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Downloads Factsheets Read More Information Guides Read More Awareness Read More Factsheets We want to provide information that is easy to understand, and accessible for everyone. That is why we have created a series of one page fact sheets. They are designed to give you a quick introduction into GBS, CIDP, MMN, Autoimmune Conditions, and Inflammatory Neuropathies. GBS CIDP MMN Autoimmune Conditions Inflammatory Neuropathies About Us If you want more in depth information then you can explore the detailed descriptions in our Information Hub over on the old GAIN website. Don't worry, a more robust and in-depth Information Hub is on its way here. These factsheets are ideal for sharing with friends and family to help explain conditions, or to act as an introduction to Inflammatory Neuropathies UK and what we do. We would love to hear your feedback on these. Let us know your thoughts by emailling hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk Information Guides Guillain-Barré syndrome, CIDP and other associated inflammatory neuropathies can have a devastating effect on those diagnosed and their family and friends, they can also be complex and difficult things to understand. Whether you've been diagnosed with an inflammatory neuropathy, you're supporting a loved one (or you're a carer), or you simply want to learn more about these conditions, we have created these information packs to help explain what is happening. Please feel free to download our information free of charge. (Downloads are currently only in English) GBS Information Book CIDP Information Book Quick Guide Awareness Posters One of the difficult parts of living with an Inflammatory Neuropathy is explaining to your friends, family, colleagues, and other peers what is happening to you. Despite being rare conditions, Inflammatory Neuropathies as a whole impact 1000s of people annually. Yet these conditions remain unknown to many in the general public. Events like the annual May Awareness Month are the perfect time to help educate the public. We have created some handy resources you may like to use on your social media, or download and print. Materials Some of materials include:

IN the team Current Vacancies Join us and help us make things better for people living with Inflammatory Neuropathies. We are currently looking for a Marketing Executive. If this could be you, click here

Data Security Incident Data Security Incident Update Last updated: 13th August 2026 - 15:10 An important update We are sorry to let you know about a cyber security incident involving Beacon CRM, a trusted third party that we use to securely store some of our supporter and beneficiary information. We understand that this news may be worrying, particularly if you have shared personal or health information with us. We want to be as open and transparent as possible about what has happened, what we know, what we don't yet know, and what we are doing. Please be assured that protecting your personal information is something we take extremely seriously. What happened? Beacon has informed us that an unauthorised third party gained access to its systems using compromised credentials. Their forensic investigation has confirmed that copies of database backups were made and that the available evidence indicates they were downloaded by the unauthorised third party. However, at this time, there is some uncertainty about the impact on the data held on Beacon Beacon has advised organisations using its system to assume that all information stored within Beacon, including attached documents and files, may have been downloaded. This incident affected Beacon's systems. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK's own systems have not been impacted. Beacon is continuing to investigate the incident with independent cyber security specialists and is working with the relevant authorities. Beacon have since updated us (on 12th August) that their investigation has confirmed their initial assessment that a copy of the database that holds all Beacon customer data (including attachment files) was made. They believe that this was likely downloaded in a readable format. However, there has still been no indication from online monitoring that data linked to this incident has been published, disclosed, or otherwise misused. What information could be affected? The information we hold is different for every individual. Depending on your relationship with us, and what you have shared with us, information held within Beacon may include: Your name and contact details Information about your involvement with Inflammatory Neuropathies UK Information about services you have received from us Information about membership Correspondence you have had with us Documents attached to your record For some people, this may also include special category personal data, such as: Health information, including diagnosis, treatment information, hospital details, condition notes, ventilator status, ability to work and similar information shared with us Ethnicity Religion or belief Sexual orientation Not everyone will have all of this information stored. Importantly, payment card details, bank account details and other financial payment information are not stored within Beacon and are therefore not affected by this incident. Why have I received an email? We have contacted people directly where we believe the information held about them includes special category personal data or other information that could present a higher risk if accessed. We are doing