Deaf people have told DeafATW that when they have a Workplace Assessment the assessor has said that they can only make recommendations about equipment, and not about communication support. This is frustrating, as deaf BSL users often only need communication support (face to face and/or remote), and deaf English users may need equipment, but often also need communication support (such as remote speech to text).
But the DWP has said that this is not right, Workplace Assessors can make recommendations about communication support as well as equipment.
However Workplace Assessors can only recommend the number of hours support needed if the AtW Adviser has asked them to do this.
If the Workplace Assessor does recommend a number of hours, it is only a recommendation, and the AtW Adviser may award more, the same, or less hours, depending on their overall assessment of needs.
If you have a Workplace Assessment, and the Assessor tells you either that they can only recommend equipment, or that they can’t recommend communication support, please let DeafATW know, and we can tell AtW.