A recent YouGov poll revealed that a quarter of employers admitted to defying laws designed to help blind people access work. The results, while shocking to some, are unfortunately not surprising to those familiar with the ongoing challenges faced by disabled people in the workplace.
One in five employers said adjustments to make their organisations more accessible would be too costly, with nearly half not knowing how to access extra funding to support visually impaired people, the poll of 2,000 employers showed.
Currently, just one in four blind and partially sighted people of working age are in employment. People are facing barriers at the first hurdle with nearly half of employers not offering accessible recruitment processes, according to the polling.
We spoke to colleagues at Evenbreak who are either blind or visually impaired to find out their thoughts on the results of this poll.
Lee Mercer, Account Manager at Evenbreak, expressed his disappointment, noting that the results are just another example of the widespread ignorance surrounding the barriers faced by disabled people on a daily basis.
“The results of this current poll are a surprise, but unfortunately it’s just another example on a pretty long list of businesses, government and people in general just not understanding or wanting to understand the challenges and barriers that disabled people have to face every day, particularly when talking about employment,” Lee remarked.
“Helping employers to understand and experience how easy it is to provide support for a disabled employee is key,” said Lee.
Lee emphasised the importance of employers being open to learning and collaborating with disabled employees to create an inclusive work environment. By making small adjustments to processes and procedures, employers can significantly improve the experiences of disabled employees without incurring substantial costs or disrupting workplace dynamics.
Mahomed Khatri, Head of Employment Engagement at Evenbreak, highlighted how the prevalence of built-in accessibility features in modern technology, such as screen reading software on mobile devices and computers, can make work more accessible.
Mahomed further underscored the role of colleague support and understanding in facilitating accessibility for blind and visually impaired people in the workplace. Simple gestures, such as assisting with navigation or maintaining clear pathways, can significantly enhance the working experience for disabled employees and benefit the entire workforce.
“Many other access requirements in new workplaces for blind and visually impaired people simply come from colleagues’ understanding and willingness to support,” Khatri remarked, highlighting the collective responsibility in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. These inclusive practices not only benefit blind people but also contribute to a more productive work environment for all employees.
The survey results serve as a sobering reminder of the work that remains to be done to achieve true equality and accessibility in the workplace. It is incumbent upon employers to recognise the value of diversity and inclusion, not only as a moral imperative but also as a strategic advantage in fostering innovation and driving success.
By embracing accessibility measures, fostering inclusive cultures, and amplifying the voices of disabled people, we can create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute their unique talents. Together, we can bridge the gap and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
How to make your workplace inclusive
- Provide reasonable adjustments with the help of Access to Work
- Train your team – enquire with Evenbreak today about training opportunities
