When I got laid off work in 2012 (for the second time!) because of the mind crippling effects of modern fluorescent and LED lights in the workplace – the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) was the first place I went to. They referred me to some national organisations – which after much liaison turned out to provide little help as they didn’t understand the issues.
After nearly 2 years this time out of work, I finally managed to get a job offer from my current company – the only one who was prepared to make the minor adjustments to get me back into the workplace.
Up to this point I had repeatedly tried to get help from Access to Work (ATW) – but to no avail. They didn’t seem to understand how difficult it is to get an employer to make the adjustments. The Job Centre was equally unhelpful. They just said I should not be having problems with modern fluorescent lights as they are better than the older ones!
The employer who gave me the offer required an assessment from Access To Work – and after much badgering, I managed to get them to send someone – so my company could tick the box, which they would not allow me to start work without.
The sheer irony of the situation is that despite knowing that it was a light sensitivity and migraine issue – ATW sent a physiotherapist. Her advice was to regularly drink water, take breaks and she offered expensive office equipment from ATW, which quite clearly would not have been of any help to me. I didn’t take the funding as I thought it was a waste of tax money. She didn’t have much understanding of migraines or light sensitivity at all. Who does?