ENABLER is a three year research project which seeks to improve the employment opportunities of blind and partially sighted job seekers.
The project addresses concerns that government welfare to work programmes may not recognise the additional barriers facing many blind and partially sighted people; such as access to job seeking information, accessibility of online resources, mobility training, the functional impact of different sight conditions, and the cost and availability of access technology equipment and software. These barriers can be made worse by other factors such as low educational attainment, a lengthy unemployment history, additional disabilities and mental health problems.
In addition, existing funding for mainstream employment support services is weighted towards job outcomes. Consequently organisations supporting people to find work tend to concentrate on customers who are seen as able to work straight away. Blind and partially sighted individuals, particularly those with additional complex needs who are not yet ready for employment, become further marginalised as a result.
'Action-research'
The ENABLER project uses an action-research framework. Researchers have worked alongside RNIB Group employment teams as well as blind and partially sighted people in the design and testing of a new assessment toolkit, as well as new ways of working with people considered a long way from being ready for work.
Employment assessment toolkit
The ENABLER project has developed an Employment assessment toolkit which will help employment professionals to gain a clear understanding of what a person's aspirations and abilities are in relation to employment, and what types of support and development are needed to help fulfill these.
Testing new ways of supporting people a long way from employment
As well as developing the Employment assessment toolkit we have tested a number of innovative support options for people that we know require a great deal of support on their journey towards employment. ENABLER participants have developed skills in areas such as assistive technology and travelling independently, whilst several people have secured volunteering opportunities. We have also piloted a new pre-employment programme within two of Action's service delivery teams. From the 14 people involved in the pilot:
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Three participants secured paid employment, two of whom had attended a pre-employment programme.
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Three participants have secured full-time education courses.
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Seven participants benefitted from voluntary work as the first important step on their journey into paid employment. One of these individuals, in her 40's, had never worked before, whilst another had not been employed for 18 years.
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Various individuals have developed skills in a range of areas; for example, travelling independently through mobility training, computer skills through IT training, and accessing information through literacy and numeracy courses.
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One person obtained ten hours support work from the local authority, which has helped him move from a situation of complete isolation to starting voluntary work.
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Confidence levels and motivation have increased for most participants over the last eight months.
Watch our pre-employment video
Here is a short film which brings to life some of the work we are doing. We follow participants as they begin a group pre-employment programme and look at how individually tailored support can also help those in long term unemployment.
Future action
At the end of the project we plan to use the final assessment toolkit across RNIB Group employment services. We hope the knowledge gained by using the toolkit and in testing new ways to support customers a long way from being work-ready can be used to influence government welfare to work programmes as well as other service providers about how best to support blind and partially sighted job seekers. A full report will be launched at an event on 18th June and also published on this website.
Funding and partners
ENABLER is funded by the Big Lottery and is being delivered in partnership between RNIB, Action for Blind People (Action) and the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) at the University of Birmingham.
Further information
For more information please email employmentservices@rnib.org.uk