Access to Work Guide for ADHD and Neurodivergent Workers
Free Access to Work guide
This is not another dry government leaflet.
I made this because the Access to Work process can leave you feeling lost. I have been through it myself and helped clients work through the same system. The jargon, the waiting, the forms and the uncertainty can be exhausting.
The guide explains Access to Work in plain English. It is written for ADHD and neurodivergent workers, including people who are employed, self-employed, freelance, running a small business or trying to stay in work without falling apart behind the scenes.
“So many of my clients had not even heard of Access to Work, or gave up halfway through. I wrote this to change that.”
What has changed in 2026?
Access to Work is still open, and it can still fund practical workplace support.
The difference is that the process now feels slower, tighter and more demanding than many people expect.
From current client experiences and wider reports, there are three things worth knowing before you apply or chase an existing case.
- Processing times are long. Some people are still waiting many months, and some cases appear to be stretching beyond a year.
- Coaching support can be limited. Some applicants are being offered one block of support, often described as coping strategies or adjustment support.
- Applications need clearer evidence. It helps to explain how ADHD, autism or another condition affects your work, and what support would reduce the barrier.
This does not mean everyone will get the same answer. Access to Work decisions still depend on individual circumstances, the role, the workplace impact and the support requested.
So my advice for 2026 is simple: be clear, be specific, and do not assume the person reading your application understands ADHD at work.
What Access to Work can help with
Access to Work can support people who have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that affects work. For ADHD and neurodivergent workers, this may include support with planning, organisation, communication, travel, workplace adjustments, specialist equipment or coaching-style support.
The exact support depends on your needs. That is why the wording in your application matters.
- Explain what is hard at work.
- Give real examples from your role.
- Link each difficulty to a support need.
- Avoid vague phrases like “I need general help”.
- Say what support would help you stay in work or do your job more reliably.
What makes this guide different?
- It is built on real experience, both mine and my clients’.
- It includes wording and examples you can adapt.
- It is written for neurodivergent readers.
- It covers ADHD coaching, workplace support, travel support and self-employment.
- It explains the process without making you decode government language first.
Download the free guide
Download the free Access to Work guide.
The PDF was created in 2025. This page has been updated in 2026 to reflect the current reality of longer delays and tighter decisions around coaching support.
Download the free guideBefore you apply
Before you fill in the form, write down what actually happens at work. Not just “I struggle with ADHD”, but the real-life effect.
- I miss deadlines because I lose track of task order.
- I struggle to prioritise when several people ask for things at once.
- I become overwhelmed by written instructions spread across emails, chats and meetings.
- I need support turning work demands into a clear system I can use.
- I need help reducing workplace barriers so I can stay in work.
That sort of wording is much stronger than saying you need help coping. It shows the barrier, the work impact and the reason support is needed.
Useful official links
Need help making sense of your application?
If you are stuck working out what to say, a one-off ADHD Brain Session can help you untangle the work impact and find clearer wording.
One problem. One focused conversation.
Useful if you know something is wrong at work, but you cannot quite explain it clearly yet.
Find out about Brain Sessions