this because we believe it is the right thing to do and because UK data protection law requires organisations to notify individuals where a personal data breach is likely to result in a high risk to their rights and freedoms. What are we doing? As soon as we became aware of the incident we: Secured our access to Beacon by changing passwords and resetting connected systems Carried out our own assessment of the risks to individuals Reported the incident to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Began working closely with Beacon to understand the nature and impact of the incident Put arrangements in place to inform individuals potentially impacted when we had the correct information to do so, and to keep people informed as the investigation continues We will continue to review new information as it becomes available and will provide further updates if anything changes. What does this mean for you? At present, we are not aware of any evidence that information from this incident has been published online or misused. However, because Beacon has advised us to assume that information stored within Beacon may have been downloaded, we recommend that everyone remains vigilant. The main potential risks are: Phishing emails or text messages Scam phone calls Attempts to obtain further personal information by pretending to be a trusted organisation Someone learning sensitive information about your health or personal circumstances What should I do? As a precaution we recommend that you: Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts or phone calls, particularly if they ask you to confirm personal information or click on links Never share passwords, one time passcodes or security codes following an unexpected request Check email addresses carefully before responding If you reuse passwords across different websites, consider changing those passwords and enable multi factor authentication where available Contact us if you receive any communication claiming to be from Inflammatory Neuropathies UK that causes you concern Where can I get more advice? The following organisations provide trusted information: National Cyber Security Centre Practical advice about phishing, scam emails, suspicious messages and staying safe online. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk Beacon CRM Information about the incident and answers to frequently asked questions. https://www.beaconcrm.org/incident-faqs Information Commissioner's Office Information about your rights and how personal information should be protected. https://www.ico.org.uk How can I contact you? If you have any questions or would like to discuss the information we hold about you, please contact us. Email: hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk Telephone: 01529 469910 Our team will do everything we can to help. Need more information? If you have any questions about this incident, would like to discuss the information we hold about you, or need any support, please contact us. We will do everything we can to help. Data Protection Lead Email: rich@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk Telephone: 01529 469910 Alternatively, you can contact our team at hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk or by calling 01529 469910. If, after speaking with us, you remain unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, you have the right to raise your concerns with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent regulator for data protection. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Website: www.ico.org.uk Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Updates We will update this page whenever we receive confirmed information from Beacon or there are any significant developments. Update history 10th August 2026 – Initial statement published. 10th August 2026 - FAQs added 13th August 2026 - Updated following Beacon communication Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are genuinely sorry that this incident has occurred. People place enormous trust in us when they share their personal information, and we never take that responsibility lightly. We remain committed to keeping you informed, supporting anyone who has concerns, and continuing to work with Beacon and the relevant authorities as the investigation progresses. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Data Security Incident 1. What happened? Beacon recently identified a data security incident involving unauthorised access to some of their systems and information, including our CRM (contacts database) which is hosted by them. As soon as they became aware of the issue, they took immediate steps to secure their systems, investigate what happened, and understand any potential impact on members. 2. How was the incident discovered? The issue was identified through Beacon’s security monitoring processes and was immediately investigated. They also engaged specialist IT and cyber security experts to help us understand the incident and take appropriate action. 3. What information may have been affected? The investigation indicates that some information may have been accessed. The information involved may include: Name Contact details (such as email address, postal address or telephone number) Special category data such as health conditions Information you may have provided when contacting us or using our services 4. Does this mean my personal information has been misused? There is currently no evidence that any information has been misused as a result of this incident. