Employment with Vision Loss

Is your vision loss beginning to affect your job performance? Is it becoming difficult to travel to and from your workplace? Do you want to learn more about your legal rights? Are you looking for resources and information that can help and support you? If these are your concerns, or those of your family members, relatives, co-workers, and friends, be assured that you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

Today, men and women who are blind or have low vision can access a number of rehabilitation, vocational, and training resources that can provide the skills necessary to maintain and/or pursue a wide range of employment options. Legislation has addressed equal rights and reduced discrimination, while societal attitudes toward people with disabilities have improved dramatically during the past decade.

The following Questions and Answers can help you learn more about legal rights and legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); assistive technology and training for the workplace, employment-related support groups, Social Security Disability benefits, environmental adaptations for the workplace, and accessing a wide range of job and employment resources.

Workplace Adaptations

Adaptive changes in the workplace can include any or all of the following articles on this web site:

• Lighting that helps rather than hinders and other workplace adaptations
• Computers with speech and/or braille output
• Software and hardware that produce large print or braille
• Reading and writing devices, such as magnifiers and CCTVs
• Talking products, such as watches and clocks
• Labeling products, such as voiced labelers and large print materials

A positive attitude, assertiveness, and being well prepared to keep your job, seek a promotion, or look for a new position are Important components of success in the workplace.