The Government is to pump an extra £8 million this year into the Access to Work scheme which funds technology for disabled workers.
In the longer term the Government plans to double the budget for Access to Work - which provides IT, travel and support to disabled workers - from £69m to £138m by 2014.
..
"This extra funding ... forms part of the £2 billion package we are investing to give people real help in these tough times,” said minister for disabled people Jonathan Shaw.
The funds would ensure disabled people who are in employment or have a firm job offer do not miss out as a result of the economic climate, he added.
Employers Forum on Disability welcomed the boost to Access to Work, which is run by Jobcentre Plus.
“Many of our members tell us that funding is one of many factors that contribute to a positive experience of using Access to Work,” said chief executive Susan Scott-Parker.
“In particular, a more consistent approach is needed which meets the needs of both employees and employers.
“Despite the obvious value of Access to Work, there still a number of employers who are not aware of the scheme and the benefits it offers.”
Dee Blick, who runs a marketing business and has an upper limb disorder, used Access to Work to reclaim £2,000 of the money she spent on speech recognition software, a chair and training from Hands-Free Computing.
“Access to Work is the best kept secret,” she told Ability. “I have no criticisms of the service or people, but unless you are in the know you just don’t hear about it. They should do some marketing.”
Recent changes to Access to Work have seen contracts to do technical assessments outsourced and the public sector forbidden for claiming for the benefit.
Some observers say outsourcing has led to assessments being carried out by people who lack relevant knowledge.
“The RNIB and Leonard Cheshire do all dyslexia assessments in Scotland. But do they have the skill. It disturbs me,” says Dr Andi Sanderson, lead consultant at iAnsyst.
Another problem, according to Dr Sanderson, is that employees do not have a right to take systems with them when they leave a job. Although they make the original application, their employers own equipment and software.
However, Sanderson is convinced that Access to Work has made a big difference by highlighting disability and reducing the cost of assistance. “It is the best thing the government has done for disabled people, bar the Disability Discrimination Act.”
www.atcare.co.uk