Your access needs and access rider

A practical guide to identifying, communicating and recording what helps you work well.

Access needs are individual. They may relate to a disability, health condition, neurodivergence, caring responsibility or another aspect of how you work. They may also change between jobs, environments or different stages of a project.

Communicating what you need can be particularly difficult when you move between short contracts, projects and employers. This page offers practical prompts to help you identify what supports you, decide what you want to share and communicate it clearly.

An access rider is a short document explaining what you need in order to work well and safely. You do not have to use a particular template or disclose more personal information than is necessary. An access rider can support a conversation, but it does not replace an engager’s legal duties.

What is an access rider?

An access rider is a short document that explains the practical arrangements, adjustments or support that help you participate and work well.

It can help you communicate access needs clearly and consistently without starting from scratch every time you begin a job, attend an audition or work with a new team.

An access rider might include information about:

• Communication and how you receive information
• Schedules, breaks and working patterns
• Physical access and movement around a venue
• Sensory needs and working environments
• Travel, touring and accommodation
• Food, medication, toilets or rest spaces
• Support from another person, interpreter or assistance animal
• What would help if your needs change during the work

It does not have to include a diagnosis, detailed medical information or anything you do not feel comfortable sharing. It can be as short or detailed as is useful for you.

Think about what helps you work well

You do not need to work through a long checklist or anticipate every situation. Start with the parts of the work that are most likely to affect you and the practical changes that have helped before.

You might want to think about:

• Communication: how you prefer to receive instructions, schedules, feedback or changes
• Time and pace: breaks, call times, additional processing time or flexibility around particular tasks
• The environment: physical access, seating, lighting, sound, temperature, toilets or a quieter space
• Travel and touring: transport, accommodation, arrival time, rest or assistance with unfamiliar venues
• Doing the work: equipment, movement, costume, performance, technical tasks or alternative ways to participate
• If something changes: who you can contact and what may help if your needs fluctuate during the engagement

Choose only what is relevant to you and this particular job. A specialist access organisation, your union or another trusted source may be able to help if you are unsure what to ask for.

Sharing and updating your access rider

Your access rider is a starting point for a practical conversation. You can adapt it for each engagement rather than sharing the same information every time.

• Share it with the relevant person. This might be a producer, company manager, stage manager, casting team, access contact or another named member of the team.
• Ask early where you can. This gives everyone more time to discuss arrangements before an audition, journey or engagement begins.
• Keep it focused. Include what is useful for this particular job, venue or stage of the process.
• Ask about privacy. You can ask who needs to see the document, how it will be stored and whether it will be shared.
• Update it when needed. Access needs can fluctuate or change as the work develops. Let the relevant person know if an agreed arrangement is no longer working.

If a particular request cannot be arranged as proposed, you might ask what alternatives are available. If you need individual support with a concern, contact your union, professional association or an access-led organisation.

Further support

If you would like more detailed guidance, help identifying access needs or support with a concern, these organisations may be useful:

• Disability Arts Online: Access riders
  Access-led guidance, examples and templates for creating an access rider.
• PiPA: ‘Work with me’ Care-Inclusive Access Rider
  A practical rider designed to help parents and carers consider and communicate how their caring responsibilities intersect with their work.
• Equity: Accessibility toolkit
  Practical guidance about access riders and accessible working arrangements. Members can also contact Equity about an individual concern.
• Access to Work: England, Scotland and Wales
  Official information about possible practical and financial support connected with paid work. Eligibility and the support available depend on individual circumstances.
• Access to Work Northern Ireland
  Official information about the separate Access to Work programme in Northern Ireland.
• Unions, networks and where to get help
  Find unions, professional associations and other sources of support relevant to freelance performing-arts work.
• Art For Anyone – an access workbook
  A new resource has designed to help local arts organisations, community groups, and venues ensure they consider the access needs of different people when planning events.