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and recommend that everyone remains vigilant for any unexpected emails, phone calls or messages requesting personal information. 5. What is Inflammatory Neuropathies UK doing about it? Protecting our members' information is extremely important to us. Since discovering the incident, Beacon has: Secured the affected systems Engaged independent cyber security specialists Conducted a thorough investigation Enhanced security measures where necessary We have Reviewed our policies and procedures Reported the matter to relevant authorities where appropriate We are committed to learning from this incident and strengthening our safeguards further. 6. Have you reported the incident? Yes. We have followed our legal and regulatory obligations and have notified the appropriate authorities where required. We are also keeping affected individuals informed as we learn more. 7. What should I do now? As a precaution, we recommend that you: Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts or phone calls claiming to be from Inflammatory Neuropathies UK or other organisations Never share passwords or sensitive personal information unless you are certain of the recipient's identity Use strong, unique passwords for online accounts Report any suspicious communications to us These are sensible precautions and do not necessarily mean your information has been misused. 8. How can I tell if a message is genuinely from Inflammatory Neuropathies UK? Official communications from us will: Come from our recognised email addresses Never ask you to disclose passwords Never ask you to share banking details by email If you are unsure whether a communication is genuine, please contact us directly using the contact details on our website. 9. Could this affect my medical information? We understand that many members may be particularly concerned about health-related information. The investigation is continuing, but we will contact anyone directly if we identify that their specific information may have been affected. We recognise the sensitive nature of health information and are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness. 10. Will this affect the services and support I receive? No. Our services and support continue as normal. Our team remains available to provide information, guidance and support, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 11. How will I be kept informed? We will continue to provide updates as appropriate through the website. We are committed to sharing information promptly and transparently. 12. Who can I contact if I have questions or concerns? If you have any questions or concerns about this incident, please email us or check our website for further updates: hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk We understand that incidents like this can cause concern, and we are here to answer your questions and provide support.

Podcasts Podcasts are a great way to get information, and to link in with the GBS and CIDP Community. We recently launched a new podcast series called IN all honesty, where Chief Executive Rich speaks to people with experience of GBS, CIDP, MMN, or another Inflammatory Neuropathy. It's an honest and open chat, with laughs, tears, and everything in-between. Guests include Carol Hooper (chair of Inflammatory Neuropathies UK), Clive Phillips (living with MMN and cycling 3,200km around France for awareness and fundraising), and Rory Coleman (athlete who has completed over 1,000 marathons, and over 200 since having GBS) Check it out by clicking the Spotify button. Or listen to Touching a Nerve with Rich and Al. Hosted by Rich Collins (Inflammatory Neuropathies UK CEO) and Al Bailey (former professional Rugby player diagnosed with CIDP), Touching a Nerve introduced our community to Lynn Rogers, a neuro science professor and endurance athlete who also happens to have CIDP. The duo also welcomed John Solosy who shared his experience of rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic for charity.

Meet with others in the UK with Guillain-Barre/GBS, CIDP, MMN, and other Inflammatory Neuropathies. Online via Zoom, or in person support and conversation. Get Togethers Online Get Togethers Read More Local Get Togethers Read More Online Get Togethers If you want to chat about what you are experiencing with others who are going through similar or the same issues, we host online monthly get togethers. All you need is access to a computer or a phone with an internet connection and with one click you can chat, ask questions, seek support, or simply have a good old moan! These meetings are held over Zoom and are always attended and facilitated by us. You can join as often - or as little - as you want, there is no pressure and no commitment. Currently there are three separate monthly Get Togethers; one for GBS (the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2pm) one for CIDP (the 4th Thursday of each month at 2pm), and a new lunchtime session - IN between bites (the second Tuesday at 12pm). Please note, if you've been diagnosed with a variant of GBS or CIDP, you're very welcome to join us! You may not meet someone with the exact same rare variant you have (though you never know who will join us!), but you will meet people who understand the impact an inflammatory neuropathy may have on you. Just join when you feel you need the support - simply click on the Zoom links below and follow the instructions. To join our GBS chat, click here 3rd Thursday at 2pm - 20th Aug | 17th Sep | 15 Oct | 19 Nov | 17 Dec To join our CIDP chat, click here 4th Thursday at 