StopChanges2AtW have found that AtW are closing the cases of some Deaf and disabled people whilst they are furloughed. (Furloughed means off work because of Coronavirus, and being paid through the government scheme). They will then have to reapply for ATW when they return to work.

Click here to read more about this in English and BSL (takes you to StopChanges2AtW website).

Click here to see the information in BSL. (This information in BSL was shared by AtW a week after the English information was shared.  This is an improvement).

What are the extra changes?
 
(1)  If you are working from home, and need extra or different support, e.g. remote interpreting, you can ask AtW for this.
 
(2)  If you have health problems that mean you can’t safely use public transport for work at the moment, you can ask AtW for help with transport, e.g. taxis.
 
(3)  If you are anxious about going back to work, and need some support, you can ask AtW for some mental health support. You can get support for up to nine months.  (DeafATW asked AtW, and AtW said that you can get support in BSL with an interpreter).
 
(4)  If you had a letter saying that you are “extremely clinically vulnerable” then AtW will sort out your funding more quickly.
 
Click here to read AtW’s information about these changes in English. 

DeafATW was asked to join two groups who work with AtW to help them improve.  

1)  The AtW Stakeholder Forum. This is a group with people from lots of different organisations. They meet with AtW and bring feedback and suggestions from Deaf and disabled people about AtW.

2)  The AtW Easements Working Group. "Easements" is the word AtW uses to mean 'changes". This is group that meets with AtW and looks at the changes AtW makes because of Coronavirus and lockdown.

I shared the DeafATW survey with the AtW Easements Working Group. This meant that the problems that Deaf AtW users had, and their suggestions how things could improve, were shared with AtW.

Because there had been no information in BSL about the changes to AtW for the first few months of Coronavirus, the Easements Group wrote a letter to Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, about improving the way that changes to AtW are communicated in BSL and English.

In June DeafATW shared a survey with people on the DeafATW mailing list.  We asked three questions and had 40 responses. We can't share the full responses because they are confidential, but you can read our summary of the main themes, issues and suggestions.  The three questions were:
 
(1)  What changes have AtW made to help with COVID-19 that have been good changes that have helped you?   

(2)  How did you find out about these changes?  How clear was AtW information about these changes?  How can AtW communicate with you better about changes?   

(3)  What else could AtW have done to meet your needs during COVID-19 and lockdown?

Click here to download the summary.