Reasonable Adjustments
Some children, young people and adults need extra support to access services.
The Equality Act 2010 says that schools, health services and social care services must make reasonable adjustments to help people with disabilities and additional needs access support and services.
Reasonable adjustments help people to access services in the same way as everyone else.
They can be simple and low cost or they may involve changes to buildings. Examples in health services include:
information in plain English or Easy Read formats
longer appointments
earlier appointments if waiting is difficult
a quiet waiting area
fitting ramps or ramps or lifts
communication aids or visual supports
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters
hearing loop systems
Making reasonable adjustments often improves services for everyone, not just people with disabilities.
You can ask in person, by phone, email or letter. Some services may ask you to fill in a form. It is a good idea to keep a written record of your request.
When deciding whether an adjustment is reasonable, the service will look at:
whether it will meet your needs
how practical it is to do
health and safety
cost and resources
A Hospital Passport tells staff how best to support a person.
It can be helpful for people with:
learning disabilities
autism
communication difficulties
complex health needs
It means you do not have to keep telling different staff the same information
You can make your own Hospital Passports or your healthcare worker can help.
Useful resources:
The Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag records information about a person's support needs on their NHS record.
This can help by:
staff knowing what support you need before an appointment
you do not have to keep giving the same information
getting support more quickly
reducing stress for you and your family
Last updated : 16 October 2026