Employment support for blind and partially sighted people

The debate will focus on the findings of the APPG on Eye Health and Visual Impairments. The report, ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives‘ looked at employer attitudes to visually impaired people as well as support within the workplace.

‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives’ report

The report highlights the practical barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people when looking for work and progression in the workforce. The report makes 22 recommendations, as well as calling on the government to implement a Disability Employment Strategy. Some of the key recommendations include:

• Reviewing the Equality Act 2010 to make sure it’s fit to support blind and partially sighted people to participate in a modern labour market
• Addressing the current issues in the government’s Access to Work (ATW) scheme, including the current delays and backlog.
• Asking employers to take practical steps to ensure their workplaces are inclusive. This includes producing information and documents in accessible formats and regularly testing their interface for compatibility and accessibility.

Government response

At the launch of the report on 14 October 2024, Employment Minister, Alison McGovern MP responded that “a big change is needed so that all blind and partially sighted people can play their full role in society”. The Employment Minister also stated a new employment white paper would be released and that the APPG report would be considered as an early submission to this.

‘Get Britain Working’ white paper

In September 2024, the government announced its intention to publish the white paper ‘Get Britain Working’ in Autumn 2024. The white paper will include plans to devolve power to local areas so they can develop bespoke work, health, and skills plans to decrease economic inactivity. The white paper has not yet been published.

In response to a Parliamentary Question on 12 November 2024, the government clarified that the white paper will set out reforms to employment support to “help tackle the elevated level of economic inactivity, support people into good work, and create an inclusive labour market in which everybody can participate and progress in work.” The reforms form part of the government’s long-term ambition to reach an 80% employment rate and to reduce the UK’s inactivity rate back to pre-pandemic levels.

The government also announced a £240 million funding package ahead of the Autumn Budget “to accelerate the rollout of local services to help people back into work and drive down inactivity.”