2pm -27th Aug | 24th Sep | 22 Oct | 26 Nov To join our MMN chat, click here 2nd Tuesday at 7pm - 8th Sep | 13th Oct | 10th Nov | 8th Dec If you want to check the date of our next meeting then see above. Of course, if you have any ideas about expanding or changing these, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch on hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk or on 01529 469910 . Local Get Togethers As much as friends and family can offer support and a listening ear, sometimes it helps to talk to people who really understand. The conditions we support are rare and, chances are you have never met anyone who is in the same position as you. That's why we run local get togethers; a safe space for members, friends, families, carers and other supporters, to meet and offer each other help and advice. You can share your stories and experiences - and, importantly, know that you are not alone. Essex Our latest group met for the first time in 2025, and have their 2026 dates planned out already. Come along to Christ Church Hall, Perry Street, Billericay, CM12 0NX on the following dates between 11:00 and 12:30. 2026: Sept 5th November 28th Lancashire and Cumbria If you live in the North West of England the Lancashire and Cumbria group meets quarterly on a Saturday at 1.30pm in Catterall Village Hall , Garstang Road, Catterall, PR3 1XN . This is our longest standing group with a wealth of knowledge and experience they're ready and willing to share with new and old faces alike. 2026: September 5th December 5th Yorkshire If you're in the Yorkshire area, our group is IN transit around the area, aiming to visit as many locations in the district as possible. The last date was the 8th August 2026 in Holy Trinity Community Hall, Meanwood, Leeds, LS6 4LF. We hope you can join Jon and his touring Get Together soon! New dates and locations coming soon We would love to see these vital groups spread across the UK and Ireland and there are plans for more to come soon. If you would like to set up something in your area, please contact us on 01529 469910 , or email hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk

Impact Report Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Vestibulum laoreet blandit diam, ac cursus dolor dignissim vitae. Suspendisse sed metus tortor. Donec semper posuere neque, non vulputate sem venenatis ut. Praesent varius diam non diam tempus, quis imperdiet ex suscipit. Suspendisse vitae blandit leo. Morbi vel molestie justo, mollis luctus turpis. Cras cursus enim sed facilisis suscipit. Suspendisse in scelerisque lacus. Aliquam tempus ante in ligula convallis semper. Donec in quam nec nisl facilisis tincidunt ut vel risus. Aliquam viverra accumsan tortor. Nunc congue orci lacus, et consequat tortor ultricies vitae. Sed laoreet elit nec ultrices viverra. Quisque at risus vitae ante dapibus rhoncus. Vivamus porttitor pellentesque lacus nec pharetra. In ullamcorper lacus vitae volutpat dictum. Nulla placerat in nisi sed porttitor. Aenean varius ac sapien nec sagittis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Integer volutpat nulla eu massa finibus, non posuere augue convallis. Integer semper tincidunt consectetur. Vivamus non metus et velit euismod congue. Vestibulum tincidunt hendrerit ornare. Nulla consequat lorem et ipsum commodo, non vehicula ipsum imperdiet. Integer aliquam non arcu sed iaculis. Nulla tempor sapien non ex imperdiet gravida. Pellentesque et justo sit amet ipsum maximus sollicitudin posuere eget nisi. Nullam convallis ultrices magna ac condimentum. Integer suscipit aliquet mi nec dapibus. Maecenas mollis lacus non condimentum pellentesque. Integer sed ultricies lorem, facilisis maximus ante. Aliquam erat volutpat. Morbi erat mauris, fringilla eu massa quis, malesuada pulvinar diam. Click here

IN contact Our details Telephone (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday) Office 01529 469910 Freephone helpline (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday) 0800 374803 UK 1800 806152 ROI WhatsApp or Text 07878 090965 Email hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk Address Inflammatory Neuropathies UK 3 Mill House Carre Street Sleaford | Lincolnshire NG34 7TW As a listening organisation, we love hearing from people. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time whether it's about a particular service, question about conditions, or you just need to chat to someone who understands. If we can't take your call, please leave a message and we'll get back to you asap. Please note, we cannot offer medical advice so if you require medical guidance, please contact your GP or other healthcare professional. Your details Your question or comment First name Last name Phone Email Multi-line address Country/Region Address City Zip / Postal code How do you want to get involved? Choose as many as you like Peer Support (Talking to other people about your experience) Local Get Together Coordinator (Facilitating a local group) Local Champion (Talking to local clinicians, and people impacted by conditions) Online Champion (Supporting people impacted on online forums and meetings) Raising Awareness Research Support Other Contact consent We would like to use your contact details to communicate with you with news and information about Guillain Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies and ways to support us. Please choose how you would like us to contact you. Email Phone Post SMS Text Help fight spam - what day of the week follows Monday?* Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Reports from Inflammatory Neuropathies UK anout Guillain-Barre Sundrome GBS CIDP MMN Reports As a charity, we sometimes develop reports and undertake research based on what you tell us, or around themes that come up from our discussions with people. This is an area that we will be looking to develop further in the future, and as a result, we will be adding new reports as we develop them. Latest report Our latest report can be read by clicking on the link below, or by scrolling to the bottom of the page where you can read it. IN this together: Our Impact in 2025/26 Our latest Impact Report, outlining what the Charity has achieved in the last year Previous reports: Previous reports will be able to be found here Living with Inflammatory Neuropathies Our latest reports highlights the finding from the My Neuro Survey 2024/25

