Access requirements: a little communication

Access requirements? Reasonable adjustments? Some readers may be about to turn the page assuming this article is not for them. But let me ask: are you neurodivergent? Going through menopause? Experiencing low mood, anxiety or phobias? Do you have a long-term injury or Long Covid symptoms? Have ‘an impairment’ that impacts your physical or mental abilities?

If you answered yes to any of these then publishers, agents and event organisers have a legal responsibility under section 83 of the Equality Act 2010 to ensure you ‘are not substantially disadvantaged’, and to make what are called ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure accessibility. This obligation doesn’t just apply to employees but also people with ‘a contract personally to do work’ – and that means authors.

Accessibility doesn’t just mean wheelchair ramps and Blue Badge parking. It relates to any barriers that prevent you from functioning to the best of your ability and achieving the same as non-disabled people. Do you struggle to sit on the high stools they have at literary events? Do you have a sleep disturbance that makes early-morning meetings a nightmare? Maybe you’re unable to travel, so it’s easier for you to talk to your editor or agent on the phone, or perhaps you struggle to hear and need to videoconference with captions enabled, or you find in-person events over stimulating – in which case virtual events might be preferable, or at least the provision of a quiet room to rest in before and after the event.

These small adjustments make tasks more manageable for disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent people. They are small, and no- or low-cost, but it can still be hard to ask. Many authors worry about how they will be perceived and if they will face discrimination. Yet trying to struggle through puts you at a disadvantage and can be detrimental to your well-being and ultimately your career.

What it takes is a little communication between you and the people you’re working with. That’s why Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (ADCI) recently launched our Access Requirements Form. Based on the Access Rider Open Template produced by the charity Disability Arts, the form allows disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent authors to convey what adaptions and adjustments they need in a clear, concise and unemotional way.

The document is confidential and is only shared with those you give permission to see it. You are not obligated to disclose any medical details or prove your condition(s) but you canoutline exactly what you need – covering everything from communications to work, events and performances, as well as travel, accommodation, meetings, marketing and photography and filming.

What you request will be specific to your own individual needs. Do you need longer deadlines and flexibility built in, in case of fluctuating symptoms? Can you only use specific software to edit your work? Do you require printed versions of proofs? Do you need someone to assist you with travel to and from events, meaning you both need accommodation? All of these are reasonable requests and you won’t be the first author to make them.

The Access Requirements Form also provides a record of agreed support and reasonable adjustments so you can refer back to it as a reminder to all involved. It reduces the need to reassess for new contracts or projects, although you can always update it. And it allows for accommodations to be built in from the beginning, rather than trying to adapt a situation at the last minute, saving time, energy, money and stress.

ADCI’s aim is that the Access Requirements Form becomes industry-standard and commonplace, helping authors ask for what they need and helping the publishing industry become a more inclusive, accessible and equitable place for all.

The Access Requirements Form is available in multiple formats to ensure accessibility. You can download them here

To find out how the form works and why it’s so essential, sign up to the ADCI ‘

ADCI

Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (ADCI)is open to Society of Authors members who self-identify as disabled, chronically ill or neurodivergent. According to the Equality Act 2010, you’re considered disabled if your condition ‘has a “substantial” and “long-term” negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities’. With more than 650 members, the network is a welcoming, friendly and supportive environment.

Whether you want to contribute to the discussions or just find a space to read the experiences of others and know you’re not alone, then ADCI is the place for you. We have a Facebook group and a monthly Zoom meeting.

To join please contact ewoodmeade@societyofauthors.org

For additional resources and information on disability in publishing, see: www.clairewade.com/adci

This article first appeared in the Autumn edition of The Author