. NADP members are totally committed to facilitating disabled
>>> students throughout their journey including into employment and views Access
>>> to Work as an integral part of this system.
>>>
>>> We understand that there have been two recent changes relating to the
>>> operation of the Access to Work scheme:
>>> 1. an increase in the employer's financial contribution
>>> 2. some changes to the items which Access to Work expects the employer to
>>> supply, without A2W assistance (see statement and list in Appendix).
>>> Both of these changes have the effect of putting more of the costs of
>>> supporting a disabled employee back on to the employer.
>>>
>>> The NADP Executive Board is seriously concerned about the potential impact
>>> of any decrease
>>> to the support given by government to employers in encouraging them to make
>>> appropriate provision for the employment of disabled people.
>>>
>>> We believe that the Access to Work scheme improves the employment prospects
>>> of disabled people and represents excellent value for money, especially when
>>> compared to the cost to the state of the various benefits that would
>>> otherwise be paid to unemployed disabled people. With a Spending Review
>>> targeting reductions in Incapacity Benefit, we believe that strengthening
>>> Access to Work would assist in enabling former claimants to obtain suitable
>>> employment.
>>>
>>> The NADP would like to recommend that the EHRC review the recent Access to
>>> Work decisions in the light of the potential real cost of limiting the
>>> prospect of progress towards disability equality in the workplace. Yours
>>> sincerely
>>> Appendix: text of emailed statement received from a senior officer at Access
>>> to Work:
>>>
>>> --- On Tue, 19/10/10, Beasley John JCP CARDIFF COMPANIES HOUSE
>>> <JOHN.BEASLEY1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> From: Beasley John JCP CARDIFF COMPANIES HOUSE
>>> <JOHN.BEASLEY1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: RE: changes to Access to Work - formal request from NADP for a
>>> statement
>>>
>>> The following statement covers the changes.
>>>
>>> It is the legal responsibility of employers to provide reasonable
>>> adjustments to allow disabled staff to do their work. The Access to Work
>>> programme is to provide funding for equipment and support that would be
>>> above and beyond what is reasonable for an employer to supply.
>>>
>>> What support is regarded as "standard and reasonable" is under constant
>>> review and guidance to our staff is regularly updated to reflect ever
>>> changing work practices, I.T. advancements and accepted industry standards.
>>>
>>> As part of this latest update a revised list of equipment has been included
>>> in the Access to Work guidance in order to assist advisers in
>>> making operational decisions.
>>>
>>> I have attached the the list of examples, which is not definitive. If
>>> you require any furhter information, please do not hesitate to contact
>>> me
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>>
>>> **********************************************************************
>>>>
>>> To the email was attached a Microsoft Word document as follows:
>>>
>>> Standard Equipment
>>>
>>> The following list provides examples of items that should be considered as
>>> standard equipment and so cannot be funded by Access to Work. The list is
>>> not intended to be exhaustive.
>>>
>>> Access to Work believe that in normal circumstances an employer should
>>> provide these items as part of their Disability Discrimination Act duty to
>>> make reasonable adjustments.
>>>
>>> Analogue hearing aids
>>> (all digital hearing aids require SEO approval)
>>>
>>> Chairs
>>> (with the exception of very specialist, bespoke examples which require SEO
>>> approval)
>>>
>>> Desks/extenders/bridges/feet/desk raisers
>>> Armrests
>>> Gel rests
>>> Perching Stools
>>> Backrests/wedges/back friend/cushions/swivel pads
>>> Monitor arms
>>> Desk Top Computers
>>> Screens
>>> Screen Raisers
>>> Keyboards (including overlays)
>>> Mice
>>> Printers
>>> Scanners
>>> Fax Machines
>>> Copiers
>>> All Telephony
>>> Document Holders /writing slopes
>>> Flexdesk
>>> Footstools
>>> General office equipment (e.g. staplers, hole punches etc.)
>>> Headphones
>>> Mobile Phones
>>> GPS devises/Sat Navs
>>> Laptop /lapstands
>>> I pad / i-mac tablets
>>> Trolley cases
>>> Drawer Pedestal
>>> Stationary (e.g. pens etc,)
>>> Spectacles
>>> Clothing (gloves, boots etc.)
>>> Voice activated software
>>> Walking aids (sticks, frames, Rollators)
>>> Chair-ups
>>> White Boards
>>> Voice recorders
>>> Internet connections/rentals for home working
>>> Window blinds
>>> Lighting (Daylight lighting, Helix Desk Lamp etc.)
>>> Vehicles appropriate to the job role - such as tractors for farm work, fork
>>> lift trucks for warehouse work or taxi’s for hire
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>
>>> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
>>> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
>>> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
>>> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> ** and in the Subject line type
>>> ** unsubscribe
>>> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
>>> ** immediately-following link:-
>>> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
>>> ** or send a message, to
>>> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
>>>
>>>
>> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
>> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
>> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
>> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> ** and in the Subject line type
>> ** unsubscribe
>> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
>> ** immediately-following link:-
>> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
>> ** or send a message, to
>> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
>
> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ** and in the Subject line type
> ** unsubscribe
> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
> ** immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
> ** or send a message, to
> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
>
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts:
