Ms L Ellison v Andover Mind — 2026

At a preliminary hearing on 3 July 2026, the tribunal found that Ms Ellison was a disabled person under s.6 Equality Act 2010 throughout her employment with Andover Mind. Her disability was ADHD. The relevant period was November 2021 to February 2025, although her formal diagnosis was made on 2 July 2025.

Applying the four-stage test in Goodwin v Patent Office, the tribunal found that the impairment existed during her employment. It relied on the symptoms recorded when she was referred for an ADHD assessment in January 2021, the assessment report's account of a lifelong pattern of symptoms, and the fact that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. It accepted that poor organisation, time management, focus, attention and memory, as well as emotional dysregulation, were attributable to ADHD on the balance of probabilities rather than solely to stress, depression or anxiety.

The tribunal found the adverse effects were more than minor or trivial. They included missed deadlines and appointments, difficulty returning to tasks after interruptions, forgetting bills and calls, problems with prioritisation, and reliance on alarms and other tools. The assessment report confirmed that ADHD is lifelong, so the long-term requirement was also met.

The judgment resolved disability status only. It did not decide the merits of the disability discrimination claim or any other substantive claim, and it recorded no remedy or monetary award.