AGM Material To access the pre-read material for the 2026 Annual General Meeting, please click the headers below. If you have any questions or issues with these documents, please reach out to hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk . We look forward to seeing you in person or online on October 3rd. Accounts Report and Accounts 2026 Trustee Pen Pictures

Terms & Conditions The following Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement apply to your use of the Inflammatory Neuropathies UK website. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK maintains this website as a convenience to its members and supporters. By using websites owned and operated by Inflammatory Neuropathies UK, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms of use that may change at any time. Intellectual Property Rights This website is owned and operated by Inflammatory Neuropathies UK. The rights in the designs, the pictures, photographs and content of this website are owned by, or licensed by, Inflammatory Neuropathies UK and are protected by intellectual property rights. You are permitted to print or download content for your own personal use only. You must not use any material on this website for any commercial purpose or on any other website, unless prior written permission has been sought. Copyright All material on this website is copyright of Inflammatory Neuropathies UK, except where otherwise expressly stated. Accuracy of Information Though much of the material on this site has been written by neurologists and other health professionals, Inflammatory Neuropathies UK is a registered charity and not a medically qualified organisation. The information on these pages is for general educational purposes only and should not be regarded as advice on the diagnosis or treatment of either the Guillain-Barré syndrome or any other medical condition. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, Inflammatory Neuropathies UK can neither be held responsible for such information nor be held responsible for information on linked sites. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing doctor. Confidentiality of data relating to individual patients and visitors, including their identity, is respected. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK may change or update this website or links to other websites at any time. Governing Law The terms and your use of this website are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and any disputes will be decided only by the Courts of England. Disclaimer Inflammatory Neuropathies UK offer's weblinks to other websites for your convenience. In using one of these weblinks it is considered that you are leaving the Inflammatory Neuropathies UK website, therefore it does not offer any guarantees, endorsements or accept any responsibility for any such websites. Privacy Inflammatory Neuropathies UK is committed to safeguarding your privacy online. This policy only covers this website. Weblinks from this website to other websites are not covered by this policy; users should check the Terms and Conditions of any other website they visit. You can access and browse our website without disclosing your personal data. However, our comments do enable our visitors to communicate with other visitors or to post information to be accessed by others. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK collects the following information regarding visitors to our website via Wix and Google Analytics: IP addresses, information regarding what pages are accessed and when. We use your IP address to help us to track usage behaviour and compile aggregate data that will allow content and navigation improvement of our website. We cannot identify you from this information. Our website uses email forms for visitors to request information on the condition, to register as friends or members or to make donations. We collect visitors’ contact information (i.e. email and postal address) and unique identifiers (i.e. date of birth). Contact information from the email form is used to send information to our visitors as specifically requested by them. Unique identifiers (such as Customer Reference Numbers) are generated to verify the user’s identity in our record system. Visitors’ contact information and unique identities will not be shared with third parties. