DWP cut Access to Work support for disabled theatre director

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have cut the Access to Work support of an artistic director working at a disabled led theatre company by 50%. Jenny Sealey, who has led Graeae for over 28 years, says the cuts feel “punitive” and a result of her speaking out about AtW delays.

DWP cut disabled director’s support

Sealey said:

This feels political.

Sealey is considered a leading voice in disability arts. As well as leading and directing for Graeae, she was also one of the artistic directors for the London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony.

Now, however, her work may have to be scaled back, as the DWP has decided she doesn’t need Access to Work funding.

Jenny is deaf, so she requires a BSL interpreter for her typically 47-hour production rehearsal weeks. She was informed that from now on, the DWP would only be funding 10 hours of BSL interpretation a week.

DWP blames Graeae for Sealey’s lack of support, which they’re cutting

To make this even worse, the DWP blamed Graeae for Jenny struggling, not that they were cutting her support. In a statement, Graeae said:

In feedback on her application to Access to Work, the body claimed that Jenny’s employer has not put adequate support in place to meet her needs. They state as appropriate support was not established from the outset, it is evident that the customer struggles to fulfil the role.

Graeae employs around 200 deaf and disabled people a year, which is about 57% of their total workforce. Many of these people, of course, require extra support and funding. The charity provides this across the board, whether or not it can be reclaimed.

In 2024-25, Graeae covered £198,445 in access costs; just £86,800 of this was able to be reclaimed from Access to Work. For the DWP to then blame Sealey’s employer, after they do so much to support disabled workers, is absolutely vile.

Another reason for support being cut

Sealey, however, suspects there’s another reason for her support being cut. She has been one of the most vocal campaigners about Access to Work in recent years. In the statement she said:

This feels punitive. I dared speak out about the 15-month delays to the system, the battles our community are facing with each and every application, and I feel like I’m being told to get back in my box.

She also commented on how “insulting” the changes to her support are:

The recommendations around how to make reasonable adjustments are an absolute insult and show no understanding of Graeae and the work I do, running a company, training, rehearsing and advocacy. I am not sure how I can do this on a 10 hour a week interpreter allowance. Graeae cannot be expected to cover interpreters for 30+ hours a week, that goes way beyond reasonable adjustment. This is an infringement of human rights.

Executive Director Graeae Kevin Walsh spoke on the horrific idea put forward by the DWP that Sealey struggles in her role and that this is their fault:

To suggest that Jenny struggles to fulfil her role is ludicrous. She has passionately and successfully led Graeae for the last 28 years and she has a right to continue to do so. Her job has not changed; it’s hard to understand why her support has changed.

He also warned about the excess cost that Graeae is supposed to cover because Access to Work do not:

What more can we be doing as an employer when we are already raiding our reserves to the tune of £100k a year to meet costs for staff not covered by Access to Work. Everyone has a right to a fair and accessible workspace. We are doing our bit, not just for Jenny but for all staff, participants and audiences. DWP need to re-instate this support.

DWP want disabled people dead

The most ridiculous thing about any of this is that whilst they continue to quietly cut disabled peoples in work support, they’re hellbent on pushing rhetoric about getting disabled people back to work. It’s clear the DWP doesn’t actually care about supporting disabled people into work – they want us to work ourselves to death, or cut our benefits until we die that way. Either way, they just want us to stop complaining about them.

Featured image via Graeae