Blind and vision impaired

Overview 

Blind or vision impaired people will be impacted by their vision impairment in different ways. Some people with vision impairment may use a white cane or dog guide, or read using braille, while others may not sure any visible supports at all. Some people will have trouble seeing things directly in front of them or to the side. Others may have issues with depth perception or have trouble in bright sunlight or when it is dark.

Important things to know about blindness and vision impairment 

• Vision impairment is a spectrum ranging from complete blindness to differing degrees of partial vision loss.
• Two people can have the same vision impairment, but the impact on their sight can be different.
• Vision impaired and legally blind doesn’t necessarily mean total blindness.
• In 2015 it was estimated that around 530,000 Australians were blind or vision impaired.²
• People who are blind or vision impaired are significantly less likely to be in full-time work than sighted people. A 2018 survey found that 24% of blind and vision impaired respondents were in full-time employment.³ The rate of full-time employment for people with disability in Australia is 59.1%, so blind and vision impaired people are significantly underemployed compared to other people with disability and the general population.⁴

Key strategies for success 

People who are blind or vision impaired will benefit from inclusive communication and recruitment practices such as: 

• inviting the person to share their access needs at every step of their employment journey 
• providing documents in accessible formats for people who use assistive technology like screen reading software. This means ensuring that the documents have accessible fonts and colour contrasts as well as avoiding using PDF documents or including a Word version as well
• making sure that position descriptions only include necessary requirements for the job, and not ‘desirable’ criteria such as having a drivers licence if it’s not necessary for the role 
• making sure that websites and online application forms are accessible and comply with current web accessibility guidelines. If using online forms, there should be clear instructions on how to complete them and confirmation of successful lodgement and receipt should be sent. Alternatives to online forms should also be provided so that people can submit their applications to an email address instead of using an online form.⁵

Blind or vision impaired employees may need adjustments to make their workplace safe and accessible. These adjustments will depend on the individual employee and what they need.  

Some examples of workplace adjustments for employees who are blind or vision impaired include: 

• considering lighting in the workplace, including in common areas, and thinking about things like reducing glare
• making sure that workspaces are clear of clutter and well-lit
• using large print signage, or signs that you can touch
• providing assistive technology including things like screen reading software, magnifying aids, large computer monitors and large button phones.⁶ 

Here are a few tips for interacting with people who are blind or vision impaired: 

• Speak using a normal tone of voice – you do not need to shout or speak slowly.
• It is okay to use vision-related words like ‘see’, ‘look’ and ‘watch’.
• Don’t assume that a blind or vision impaired person needs assistance. It is okay to ask if they do, but don’t assume.
• If the person has a dog guide, do not touch or interfere with the dog as they are working.