New report calls on the UK Government and employers to commit to change
The ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives’ report is calling on the UK Government to implement a Disability Employment Strategy that will improve employer attitudes and increase the number of blind and partially sighted people in work.
The report came out of an inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment (APPGEHVI), held in spring 2024, which obtained written submissions and held a series of hearings with people sharing their expertise and experience. RNIB promoted the call for evidence to and made its own submission to the inquiry.
It highlights the practical barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people when looking for work and progressing in their careers and made twenty-two recommendations including:
- Reviewing the Equality Act (2010) to make sure it’s fit for purpose in the 21st century to support blind and partially sighted people to participate in the labour market.
- Addressing the current failings in the government’s Access to Work scheme, including tackling the current delays and backlog.
- Asking employers to take practical steps to ensure their workplaces are inclusive, such as producing information and documents in accessible formats and regularly testing their interface, for compatibility and accessibility.
Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, commented:
“The UK government and employers must commit to changing attitudes and the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK.”
“As the Government starts to set out how it will support more people into work and publish its ‘Making Work Pay’ White Paper, now is the time to ensure that blind and partially sighted people of working age get the right support to reach their full potential.”
The report was launched in Westminster, Monday 14 October, at which Employment Minister, Alison McGovern, MP, responding to the report said that “a big change is needed so that all blind and partially sighted people can play their full role in society”. She said that a new employment white paper will be coming, and the APPG report would be seen as an early submission to this.
The Minister also said more still needs to be done to address the problems with Access to Work, and that she wants to match 'talent with technology' so that more disabled people can stay in work.
We know employment is high on the new Government’s agenda. If they are to help more people with sight loss get in to, and progress in work, it’s vital the inquiry’s findings shape the UK Government’s employment reforms and the ongoing Access to Work delays are finally tackled.
We welcome this report and look forward to continuing our work with the APPGEHVI and UK Government to improve the employment rate of blind and partially sighted people across the UK.