Work related issues

[Neil McDonald]

I went to see the Opthamologists at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and I am getting some contact lenses - soft on the outside and hard on the inside - something to do with new lenses coming out in a year or two's time. Anyway I was wondering whether or not I could ask work (I'm a teacher) for a few extra things to help me at work. A bigger monitor for a start. I'm quite an ICT literate teacher and I use my PC alot so having a monitor that is a bit easier to see and creating less strain would be a plus - what do I need to do though?

[jayuk]

Neil

You have every right to ask for items that will aid you in doing your job...(within reason).

I woudl suspect that you may want a bigger monitor which can allow for variable resolutions..thus allowing you to enlarge desktop areas on the PC.....thats a start.......

J

[Susan Mason]

Hi Neil

The 'Access to Work' scheme may be able to help you out here.

You would need to contact your local jobcentre and ask to speak to the 'Disability Employment Advisor' who deals with 'access to work' which is basically a government run scheme to help keep people in work by providing support in one way or another and also help with funding for adjustments which can be such as a lerger sized monitor.

You will be asked to fill in some forms and will then be assessed, usually by the RNIB in eyesight cases, recommendations will then be made as to what support could be put in place and how much this would cost.

In the case of an employee who already works for an employer the grant can be up to 80% of the approved costs over the first £300.
If you are just starting a job the grant is up to 100% of the approved costs.

Possibly it all sounds a little complicated however, if it is what gets you a larger monitor and maybe the school budget won't run to it this may be a way forwards for you.

best wishes

Susan

[Anne Klepacz]

Neil - have you seen our leaflet about keratoconus at work on the main site? It gives various suggestions about how employers can help and also gives info about Access to Work and how they can help. You can download it or get a hard copy of the leaflet from me (anneklepacz@aol.com) There's also lots of info in our booklet of the 2003 Conference - Coping with Keratoconus - which includes a talk given by 2 of our teacher members about how they coped at work. Again I can send you one if you e-mail me your postal address.
Anne