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK places great importance on the security of all personally identifiable information associated with our visitors. We have security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of personal data under our control. We have organisational and technical security measures in place to safeguard your personal information, and we are registered data controllers under the Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR. Our Information Inflammatory Neuropathies UK Registered Charity No: 1154843 and SC039900 Registered office: Glennys Sanders House, Pride Parkway, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8GL Contacting the Website If you have any questions about this privacy statement or the practices of this website, you should contact the Website Administrator at hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk . You have a legal right to a copy of all the personal information about you held by the charity. You also have a right to correct any errors in that information. Consent You agree to use our website only for lawful purposes. You agree that you will not bring or use on our website any viruses or any other computer programming routine which damage, interfere with, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or personal information. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you agree that all information provided by you is complete, accurate and honest and that you will at all times use the website with common sense and care. Inflammatory Neuropathies UK reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions from time to time. By continuing to use this website it is implied that you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement set out above. Data Protection The information provided will be held by Inflammatory Neuropathies UK for processing and administrative purposes in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR. We would like to keep you informed about our work and charity appeals and events. If at any time you prefer not to receive this please contact us on 01529 469910 or email: hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk

Membership Registration The Members of Inflammatory Neuropathies UK are like shareholders - they help shape our direction, influence our decisions, and guide our priorities. We offer two types of Membership: Voting Members and Non-voting Members. Both are equally valued, but Voting Members play a more active role in the governance of the charity. By becoming a Voting Member, you'll be invited to vote at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and other key events. In fact, one of the most significant moments in our history - the 2025 transition from GAIN to Inflammatory Neuropathies UK - was made official by our Voting Members. Membership is open to everyone and completely free. However, if you’d like to support our work, you’re also welcome to make a voluntary donation, either as a one-off or a regular gift. If you’re ready to join our community, simply complete the form below. If you have any questions about Membership, feel free to email us at hello@inflammatoryneuropathies.uk or call 01529 469910. We’d love to hear from you! Register or Renew membership

Returning to Work A diagnosis of an Inflammatory Neuropathy can have significant impact on your day-to-day life, and that includes your work life. These conditions aren't one size fits all. One person with a chronic condition like CIDP or MMN may require absences for ongoing treatment but require no other adjustment, another person may experience brain fog, exhaustion, or have limited ability to perform certain physical tasks. Similarly, an acute condition like GBS can leave residuals that impact manual or dexterous tasks, or even impact the ability to enter the workplace altogether. Let's look in this section at your rights, reasonable adjustments, meeting with your employer about return to work, and some other community sourced hints and tips to get your back into the work place. Your legal rights as an employee If you're living with a long term health condition like an Inflammatory Neuropathy, then you have a legal right to be protected from discrimination by both your employer, and other workers. This includes unfair dismissal or reassignment, and the right to be paid the same rate as if you did not have a health condition. Your employer must make reasonable adjustments if your health is making performing your job difficult. "Reasonable Adjustments" isn't just an expression, it's a legal term and employers must show they have taken these steps. Prospective employers also have to provide these adjustments to allow you to apply for a job. In some cases, an employer can dismiss you, but they must show they have taken all these reasonable steps to make the job accessible. Your employer also cannot tell anyone about your health condition without your consent. Your colleagues may know you've been off unwell, or that adjustments are being made for you, but it is up to you to inform them if you so choose, or allow your employer to do so on your behalf. Conversely, as an employee, there are some things you may have to do for your employer. You have to clearly express your needs, adjustments, and accommodations - reasonable adjustments can't be made if you don't ask You have to make a good-faith attempt to complete your role as fully as you can to show adjustments are needed If asked, you may need to provide a doctor's note You may need to adjust reduced hours or changing in working conditions (within reason - if it can be seen as 'punishing' you, then you don't have to accept this) You will likely have to have regular check-in meetings with your line-manager, HR, Occupational Health to check your adjustments are working for both you and the company. Reasonable Adjustments What is reasonable though? The employer must consider if the adjustment: will remove the disadvantage is