Access to Work

[barkingmad]

Stone, you do have the right to state that the chair isnt working for you. I am surprised that they didnt do what Pink said as well. If you cant use the chair or adjust the chair (which most of us would have to do fairly often as we often have to change sitting positions in relation to whatever current injury we have) without subluxing or straining then that chair is no good for you. Ring your supplier and A2W officer and discuss it, dont just put up with it.

Dragondee you can ask for a cushion to assist with sitting on the chair. I have three, one for the car, office and wheelchair. The one for the wheelchair is definitely the best as it has some memory foam in it and absorbs all shocks etc.

Hannah that is good news, we want a picture of the space suit! It sounds like your A2W officer went beyond the call of duty which you certainly deserve.

[Stone]

They showed me how to use it, I thought it'd be ok but after the rest of the day you're right, it needs adjusting too often...

Shame really, it's actually a really nice chair! Can't remember the model offhand but I'll check tomorrow. Maybe I can get them to adjust the tension on the handles?

To add insult to injury the knob adjusting spring tension in the free-float mode can't be reached when you're sitting in it I'll have a whinge at them tomorrow.

Hannah: your bloke sounds lovely I like the space-suit idea...

Stone

[pretzel]

It's not one of these is it?

[Stone]

No, I think it's one of these:


(there are several very similar and it doesn't say exactly which on the chair...)

It's very comfy, it's just that I can't adjust it very easily! The inflatable lumbar support under the memory foam is particularly good.

Stone

[pink]

I have one v similar stone (if not that one) and the controls are very stiff. luckily i don't dislocate easily just get pains so am able to use the controls with some effort but it is seriously the comfiest 'work' chair i have ever had. On a wierder note, I sit properly at work but cannot do so at home - i lounge/slouch/curl up to the best i can. Anyone else find they do that? I can't get comfy otherwise!

[Lillithe4th]

Hi there. The blue chair looks the same as my one at work. I got it secondhand from a local office supplies place which are really good about letting you loose in their backroom to try out different chairs etc. Once mine was set for me others are on a severe warning if they dare to adjust it! They can borrow it but sit my way. It really supports my back but yes at home I slouch and tuck then lie flat for a while (then sometimes snooze).

[lea197]

Can anyone advise where I can find access to work and what it is they do please.

Many thanks

[Stone]

Can anyone advise where I can find access to work and what it is they do please.

All the info is on their website (link here) but in short they aim to help disabled people get into work, or stay in work once they've got it. They mostly do this by paying for adaptations etc but they do have other resources like sending physios to look at your workstation etc.

Give them a ring, they don't bite

Stone

mod edit - link fixed

[Spireite]

Sorry I beg to differ. I rang them up and got my head blown off. It was an 0208 number I was told to ring by my Disability Employment Advisor. I think it is on the website also. They won't help until you are in work. They won't tell you in advance what they might help with. 'GO AWAY.'

Stone I do like the look of the blue chair. All I need is one like that with lumbar support and 35cm deep and I don't get on with memory foam so not that. Do you know if they can do it? I've been looking for 8 years or so and can't get one that depth at all. Am I really asking for the earth?

[Rosie]

You are right Spireite, Access to Work are to help people who are already in work, or about to start work. That is there remit so they don't help people to find work, or help people who do not have any work. I think that help like this is provided by the DEA.



Rosie

[Stone]

Ah, yes, sorry, I should have mentioned by 'get into work' I really meant 'settle into work'. The rules are slightly different depending when you involve them - if it's within the first 8 weeks in a new job you get slightly more funding, but the rules are quite complicated.

Rosie's right, they can't/won't do anything if you're not about to start work or already working, didn't mean to get your hopes up!

My chair has lumbar support (there's a pump-up inflatable cushion hidden in the back rest that you can make harder or softer with a small handpump clipped underneath) but I really don't know about the rest - I strongly suspect like all these things it depends on who you get and your attitude to getting help, by which I mean if I put my "helpless male" voice on it seems to make them more eager to help you

Stone

[Rosie]

Hi all

I had a chair provided by ATW and they measured me before it was made. They took measurements for knee to floor so your feet reach the floor and your hips are the correct angle, also meaurements for the depth of the chair, if you need arms they measure for these, and for teh lumbar support. Everything was adjustable, and the best bit was a headrest. It came with instructions for my boss to explain that I needed to rest my head on the rest for a few minutes each hour to give my shoulder muscles a rest. When the chair arrived it was brought by the makers as it was adjusted to fit better. Unfortunately, my employer took so long to get everything organised, I only used my chair for a short while before I went on long term sick leave and was then retired, so I didn't get to see how much it would have helped.



Rosie

[Spireite]

The point is, my helpful DEA ORDERED me to ring AtW and then report back when I had to go back and see her again this morning. When AtW blew a fuse instead of saying 'hello how can I help you' they didn't know if they were speaking to someone in employment, unemployed or the Secretary of State for Health. The DEA instructed me to ring to see if they are at all able to provide a chair for someone seemingly so exceptionally short as me at 5 foot 1. I can buy clothes off the shelf, albeit from the petite range, but chairs are all far far far too big. Chair manufacturers who claim to make chairs for all shapes and sizes only do so for average sized men, and not even close for petite women. It's been Groundhog Day so many times. I need a chair 35cm deep, and have been looking in vain for 8 years. No-one but no-one can do it. The DEA ordered me to ring, to save me getting excited after 8 long long years unnecessarily only to be let down yet again, or more like, being down in the utterly hopeless dumps when there is some hope of one day unbelievably having a chair to fit me. But what AtW can do seems to be classified information. So I assume the worst and remain depressed.

[aninja]

Hi Speirite

A proper assessment for a chair, they should measure from ankle to knee, knee to back of bottom, bottom to shoulders to ensure it is correct for you. they should also take into your weight. They may not offer this sevrice initially,cos everyone wants to do things on the cheap! So if it isnt right first time, get them out again!

My chair is specifically measured for me and even has, free floating action, so if i lean forward the chair goes with me, still supporting my back! it also has a memory gel pad seat. Also I have a height adjustable desk so I can stand or sit when i need to.

consider all the things that you may need, even chubby pens etc and write them down before you see them. tell access to work if you ever feel you need a review.

Unfortunately my employer will not make adjustments to my role, so I may lose my job all together soon.

Hope this helps, feel free to pm me if you need further info

aninja
xx

[Spireite]

Thanks Aninja,

Sorry I don't want to sound too depressed but it is wearing after 8 years searching in vain.

A height adjustable desk, so I could continually switch between sitting and standing would be good, but not sure what it would do for my wrists. The thing I need the most is a chair to fit to stop my vertebrae, any and all of them, subluxing all day every day when I sit as well as SIJs. The point is I am only Kylie Minogue sized, and no company on the planet seems to make a chair our size. We can put men on the moon, but no-one can make a chair 35cm deep. Even if they measure me, can they make a chair to fit? Or are they going to turn round like all the others and say, never come across anyone as short as you before. No can do. I have been through this loop so many many times and no-one can make a chair that small for any money. I suffer from being a petite woman as well as having chronic total spinal trouble. My DEA doesn't think they can help me and so has put me on yet another weary trail chasing up some other disability advisor. My whole social life is looking for chairs to fit, shoes I can walk in..............................

The point is, can they actually make a chair to fit petite women? Something no company I've come across can do?