Advice for Employers

One of the biggest challenges facing people who are blind or partially sighted is overcoming the myths and barriers about visual impairment and obtaining meaningful employment.

Given the right opportunities blind and partially sighted people have always been able to compete in the job market.

New advances in assistive information technology and other new support options are increasing their ability to gain and retain employment. However, many potential employees and employers are not aware of the technical assistance and support options available to them.

We provide employers with a comprehensive range of practical advice and guidance on employing people who are visually impaired. We offer a range of services to both employers and blind and partially sighted people who are seeking advice about gaining employment or retaining an employee.

Our support package for employers includes:-

Visual Awareness Training

Helps you and your employees to understand how best to support visually impaired colleagues. With two million blind and partially sighted people across the UK, businesses that ignore visually impaired customers are missing out. Whatever the type of business, visually impaired people will want to access the service, and how staff respond to their needs determines how likely they are to use the service again.

Financial support

Through schemes such as Access to Work and Workstep. Employers seeking to recruit a blind or partially sighted employee, or retain an employee, who has lost their sight, may qualify for financial assistance under the various schemes run by Job Centre Plus.

Access Technology

Large screen monitors, screen magnification systems such as Lunar or Zoomtext, CCTV, Electronic Braille Display, Braille keyboards and Embossers, (a Braille printer). Assistive technology has enabled blind and partially sighted people to access jobs in the sectors where the use of information and communication technologies feature significantly.

Breaking down the barriers

Despite the technology and support that is now available, it is estimated that 66% of blind and partially sighted people of working age in the UK remain unemployed. Action for Blind People recently commissioned research to understand the barriers which prevent so many visually impaired people from gaining meaningful employment.

The results were surprising

81% of employers rated the performance of disabled employees as ‘the same or higher ‘ than non disabled people.

If that is the case, then there is no reason why a blind or partially sighted person should not be working for you! Find out more using the related links section at the bottom of the page.