A080 Blind People and Employment

1. 1
How to support blind and
partially sighted people
to find or stay in work
Alex Saunders, Evidence and Service Impact
Team, Royal National Institute of Blind People
(RNIB)
RI World Congress
27 October 2016

2. How many people are living with sight loss in the
UK?
• It is estimated that more then 2 million people in the UK
have sight loss that is severe enough to have a significant
impact on their daily lives. Of this population:
• 270,000 people are 'blind' (ie registered severely sight
impaired)
• 450,000 people are 'partially sighted' (ie registered sight
impaired)
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3. RNIB - our principles
• We are the leading charity for blind and partially sighted
people in the UK.
• Our work is build on 4 key principles:
• 1. Being there - people losing their sight can rebuild their
lives
• 2. Independence - blind and partially sighted people can
make the most of their lives
• 3. Inclusion - society includes blind and partially sighted
people as equal citizens and consumers
• 4. Prevention - fewer people lose their sight
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4. What kind of organisation is RNIB?
• Through RNIB Connect we have created a network of
over 27,000 people who are blind, partially sighted, and
their friends and family.
Employment
• We deliver direct support and employment services to
blind and partially sighted people looking to find, or stay, in
work.
• Delivered in partnership with other sight loss charities that
form part of the RNIB Group: eg our sister charity Action
For Blind People.
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5. 5
Purpose of this presentation
• Highlight the key issues facing people with sight loss
looking to find or stay in work
• Share our resources that will help equip you with the
knowledge, skills and confidence to support working age
people with sight loss to find or stay in work
• Encourage you to promote specialist provision for all blind
and partially sighted people on any employment support
programme

6. Background
• Just over 84,000 people registered blind and partially
sighted people of working age in the UK
• Only 1 in 4 is in paid employment (compared to 1 in 3
a decade ago)
• Only around 1 in 10 people with poor functional vision
(registered severely sight impaired) are in work
• 47% of disabled people in work
• 80% of people without a disability
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7. What jobs can blind and partially sighted people
do?
People with sight loss succeed in a wide variety of jobs
across all employment sectors
• Key: just like any worker, they need the right tools for the
job. In this case, additional tools enable someone to
complete tasks with little or no sight
RNIB report - the jobs blind and partially sighted people do:
www.rnib.org.uk/employmentresearch
This IS Working series:
www.rnib.org.uk/employmentstories
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8. What does good employment support look like?
People looking for work:
• Specialist support on their journey towards employment
• Common barriers but...
• Specific needs related to their sight loss
• Most are a long way from the labour market
• And most will require a specialist, resource intensive
model of support
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9. What does good employment support look like?
People in work:
• Key message: sight loss should not equal job loss
• Supported and encouraged to stay in work, whenever
possible
• Provided with the right information, advice, equipment and
support to help them retain work
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10. How to provide effective support blind and
partially sighted people
Ensure you know how to signpost blind and partially
sighted people to specialist services, as necessary
Key areas typically include:
• Training to develop assistive technology skills
• Development of mobility skills
• Making the most of residual vision
• Developing the confidence to communicate sight-specific
needs and ‘reasonable adjustments’ to employers
• Accessing peer support
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11. How to provide effective support blind and
partially sighted people
• Pre-employment training programmes to meet the
complex needs of blind and partially sighted people
• A work-based assessment that is holistic and person-
centred
• Clear, practical advice on reasonable adjustments at work
• Promoting awareness of the Access to Work scheme
• Knowledge of the business benefit of employing and/or
retaining disabled employers
• One to one case management – critical when referring to
other organisations offering specialist support services
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12. RNIB services
• RNIB and Action for Blind People provide specialist
support and advice to employers, employment
professionals and blind and partially sighted people in
work
• RNIB helpline:
• 0303 123 9999
• helpline@rnib.org.uk
• Action Employment Line
• 0800 440 2255
• employmentline@actionforblindpeople.org.uk
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13. RNIB resources
RNIB produce lots of resources for employers,
employment professionals and blind and partially
sighted people. For example:
Employing someone with sight loss: a guide for employers -
www.rnib.org.uk/services-we-offer-advice-
professionals/employment-professionals
Supporting someone with sight loss to find or stay in work: a
guide for employment professionals -
www.rnib.org.uk/employingsomeone
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14. Lots of information can be found here:
For blind and partially sighted people:
• www.rnib.org.uk/employment
For employers:
• www.rnib.org.uk/employingsomeone
For intermediaries and professionals:
• www.rnib.org.uk/employmentservices
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RNIB resources

15. RNIB’s Employment Practice and Research Network
• Established to support employers, researchers and
employment professionals including disability
management staff, in improving services for blind and
partially sighted people wishing to obtain, and remain in,
employment.
• www.rnib.org.uk/eprn
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Further information

16. Evidence and Service Impact team
Email: andy.white@rnib.org.uk
Employment and Working Age Manager
Email: alex.saunders@rnib.org.uk
Employment Impact Officer
Website:
www.rnib.org.uk/employment
http://actionforblindpeople.org.uk/support-and-information-
page/information/everyday-life/employment
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Further information