Access to Work: A Lifeline for Self-Employed Neurodivergent Women

Embracing Your Unique Path

When most people hear “Access to Work,” they picture office jobs, spreadsheets, and HR teams ticking boxes for reasonable adjustments. But here’s the truth: Access to Work is just as much for wild-hearted, self-employed, neurodivergent folks carving their own path.

Yes, even if your desk is your dining table.

Yes, even if you work in your slippers.

Yes, even if your to-do list is held together with post-its and vibes.

If you're self-employed, creative, and especially if you identify as AuDHD, Access to Work coaching might be the exact support you've been craving.

Wait… Self-Employed People Can Get AuDHD Access to Work Coaching Support Too?

Absolutely! The Access to Work scheme is open to you if you’re self-employed. Whether you’re a sole trader, running a micro-business, side-hustling, freelancing, or figuring it all out as you go, this support is for you.

And no, you don’t need to be earning six figures or working full-time. It’s often the neurodivergent self-employed individuals who need this kind of support the most. When you are the boss, the marketer, the finance team, the ideas person, and the one responsible for actually doing the work, it can feel overwhelming.

It's Not Just About Being More “Organised”

There’s a big myth that Access to Work coaching is only for people who need help managing spreadsheets or surviving in corporate systems. But what about those of us running values-led, creative, heart-first businesses—and still struggling?

• Do you find it hard to show up when self-doubt hits like a wave?

• Does rejection-sensitive dysphoria turn one unfollow into a week of paralysis?

• Are you trying to stay aligned with your purpose without burning out?

• Do you ride the rollercoaster of motivation, energy, and executive function that AuDHD brains bring?

  
  

This is where Access to Work coaching can be a lifeline. It’s not just about getting more done; it’s about feeling more you in how you work.

Coaching That Meets You, Not Just Your Task List

The support I offer through Access to Work coaching isn’t about cramming you into a productivity system that was never made for your brain. It’s about creating space to reconnect with your strengths, honour your rhythms, and build a way of working that feels good and sustainable.

We might explore things like:

• Gently untangling from people-pleasing, perfectionism, and procrastination (yep, the 3Ps).

• Building confidence to show up on your terms—no masking required.

• Navigating visibility wobbles and learning how to self-resource when you feel exposed.

• Figuring out your version of “structure” that doesn’t feel like a cage.

• Naming and working with RSD, internalised ableism, or that ever-lurking imposter voice.

• Staying values-led and human in a world that pushes hustle and conformity.

  
  

Real Support, Real Humans

Let me share a story about one of my past clients, L. She was a photographer with AuDHD, building a soulful, storytelling brand but quietly drowning in doubt. She once told me, “I feel like I’m either doing everything at once or frozen. I love what I do, but I can’t seem to get out of my own way.”

Through coaching, we found her rhythms, built supportive rituals, and softened the inner voice that told her she needed to be more “professional” to be successful. By the end, she wasn’t just trying to keep up—she was leading from her own pace.

Another client, J, ran a small wellness practice and kept wondering if she was “neurodivergent enough” to ask for help. Spoiler: she was. After coaching, she felt more resourced, centred in her values, and a lot less alone.

You Deserve Support That Sees Your Whole Self

If you’ve ever thought, “Access to Work isn’t for people like me,” let this be your invitation to rethink that.

This scheme is here for the neurodivergent business owners, the creative rebels, the quietly wild ones building things their own way—not just for office workers in snazzy glass buildings.

Read more about Access to Work coaching here, including how to find out if you're eligible, how to apply, and see what kind of support might be possible for your brilliant, nonlinear, purpose-driven business.

You don’t have to do it all on your own. And you don’t have to change who you are to be worthy of support. Embrace your journey and let’s navigate it together.