Ask first, then make the practical changes
Ask what triggers it, then agree practical changes: noise-cancelling headphones, a quiet space, dimmed screens, flexible hours. These reasonable adjustments are a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010, not a favour. The conversation has to come first, because the same open-plan office that one person barely notices can leave another unable to think for the noise, lights, smells or constant movement. The most effective adjustments are the ones you agree together, not the ones you guess at National Autistic Society. Keep it private, let the person lead on what gets in their way, and write down what you settle on.
Put the low-cost changes in place
Most sensory adjustments are quick, cheap and tend to help the whole team. Acas lists the common ones for noise, light, smell and busyness Acas:
- Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders.
- A private, quiet space to step away to, or a quiet desk away from a hot-desking zone, printers and foot traffic.
- Screen filters or settings that cut brightness and glare.
- A relaxed dress code so uniform fabrics or fit are not a problem.
- Flexible or hybrid hours and scheduled breaks, plus advance warning of changes so they are not sprung on the person.
Treat each change as a trial. Agree it, log it in a workplace adjustments passport so it does not have to be renegotiated every time a manager changes, put a review date in the diary, and check back on what is working. The duty does not wait for a diagnosis or a formal written request: it is triggered once you know, or could reasonably be expected to know, that someone is disabled and at a substantial disadvantage Equality Act 2010, s.20. You do not need to see medical evidence before acting on the basics.
Funding and the legal backstop
For anything you genuinely cannot absorb, point the person to Access to Work, a government grant towards specialist equipment and support that does not have to be paid back GOV.UK. Two things to know in 2026: the grant is capped at £69,260 for the 2025–26 year, and there is a long backlog, so apply early and do not wait for a grant before fixing the free basics. It tops up your duty rather than replacing it. Skipping the adjustments altogether is not a neutral choice: a failure to make a reasonable adjustment is itself a form of disability discrimination Equality Act 2010, s.21, so the safe course is always to engage rather than delay.
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.