NEET with a disability: What's holding back visually impaired young people who want to work
I have been fortunate in my research to follow 80 young people with vision impairment over 11 years. I tracked their journeys from school into adulthood, speaking with them at regular intervals to learn what had happened since we last spoke, what had gone well and what could have been improved.
An 11-year study of 80 young people with vision impairment revealed that many had not secured paid work by their mid-20s, despite expressing a desire to work. Factors hindering their employment included inadequate preparation for adult life, challenges in accessing assistive technology in the workplace, a lack of employer awareness of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, and delays in receiving government support.
Despite their academic achievements, these young adults encountered a job market that was visually demanding and often incompatible with their assistive technology. They also faced skepticism from Jobcentre Plus staff and work coaches who doubted their ability to secure employment. When eventually employed, they often encountered bureaucratic delays and errors when applying for Access to Work, the government-funded program that provides financial assistance for necessary workplace accommodations.
Former MP Alan Milburn's review highlighted the urgent national crisis of young people becoming NEET, or not in education, employment, or training. To address these challenges, the authors recommend that the government formally adopt the Royal National Institute of Blind People's curriculum framework, which outlines the necessary support for children and young people with vision impairment to achieve educational and social inclusion and transition to independence.
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