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Meeting with Amanda Martin MP: Raising Concerns About Access to Work Delays
Discussing the Impact of Access to Work Delays
On Saturday 19 September, Liz Hood from InSignLanguage Ltd met with Amanda Martin MP at a constituency surgery to discuss the significant challenges that Deaf people, employers, and support providers are currently experiencing with Access to Work (AtW).
Access to Work plays an essential role in helping Deaf people enter, remain in, and progress in employment by providing funding for workplace support, including British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. However, delays in decision-making, communication difficulties, funding issues, and administrative barriers are increasingly affecting those who rely on the scheme.
At InSignLanguage, we regularly see the difference that effective support can make. We also see the impact when that support is delayed or unavailable.
Do You Need Help with Access to Work?
If you are a Deaf employee, employer, or support provider experiencing difficulties with Access to Work, our team may be able to help.
Real Examples of the Challenges
During the meeting, two recent examples were shared to demonstrate the impact that delays can have on both Deaf employees and support providers.
One case involved a Deaf employee working at Buckingham Palace. Interpreting support had been arranged, but cancelled bookings resulted in substantial unrecovered costs, leaving those costs to be absorbed by the support provider.
A second case involved a Deaf employee whose Access to Work support application was submitted in July 2024. A decision was not made until 17 July 2026, almost two years later. Although funding was eventually approved, the award covered only the period from July 2026 to July 2027. The interpreting support required during the previous two years had already been provided, leaving InSignLanguage Ltd to absorb the cost of supporting the employee while waiting for a decision.
These cases are not isolated incidents. They form part of a wider pattern of delays, communication barriers, funding difficulties, and administrative challenges experienced by Deaf employees, interpreters, employers, and support providers across the country.
Share Your Experience
Have you experienced:
✅ Delays in obtaining an Access to Work decision?
✅ Difficulties communicating with Access to Work?
✅ Funding or payment issues?
✅ Challenges securing workplace support?
We would like to hear from you.
Your experiences help highlight the real impact of these delays and support ongoing efforts to improve the system.
Why This Matters
BSL interpreting support is not simply a workplace adjustment. It is often the difference between being able to access conversations, meetings, training, and opportunities, or being excluded from them.
When Access to Work works well, Deaf employees can participate fully alongside their hearing colleagues and employers can build genuinely accessible workplaces.
When decisions are delayed for months or even years, the consequences can affect careers, businesses, interpreters, and support providers alike.
Amanda Martin MP acknowledged the importance of ensuring Deaf people have equal access to employment opportunities and recognised the difficulties faced by organisations that continue delivering essential support while waiting for decisions and payments.
Learn More About Workplace Accessibility
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Discover how professional BSL interpreting and workplace accessibility support can help.
Next Steps
During the discussion, Amanda Martin MP advised that Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, would be an appropriate person for these concerns to be raised with.
As Parliament's annual conference season is currently taking place, Amanda explained that normal parliamentary business would resume in October. She requested a written summary of the issues so that she could consider the next steps and discuss the concerns with the relevant department.
It was encouraging to have the opportunity to discuss these challenges directly and know that the experiences of Deaf employees, interpreters, employers, and support providers are being heard.
Raising Awareness
As a welcome surprise following the meeting, Amanda Martin MP later shared a photograph of the discussion on social media, helping to raise awareness of the importance of improving support for Deaf people in employment.
Public awareness and open conversations are an important part of achieving change. The more decision-makers understand the impact of current challenges, the greater the opportunity to create improvements that benefit Deaf people and the organisations that support them.
Looking Ahead
Access to Work has the potential to transform lives by removing barriers to employment and enabling Deaf people to thrive in their chosen careers.
However, the system can only fulfil its purpose if support is delivered in a timely, reliable, and effective manner.
InSignLanguage Ltd remains committed to supporting Deaf people in the workplace while continuing to advocate for positive changes that ensure the Access to Work scheme works for everyone who relies upon it.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and contributing to meaningful improvements that help Deaf employees access the support they need to succeed.
Need Help with Access to Work?
If you are Deaf, employ a Deaf member of staff, or are supporting someone who needs workplace adjustments, Access to Work can provide funding towards communication support, including BSL interpreting services.
Applying for Access to Work can sometimes feel complicated, particularly if it is your first application.
At InSignLanguage, we can help you understand the process and discuss the support options that may be available.
We can help with:
✅ Understanding Access to Work
✅ Applying for workplace support
✅ Arranging BSL interpreting services
✅ Supporting employers and employees through the process
✅ Answering questions about communication support in the workplace
Help Us Improve Access to Work
Real change starts with real experiences.
Whether you are:
✅ A Deaf employee
✅ An employer
✅ A BSL interpreter
✅ A support provider
✅ A family member supporting someone through the Access to Work process
Your voice matters.
By sharing your experiences, you can help us highlight the challenges facing the Deaf community and contribute to conversations that may drive positive change.
Please leave a comment below and join the discussion.
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