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Employment Practice and Research Network event 8 May – The jobs blind and partially sighted people do

Notes from facilitated discussion

Administrative occupations What are the issues that blind and partially sighted people might face in this area of occupation?  Admin jobs require a fair degree of visual work – lots of paper/paperwork, notice boards etc. High degree of mental processing required. More so in fact than jobs at more senior levels. The higher up an organisation you go, the less need for vision  Admin staff may be reliant on CCTVs, which are not always up to the job

What reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help?  Aim for paperless office environment  Allow for more time to carry out tasks  Assistive technology  No hot-desking  Support workers  Team working (so work can be distributed by what is possible)  Importance of self-advocacy and allowing employee to find own strategies

If you were a career adviser, is this a sector you would recommend and why?  Yes we would recommend it

RNIB – supporting people with sight loss RNIB charity numbers 226227, SC039316 and 1109 Are there any roles within this area of work that may be particularly challenging for a blind and partially sighted person?  Roles that require very fast pace  Roles that require hot-desking / flexibility  Roles where there are many software updates

Health and social care associate professionals What are the issues that blind and partially sighted people might face in this area of occupation?  Safety and risk management due to lack of observational ability  Legal implications  Attitudes of colleagues

What reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help?  Visual awareness training for colleagues  Role models  Peer support  Support worker

If you were a career adviser, is this a sector you would recommend and why?  Was not reported

Are there any roles within this area of work that may be particularly challenging for a blind and partially sighted person?

Business, media and public service professionals What are the issues that blind and partially sighted people might face in this area of occupation?  Colleagues’ general understanding of sight impairment  Use of technology

rnib.org.uk  Non-compatibility of screen reader software with organisation’s systems  Targets  Finding relevant IT training

What reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help?  Reduction in targets  Access to Work assessment and adherence to results of assessment  Visual awareness training  Support workers and job coach  Scripting  Appropriate training  Guide dogs  Accessibility (eg braille / large print)  Appropriate training  Sensitivities to guide dogs

If you were a career adviser, is this a sector you would recommend and why?  Yes would recommend

Are there any roles within this area of work that may be particularly challenging for a blind and partially sighted person?  Was not reported

Customer service occupations What are the issues that blind and partially sighted people might face in this area of occupation? Job seeker:  Getting a job (previous experience, interview)  software incompatibility (IT and phones) / Access to Work  Prejudice of employer  Lack of experience

rnib.org.uk  Being on gardening leave

Retention:  Time needed to learn JAWS, etc.

What reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help?  Access to Work  Reducing / adjusting targets (per person or across board)  Test / interview process  Re-deployment  Software scripting  Time taken for new recruits to be up and running  Training  No hot-desking

If you were a career adviser, is this a sector you would recommend and why? Yes. Because:  High recruitment (lots of jobs)  Skills based  Could excel  Digital jobs increasing  Stepping stone / progression route to more interesting work  Could lead into other work / career development (eg live chat becoming increasingly common)

Are there any roles within this area of work that may be particularly challenging for a blind and partially sighted person?  Highly performance-related pay / target driven roles  Role where ability to travel is critical  More suitable roles may be higher up (team leader / manager)

rnib.org.uk Textiles, printing and other skilled trades What are the issues that blind and partially sighted people might face in this area of occupation?  High turnover of staff  Pressurised / fast paced environment  Shift work (early / late starts) – issues around transport  Accessibility of equipment  Temp agency roles / Need to develop relationship with employers  Health and safety  Hazards (Machinery, moving parts, knives, hot things, settings)  Prejudice within industry  Self-employment an option

What reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help?  Fixed work stations  Bump-ons  Access to Work for equipment and transport

If you were a career adviser, is this a sector you would recommend and why? Yes. With support

Are there any roles within this area of work that may be particularly challenging for a blind and partially sighted person?  Was not reported

Other points made on day  Importance of self advocacy was stressed  Erratic nature of some types of work can make using Support worker difficult  Need to consider how to support those in roles such as shop assistants

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