Becca Burke

Speaker

Empowering Neurodiversity in the workplace

Hi, I am Becca!

I'm Becca, a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and understanding ADHD in the workplace. Living with ADHD (combined presentation) myself, I bring a unique blend of professional experiences and personal insights to the conversation about creating inclusive, productive work environments. Equity in the workplace is especially important for us as neurodiverse folk; if given the adjustments and support we need, we can not only survive, but thrive at work.

My professional journey

My career path has been varied, in true ADHD style! From my early days in customer relations to roles in sales and account management, I've always excelled in building relationships and understanding people's needs. My time at a FTSE 100 bank gave me a solid foundation for navigating large organisations and the politics of the office environment, and I then had to adapt quickly to the drastic changes of the Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown. It was during this time, recognising the disruption to my routine, hyperfocusing on work outside of my core hours, and my inability to finish any tasks to completion, that I realised something wasn’t working for my brain.

Throughout my career, I’ve recognised that I was struggling, but never quite understood why. I saw so much of my own journey in the struggles I heard from other neurodiverse people, and I wanted to find a way that I could tangibly make a difference. After my own diagnosis in early 2024, I was inspired to become an ADHD Coach with Leanne Maskell's ADHD Works, and led to me being headhunted for Inclusive Change Ltd as Support Specialist.

My Areas of Expertise

- ADHD awareness and management strategies

- Education and training around ADHD for businesses

- Job coaching neurodivergent clients at work

- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria awareness/training

- Business process improvement for neurodiverse workforce support

- Working with clients as a neurodiversity educated Virtual Assistant

- Neurodivergent talent recruitment and retention

- ADHD Works Level 1 Coach

Living with ADHD

- Physiological difference in the brain

- ADHD facts and figures

- Common misconceptions

- Lived experience

- Interactive Q&A

ADHD in the Workplace

- Common challenges and strategies

- Strengths ADHDers bring to the workplace

- Challenges for us in the workplace

- Helpful strategies

- Reasonable Adjustments

- Equality Act 2010 protection

My Speaking Style

I pride myself on being engaging, insightful, and empathetic. My presentations blend personal anecdotes, research-based strategies, and interactive elements that leave audiences both informed and inspired. I like making complex topics accessible, and providing concrete, implementable solutions to common workplace challenges.

Why Choose Me?

At Inclusive Change, we understand your ‘Why,’ and meet you where you are on your journey as a business. Whether you're looking to educate your HR or leadership teams, or provide valuable insights to your entire organisation, I can help. I don’t believe that we as neurodivergent people need to change who we are to succeed; with the right support, education and awareness, we can be ourselves without compromise.

Work with me

Ready to transform your understanding of ADHD in the workplace?

Would you like me to run a workshop for you?

Get in touch using my calendar below.

Read my blog here: https://inclusivechange.co.uk/blog/b/adhd-and-me

The blog

Waiting for Access to Work - How ICAW Can Help

Access to Work

July 29, 2024•3 min read

The Access to Work grant can have a hugely positive impact on the working lives of neurodiverse and disabled employees across the UK. At ICAW, we are privileged to see the benefits first-hand that this little-known grant can provide to our clients and some of our own employees.

However, the application process and current waiting time for an outcome can prove challenging and daunting for many. At ICAW, our speciality is offering expert guidance and application support to help you maximise this valuable fund.

Read on to find out more about Access to Work, the current waiting time, and the ways ICAW can support you through your Access to Work journey.

What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme. It aims to help people with a physical or mental health condition or disability to start or stay in work. Neurodivergence may well meet that threshold, and you don’t need a diagnosis to apply.

The grant scheme can provide support in a range of different ways. It might pay for specialist equipment, transport costs, or a support worker, among other things.

You can find out more about the eligibility criteria and the kind of support the grant covers on the GOV.UK website.

How long will it take?

The time it takes from application to receiving a grant will of course vary depending on a number of factors; including individual needs, response times between applicant and DWP and, of course, application backlog…

As reported by Disability News Service, this year saw the waiting times for Access to Work continue to rise. According to unpublished government data, 25,063 people were still waiting for a decision on their applications in December 2023.

When I called up the Access to Work helpline, on the day of this blog’s writing, the pre-recorded introductory message warned me that ‘the current wait time to review new applications can be up to 24 weeks’.

For someone who has just discovered this apparent well-kept secret grant and is eager to tap into the support it offers, the wait time may feel disheartening. Perhaps the application might feel more daunting.

If this is the case, we at Inclusive Change at Work may be able to help…

So how can ICAW help?

There are a number of ways that Inclusive Change at Work can provide solutions and support to you during your Access to Work journey.

Application

We know that the application process can be challenging. It can be difficult or daunting to know what support you need or what evidence you need to send. With the additional waiting time, an applicant may feel even more pressured to optimise their application.

We can help by…

Doing it for you. A member of our expert team will take on your application - helping you to identify the support and evidence you need and will complete the form with you. Click here to find out more.
Looking over your application. One of our team can read-over and recommend any tweaks to your completed application. Contact us here to find out more.

Support work

One of the many resources Access to Work can fund is support work. At ICAW, we have our very own support agency - specialise in supporting disabled and neurodiverse individuals by offering tailored assistance in support work, mentoring, and virtual assistance.

This means we can support you…

After you receive your grant. Once you have your funding secured you can reach out to us and our team will be ready and waiting to put your support plan in place.
If you would like to self-fund. If you don’t want to wait for your grant to come through and you would like to self-fund, we would be happy to offer that support to you.