If you’ve never encountered someone who is blind or has low vision, would you hire them over someone who is just as qualified but sighted?
For Studio 1 radio Hosts Matthew Layton and Sam Rickard, it’s been hard to get a fair go in the workplace when they’ve had to explain their vision loss.
“[We] have spent more time unemployed that perhaps our peers who don’t live with a vision impairment do,” Matthew said.
“We found it harder to get through job interviews and found it harder to secure jobs.”
The interview process can also pose more difficulties for those with vision loss.
“We can’t pick up on subtle visual clues when we’re talking to someone,” Sam said.
“So if I start talking and talking and talking and someone’s eyes gloss over, I won’t be able to see that.”
Even just explaining your vision condition to a potential employer wastes precious interview time.
Photo: A worker using zoom text to make their computer accessible at work.
Matthew found just how hard it could be to follow his dream career when applying for a journalism job at BBC, which stipulated in small print of the job ad said he needed a driver’s licence.
Vision Australia’s Belinda Wilson, who helps blind and low vision job seekers gain and maintain meaningful employment, says these obstacles are unfortunately common.
“The question comes down to why? Is driving an inherent part of the role? Does a driver’s licence just mean that you can get to places independently and on time? Then the argument can be made that a driver’s licence is not needed.”
A 2021 survey by Ernst & Young found that of 1,000 employers, only 30 per cent of businesses were willing to adapt job requirements to suit a person who was qualified for the role but was blind or had low vision.
Almost half of employers also had never thought of hiring someone who was blind or had low vision.
Further in the episode, Belinda, Matthew and Sam go through some real life examples from jobseekers, and discuss pathways and advice to help them on their way.
Listen to the examples from 24:30 in the player below:
Studio 1 is Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view.
To get in touch with the show. Call or text: 0450 078834 or email: [email protected]