RNIB Scotland supports blind and partially sighted people in finding work, and helps those already in work to retain their jobs.
Currently, 66 per cent of registered blind and partially sighted people of working age aren't in employment. Alarming but hardly surprising, given one survey found that nine out of ten employers thought this group would be either 'difficult' or 'impossible' to employ.
But such attitudes are often based on misconceptions of what people with sight loss can do, and a lack of awareness of the help in place to meet any additional costs, such as the Government's Access to Work scheme.
Who we help
For job-seekers, we offer skills assessment, vocational guidance and training, including experience in using the latest assistive technology.
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For employees, we can support them, and their employer, to retain their skills and experience in the same or an alternative job.
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For employers, we can advise on how best to support workers with sight loss, and provide printed information, such as job-descriptions, in alternative formats such as audio or braille.
How we help
Employment and Learning Centre - Edinburgh
RNIB Scotland's Employment and Learning Centre in Edinburgh is committed to helping adults with sight problems to enhance their independence and secure the best possible employment opportunities. The Centre's facilities include computers with accessible software, which can be booked for job-seeking purposes and to practice IT skills. We also provide training courses which aim to boost your job-seeking skills and confidence. Staff are available to offer support on job-related matters or technology queries. For more information on our Employment and Learning Centre, please call us on 0131 652 3140.
Employment Consultancy
Our Employment and Learning Service offers consultancy services to help organisations which employ blind and partially sighted people. This includes training in disability awareness, access to technology and assessing job descriptions.
We also offer individual job-seekers and employees work-focused guidance interviews and advice about rehabilitation, training and specialist equipment.
For more information on Employment Consultancy, contact elscotland@rnib.org.uk
Technology Consultancy
Our technology specialists advise people with sight loss and their employers on all aspects of using technology in employment, learning and daily living. We offer group and one-to-one training on a wide range of equipment and software including:
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video magnifiers,
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electronic reading aids,
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magnification and screen-reader software,
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computer systems,
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notetakers,
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braille technology.
For more information on the Technology Consultancy, contact: elscotland@rnib.org.uk
Learning and Development Centre - Glasgow
In our Glasgow centre, we can assist blind and partially sighted people to use adaptive software to access computers. After meeting with you to help us understand your training needs, we arrange either group or individual computer training. We have also developed a bespoke call centre handling training package. For more information on our Learning and Development Centre, contact us on 0141 276 9804.
Café Tiki
Our first Café Tiki opened in Glasgow in 2011, with the support of Matthew Algie and Glasgow City Council. Similar cafes have been established in the Forth Valley Sensory Centre in Falkirk and at RNIB Scotland headquarters in Edinburgh. Based on a not-for-profit 'social firm' model, the cafes create employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people and other disadvantaged groups, including the long-term unemployed.
The cafes are open to the public and serve quality coffees, teas and a range of light meals. For more information on Café Tiki, contact elscotland@rnib.org.uk
Focus on Employability Project, Glasgow
Glasgow City Council was the first local authority in the UK to fund specialist employability services targeted at reducing unemployment among blind and partially sighted people. This service provides training and assistance for unemployed people, employers and employment agency staff. For further details, please call 0141 276 9800.
Aberdeenshire Project
Our team here engages with individuals of working age with sight loss within Aberdeenshire. We work with key stakeholders, employers and other voluntary, public and private sector organisations to raise awareness of people with sight loss. We also provide skills assessments and job-seeking support to blind and partially sighted people to help them move into jobs or closer to the labour market. For more information on our services in Aberdeenshire, please call us on 0131 657 8200.
Welfare to Work Programmes
RNIB Scotland supports the delivery of Department of Work and Pensions' 'Welfare to Work' programmes such as Work Choice and the Work Programme in most areas of Scotland. We work with Ingeus, supporting their delivery of the Work Programme, and with Shaw Trust in their delivery of Work Choice. For more information on how we can support you in job-seeking, contact us on 0141 276 9800 or 0131 652 3140.
Further information
Our 'This Is Working' reports contain case-studies of people with sight loss who are sustaining exacting jobs in the workplace.
We have also published an advisory booklet aimed at public sector employers to promote the European Union's Article 19 directive. This allows public procurement contracts to be reserved to social businesses which employ people with disabilities.
Read 'Article 19 - Making It Work for People with Sight Loss' on our Reports and Publications page.