Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Help with getting a job in the UK (self.Blind)
submitted by mammothswoon
Hi there I (29M legally blind) have been trying incredibly hard to get back in to work recently and have had no luck whatsoever and was wondering if anyone knows of any services for blind/VI/disabled people to help with employment.
I had to take the last couple of years out firstly because of deteriorating vision which caused a lot of pain, and then I became a single father. But I am trying so hard to get back in to work so I can afford to rent a bigger home for me and my son & to move in with my partner.
I understand at the minute due to the pandemic every job has 1000 more applicants than usual, but I feel like I’m getting nowhere. I have applied for jobs I have years of experience in & am incredibly qualified for & can’t even get an interview. I can’t help but think some places see a disability on an application and don’t look any further.
This wasn’t something I massively felt until I saw a job that only existed because of me & it demanded a drivers license (I worked for a different organisation in the sector & met the manager of their team at a conference I was running & they didn’t have anyone doing what I did in their team and told me they would create my role in their team, which they did and I saw the ad)
Sorry for the rant it just gets to me.
So if anyone has any ideas it would be great. For background I have experience in communications, the museum sector, & a journalism degree
I had to take the last couple of years out firstly because of deteriorating vision which caused a lot of pain, and then I became a single father. But I am trying so hard to get back in to work so I can afford to rent a bigger home for me and my son & to move in with my partner.
I understand at the minute due to the pandemic every job has 1000 more applicants than usual, but I feel like I’m getting nowhere. I have applied for jobs I have years of experience in & am incredibly qualified for & can’t even get an interview. I can’t help but think some places see a disability on an application and don’t look any further.
This wasn’t something I massively felt until I saw a job that only existed because of me & it demanded a drivers license (I worked for a different organisation in the sector & met the manager of their team at a conference I was running & they didn’t have anyone doing what I did in their team and told me they would create my role in their team, which they did and I saw the ad)
Sorry for the rant it just gets to me.
So if anyone has any ideas it would be great. For background I have experience in communications, the museum sector, & a journalism degree
YourLocalMosquito 2 points 2y ago
This isn’t a solution but there’s a uk charity called Henshaws. They have oodles of help and information. It’s definitely worth getting in touch with them.
dani1876 2 points 2y ago
I’m not UK based so I had no idea how’s the reality there. Have you check The Valuable 500 website? They’re disability advocate based in UK, currently gathered a lot of companies to make a pledge for inclusive hiring. Check the companies listed in this website & find those that suits you?
Probably it will have bigger chance than “randomly” applying to those who’s not keen doing inclusive hiring.
Probably it will have bigger chance than “randomly” applying to those who’s not keen doing inclusive hiring.
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 2y ago
In the UK you don't have to disclose any disabilities and employers are legally barred from asking about them. They're shortly paradoxically legally obliged to provide any accommodations your disability might warrant, during the interview process.
You can explain the gap in your CV as "2015-2020 - tending to family matters." I don't imagine a proper British lady or gentleman would be impolite enough to pry into that.
The driver's license requirement might be a bigger issue, but plenty of people apply to jobs they're not fully qualified for and still get a chance to prove their worth.
My job had an implicit driver's licence requirement, but we got around it. When I did field work, I went with somebody else.
My advice is not to explicitly disclose your vision impairment so you get your foot in the door. Once you're having a proper conversation, you'll have a chance to explain how capable you are, even if you need accommodations.
You can explain the gap in your CV as "2015-2020 - tending to family matters." I don't imagine a proper British lady or gentleman would be impolite enough to pry into that.
The driver's license requirement might be a bigger issue, but plenty of people apply to jobs they're not fully qualified for and still get a chance to prove their worth.
My job had an implicit driver's licence requirement, but we got around it. When I did field work, I went with somebody else.
My advice is not to explicitly disclose your vision impairment so you get your foot in the door. Once you're having a proper conversation, you'll have a chance to explain how capable you are, even if you need accommodations.
Amonwilde 3 points 2y ago
I'd also justsay, lean into any personal connections you have. Email and phone calls to the extent you can. Best to have a job 80% secured before you even start the application, if you can pull it off.
KDog_music 2 points 2y ago
You could get a support worker with access to work, and they could drive you around, so that would sort the driving license issue
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 2y ago
That's something I hadn't even considered.
Not the way to go for me, but OP could look into the idea.
Not the way to go for me, but OP could look into the idea.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
If possible try doing freelance work or starting a business
mammothswoon [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you everyone for your advice
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