practical is affordable could harm others The employer also does not have to change the basic nature of the job. Let's look at what Reasonable Adjustments may look like in the world of Inflammatory Neuropathies. Change to work environment Would a different office with less steps be better? Can disabled or reserved parking be created? Can a fridge for medication be put in place just for you? Can a ramp be added? Can lights above your desk be dimmed? Change to work equipment Can a screen reader or hearing loop be implemented? Depending on your needs - can a standing desk, or wheelchair accessible desk be purchased? Can large print documents be available? Can bigger handles, or hand controls, be adjusted on vehicles/equipment? Change to working arrangement If the role is mainly IT or phone based, can the employee work part or full time from home? Can adjustments be made to account for absence, including paid time off for treatment (you cannot make an employee do extra work to make up for absences). Can a phased return to work be introduced? Change to the role/tasks Can work be distributed differently in the team? Can another suitable role be found within the team? Can the current way of working look different? Can a job share be introduced for certain elements of the role? Remember, Reasonable Adjustments are different for every type of job, it's important to think what your employer could do differently before setting up a meeting with them. Speaking of which, that's the next step! Set up a meeting with your employer You've had your diagnosis, you know (roughly) what your treatment schedule is like if you're receiving treatment, and you have a good idea of your current abilities. You now want to return to your job if you've been given time off, or you'd like to apply for a new one. First things first, it's time to schedule a meeting or interview. Talk to your current, or future, line manager/boss/employer to arrange a formal sit down to discuss your needs. Know what you want to achieve Now you have a date, it's time to think what you want to talk about. Bringing an agenda of points mean you wont miss anything if you get a little flustered on the day. So sit down, and consider what it is you want from the meeting. These are largely your reasonable adjustments: Adjustments to your work area - for example, you may wish to move to a ground floor office, talk about the installation of a ramp, look at how equipment can be adapted for use Permission for absences for treatment - if you're on a set schedule for IVIg, you may wish to bring that schedule or a note from a GP/Neurologist explaining the need for absence A return, or start, on reduced hours - you might find starting or returning to a 9-5 immediately, isn't possible, so you could discuss phased hours until you feel comfortable going full time (if that is your goal - you may also want to discuss a possible job share) Reassignment - if you know your condition makes it impossible for you to return to your current role, would you be willing to retrain or work elsewhere in the organisations using the skillset you've developed? An employer does not have to grant this or create a role if it is not available. A little understanding - you may just want to let your employer know what you've been through, and are going through, and for them to quietly have a word with your colleagues. Even if you're not having a big formal meeting, you're well within your rights to say, "I just don't want a big fuss". What to take Relevant medical documents (copies) - if you have a note from your GP or neurologist, appointment letters, occupational health assessments, and more, it can be worth bringing along copies in a folder. You may not need them but it can be useful to have them to hand. Support - If you're part of a union, you may wish to bringing along a representative to support you. They can take notes, give advice, or just be moral support. You may also, in some cases, be able to bring in a trusted colleague - though do enquire first. A positive attitude - yes, it's a little cliched to say, but please try not to be nervous about this meeting. Most (and we know not all) employers are understanding and happy to support a good employee like you. Having all of the above just makes sure everything is done by the book and protects both you and the organisation. In the meeting Refer to your agenda - it can be easy to get side-tracked. Don't be afraid to bring the conversation back to the topic at hand. Remember your rights - Reasonable Adjustments must be made, or all reasonable steps towards an adjustment must be made. Take notes to refer back to, and if possible, record the meeting - the employer is not obligated to allow this though Get any decisions and reasonable adjustments in writing - Your employer may send you these after the meeting in a formal email/letter. Set a timescale - when will the adjustments be made, if you're planning to return on a staggered basis, what does this look like? When will you meet again? Post-Meeting Make sure you receive confirmation - if you were to get any decisions in writing, make sure these are delivered. Speak to a trusted colleague - talk to a friend at work to check your understanding of the conversation Useful links for your and your employer You can reach out to Inflammatory Neuropathies UK to discuss the impact these conditions can have. For specialist support look to: Acas Citizens Advice: England , Scotland , Wales , N. Ireland Equality Act 2010 SCOPE The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Trade Union Information