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Employment of Blind and Partially Sighted People and My Voice Catherine Dennison RNIB

Employment of Blind and Partially Sighted People and My Voice Catherine Dennison RNIB. Background. Aim to better understand the circumstances, views and experiences of blind and partially sighted people. Previous UK survey in 2005/6 Need for new evidence to understand current position:

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Employment of Blind and Partially Sighted People and My Voice Catherine Dennison RNIB

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  1. Employment of Blind and Partially Sighted People and My VoiceCatherine DennisonRNIB

  2. Background • Aim to better understand the circumstances, views and experiences of blind and partially sighted people. • Previous UK survey in 2005/6 • Need for new evidence to understand current position: • digital, transport, social attitude, employment

  3. Areas of the survey: • Early support • Housing • Relationships • Wellbeing • Practical & emotional support • Finance & benefits • Education • Employment • Technology • Transport

  4. Who were surveyed? My Voice findings are representative of around 340,000 registerd as blind or partially sighted.

  5. How did we find people • 22 local areas gave access to the register they hold • Our organization contacts • A random selection of people from all over UK were invited to take part • Over 1,200 registered blind and partially sighted people opted in; 45 minute telephone interview • Youngest participant was 18, the oldest 97 years. • Involvement and co-production with blind and partially sighted people

  6. My Voice: Headline finding Low employment level among people of working age: B&PS: one in four Paid employment: 22% Self-employed: 4% Long-term sick or disabled: 25% Retired: 16% Student: 3% Looking after family or home: 4%

  7. Disability employment gap Low employment level compared to general population: B&PS: one in four General pop (LFS): three in four

  8. Employment levels Lower that 10 years previously 2015: one in four 2005: one in three

  9. Employment related to • Age • Extent of sight loss • Additional disabilities • Health • Educational qualification

  10. Registered blind and partially sighted people with a degree: same chance of being in a job as someone with no qualifications in the general public • Working age sighted people with no qualifications: more than six times as likely to be in employment than registered blind and partially sighted people with no qualifications

  11. Support in work • Over three-quarters of people said that they received some type of support: • 48% special aids or equipment • 32% adaptations to the working environment, • 29% per cent had been allowed time off work • 33% had been given flexibility in working hours. • 23% no adjustments

  12. Support from Access to Work 2016 (DWP) • 5,270 VI people were helped by Access to Work • 870 VI people new to the scheme My Voice • 51% who were in employment had received support under ATW.

  13. People not in employment • 22% of My Voice participants said that they were unemployed • Only around one-quarter said that they were actively seeking work. • 52% were economically inactive (long term sick or disabled, retired, looking after the family or home, in education or ‘doing something else’) • No change since 2005.

  14. Barriers • Finances • Travel • Emotional wellbeing • Obstacles on the street • Discrimination

  15. Key messages • The disability employment gap for blind and partially people is widening. • Government policy and support needs to significantly increase the proportion of blind and partially sighted people of working age in paid employment. • Support through new Work and Health Programme • Specialised, individual assessment • Specialist support • Improvements to Access to Work

  16. Further info: My Voice www.rnib.org.uk/myvoice

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