Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists
Access to Work: Changes 2025
Decode is a partnership between Disability Arts Online and Cathy Waller Company which provides a vital service that supports employers and empowers disabled creatives to navigate through the Access To Work application process.
As you are aware, disabled artists and workers have been experiencing increased difficulties with the DWP’s Access to Work scheme. These have included unfeasibly long waiting times, inconsistent decision making and cuts at renewals.
New planned changes (leaked two weeks ago) will destroy many disabled people’s chances of getting and staying in work in all industries. It will roll back years of progress we've made in the culture sector to increase representation and participation of disabled artists and workers.
If you or anyone you know will be impacted by these changes, here are some things you can do:
- read the information page on the DAO website that details what we know so far;
- attend one of the DAO emergency sector support zoom meetings on 5, 6, & 9 June for organisations and individuals to get the latest information and ask questions;
- sign the open letter to Lisa Nandy MP (DCMS) and Liz Kendall MP (DWP) to ask them to take a series of immediate actions to ensure a full and proper consultation takes place;
- share DAO suggested social media posts with your networks to raise awareness and encourage action.