Employment and Skills
Our Employment and Skills priority area focuses on campaigning for improved access to education and employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
Sight Loss Councils work with education providers and employers so that visually impaired people can develop the skills they need to pursue meaningful and fulfilling careers.
Despite possessing the skills and having access to assistive technology enabling blind and partially sighted people to perform roles to high standards, just one in four visually impaired people are in employment, according to research by RNIB.
Blind and partially sighted people need access to better employment support, increased job opportunities and an Access to Work system that is less complex and truly serves the needs of claimants. Employers need to be open-minded and embrace the benefits of a more diverse workforce.
Blind and partially sighted students face a number of barriers both in further and higher education.
Only 21% of 18 to 29 year olds are in full time education compared to 47% of the total population. Additionally, one in five blind and partially sighted people said that they didn’t have access to all the learning opportunities they would like. The most commonly reported barriers to education are a lack of support or options from training providers, lack of accessible equipment and problems with travel. Source: My Voice 2015
Through visual impairment awareness sessions, online resources and by sharing the experiences of blind and partially sighted people, we strive to influence positive change.
Uni In Sight
Thomas Pocklington Trust has a Uni In Sight advice and resources section all about how blind, partially sighted and deafblind students can experience all the amazing opportunities university has to offer outside of the lecture room.
Read more on a couple of our employment and education projects below.
Bridge the gap
In February 2020, our Merseyside Sight Loss Council held an employment event at Anfield Stadium, that brought together employers and blind and partially sighted job seekers. ‘Bridge the gap’ centred on the wealth of talent and expertise that visually impaired employees offer and provided advice on the practical, financial, and technical support available to employers.
Education project
Birmingham Sight Loss Council has worked closely with the University of Birmingham to ensure blind and partially sighted students get the support they need and are receiving their full entitlement to Disabled Students Allowance.
Work with us
If you’re an employer or education provider interested in improving adaptations for blind and partially sighted people, please contact us.