Resources for HR & Business Managers: Upskilling on Reasonable Adjustments

Supporting disabled, chronically ill and/or neurodivergent employees with reasonable adjustments is not just a legal obligation, it’s fundamental to inclusive, effective leadership. If you’re an HR professional, line manager, or team leader, you play a critical role in ensuring that your workplace empowers every person to thrive. That’s why up-skilling senior leadership on reasonable adjustments is important, and understanding and implementing reasonable adjustments becomes essential.

Reasonable adjustments are one of the simplest and most powerful tools you have for creating a workplace where people with chronic illness or disabilities can genuinely thrive. For HR professionals, team leaders and line managers, the challenge is rarely a lack of willingness. It’s the uncertainty about what’s “reasonable,” how to start the conversation, and how to get decisions right when every situation is a little different. Good practice isn’t about ticking legal boxes. It’s about understanding your people, designing flexibility into work, and building a culture where colleagues feel safe to share what they need.

This guide is designed to help you navigate that with confidence. You’ll learn how to approach adjustments in a way that is fair, effective and grounded in what actually works day to day, not just what policy says on paper. The focus is practical: how to listen, how to assess need, how to map adjustments to job requirements, and how to make the process smoother for everyone involved. We want to support you to create the kind of workplace where disabled and chronically ill employees can contribute fully, and where managers feel capable and well-equipped to support them.

Whether you’re navigating a new situation or refining existing practices, it’s always a good idea to stay on top of training, especially with new technology such as AI changing the game on not only what is possible, but the increased risks and threats this technology can bring.

Reasonable adjustments aren’t about lowering expectations or giving preferential treatment. They’re about removing barriers that shouldn’t have been there in the first place so people can perform at their best. When adjustments work well, you see the benefits quickly: reduced sickness absence, stronger performance, better retention and a more open, trusting team culture. But getting there takes more than a template checklist. It takes curiosity, consistency, and the ability to balance individual needs with the realities of the role.

A good starting point is learning to have better conversations. Many employees won’t disclose everything at once, especially if they’ve had negative experiences in previous roles. Managers who listen without judgement, ask open questions, and give people time to explain what helps them are far more likely to reach sustainable solutions. It’s also worth remembering that adjustments aren’t always big or expensive. Sometimes it’s small tweaks to workload, communication style or scheduling that make the biggest difference.

Clarity and follow-through matter just as much as empathy. Agreeing an adjustment is one thing. Making sure it’s recorded, reviewed and actually implemented is another. HR teams and leaders can make this easier by having a clear process, communicating it well, and checking in regularly to see whether the adjustment is still working. Needs can shift over time, and that’s normal. Build review points in from the start rather than waiting for a crisis.

As workplaces adopt new tools and technologies, particularly AI, the landscape of adjustments is changing. Tools that automate routine tasks, support communication or streamline processes can be incredibly liberating for disabled employees. But poorly implemented systems can also create new barriers, whether through inaccessible design, biased decision-making or rigid workflows that limit flexibility. It’s important to remember that AI isn’t here to replace the process, it’s here to act as a support, a tool, for the person in that process. This is why up-skilling leaders on inclusive technology use is now just as important as understanding the Equality Act.

Supporting disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent colleagues well isn’t just about compliance. It’s about building a workplace where people feel valued, trusted and supported to do their best work. When you invest time in understanding what people need and designing thoughtful adjustments, the whole organisation benefits. Inclusive teams perform better, adapt faster and create workplaces where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Legal & Policy Guidance

ACAS – Making Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled Workers
Step-by-step guidance, with examples and practical actions for employers.
ACAS – Making Reasonable Adjustments

CIPD – Disability and Employment Factsheet
Covers workplace barriers, good practice, and legal duties.
CIPD Factsheet

EHRC – Reasonable Adjustments in Practice
An accessible explanation of your legal duties and where adjustments are expected.
EHRC Guidance

Practical Tools and Templates

Business Disability Forum – Practical Resources and Templates
Helps organisations develop inclusive policies and support systems.
Business Disability Forum

Lived Experience & Expert Practice

Bookboon eBooks – Inclusive Workplaces & Disability Inclusion
Listen, watch and learn with Moleworks Solutions founder Rachael Mole, Bookboon offers audio books, filmed expert talks on reasonable adjustments and AI, as well as nano talks to get you up to speed with findings from her Churchill Fellowship research, and expertise on AI implementation with inclusion and innovation in mind.

Ideal for HR teams and people managers who want to improve their knowledge and effectively support disabled staff.

Available here: Bookboon Rachael Mole

Training & Learning Opportunities

ACAS Training – Disability Discrimination and Adjustments
Ideal for those who want structured, expert-led learning.
ACAS Training

Patchwork Hub – Tailored Recruitment Support, Disability and Culture training
Led by lived experience and award winning trainers in disability on building accessible internal cultures.
Patchwork Hub

Evenbreak – Inclusive Recruitment & Adjustment Webinars
Led by disabled trainers, focusing on accessibility in recruitment and work design.
Evenbreak Webinars

Disability Confident Scheme – UK Government Toolkit
Includes free resources for line managers and HR staff.
Disability Confident Scheme

Inclusive Practice & Real-World Stories

Scope – Let’s Talk Adjustments Toolkit
A practical guide to having adjustment conversations and developing plans.
Scope Toolkit

Mental Health at Work – Adjustments for Mental Health
Free tools and guidance for supporting staff with mental health conditions.
Mental Health at Work

PurpleSpace – Centre Lived Experience in Organisational Culture
Includes learning resources, blogs, and storytelling strategies.
PurpleSpace

You don’t need all the answers straight away or to know everything about access and inclusion. What matters is being open, informed and willing to learn. Start where you are, keep learning and focus on practical, compassionate action. Reasonable adjustments aren't just about compliance. They're a key part of inclusive leadership and benefit everyone, creating a workplace where everyone can contribute fully and feel valued. Want to explore more accessibility options? Read The Potential of Accessible Workplaces: Top 5 Inclusive Tech Tools to Improve Accessibility.