For candidates
Still waiting for an assessment? Finding work without a diagnosis
By Oliver Mitchell Published 3 min read
If you are waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment, or have decided not to go looking for one, you do not have to put your working life on hold. You can find work, ask for what helps and get support now. Here is what the waits look like, what you do not need a diagnosis for, and what you can do while you wait.
How long the waits are
In England, there were up to 959,662 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in June 2026 (NHS England, ADHD Management Information, August 2026). The ADHD Taskforce report says some people wait more than 2 years for an ADHD assessment, and that in some areas, waiting times have grown to 10 to 15 years (ADHD Taskforce report, NHS England).
For autism, 294,792 people had an open referral for suspected autism with NHS mental health services in June 2026, and 86.8 percent of them had been waiting at least 13 weeks (NHS England, Autism Statistics, July 2025 to June 2026). The figures do not yet include children's assessments in community paediatric services.
What you do not need a diagnosis for
- To work with us. You tell us how you work, and that is what we go on.
- To ask for adjustments. Acas says an employer should offer support, including reasonable adjustments, whether or not someone has a diagnosis.
- To apply for Access to Work. gov.uk says plainly: you do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply. Access to Work on gov.uk (opens in a new tab) explains what it can pay for and how to apply.
- To be protected by the law. Acas says a worker does not need a diagnosis to be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010, as long as the condition meets the legal test.
Describe what helps, not the label
A request does not need a name attached. "I work best with written instructions" and "I would like the interview questions in advance" are complete requests. Wording you can use has more to copy, and Reasonable adjustments at work: what to ask for, and how covers what you can ask for.
While you wait
- Keep notes of what helps and what gets in the way: at work, at college, in interviews. They make it easier to ask for adjustments now, and you may find them useful when your assessment comes.
- Ask your GP about choice. In England, if your GP refers you, you can usually choose which NHS-funded provider you go to, and NHS England's guidance says remote ADHD and autism assessments may be included. Choosing a provider does not always mean a shorter wait, so ask your GP how long each option takes.
- Outside England, ask your GP how assessments work where you live.
If you get a diagnosis later
Nothing about the adjustments you already have needs to change. You can decide then whether to tell your employer, when, and what to say. Wording you can use has words for telling an employer, with a label or without one.
Working with us
You do not need a diagnosis to work with us, and you never have to share one. Some of the people we talk to are waiting, and some have decided not to be assessed at all. When you are ready, you can register with us.
Figures checked on 31 October 2026.
