What We Do

Members of the VI community themselves acknowledge that lack of opportunities for meaningful employment forces them into a life governed by the benefits system (in the UK).

There are a number of factors that contribute to this.

Lack of accessible jobs - Many jobs are not accessible to VI people, either because they require physical tasks that are difficult or impossible for VI people to do, or because they are not located in accessible buildings or public transportation.
Lack of training and support - VI People may not have the training or support they need to find and keep a job. This can be due to a lack of accessible training programs, or a lack of understanding from employers about the needs of people with VI.
Attitudes of employers - Some employers may have negative attitudes towards VI people and may be reluctant to employ them. This can make it difficult for VI people to find an employment.
Financial barriers - The cost of living in the UK is high, and VI people may have difficulty making ends meet on benefits alone. This can make it difficult for them to afford the training and support they need to find and keep a job.

As a result of these factors, many VI people in the UK are forced to rely on the benefits system to survive.

This can have a number of negative consequences.

Financial hardship - Benefits payments are often not enough to cover the cost of living, which can lead to financial hardship.
Lack of independence - People who are reliant on benefits may have difficulty living independently, as they may not have enough money to pay for things like transportation, housing, and food.
Social isolation - People who are reliant on benefits may be more likely to experience social isolation, as they may not have the same opportunities to socialize as people who are employed.

MindfulVision do a number of things to address this issue.

Making more jobs accessible - Employers should be required to make their workplaces accessible to VI people. This could include things like providing accessible workstations, training employees on how to work with VI people, and making sure that all communication is accessible. We have an ambassador program that works closely with the client to address just his issue.
We can provide training and support for those employees and the employer that want to support VI people in the work place.
We are actively engaged in a program of better education for all. Employers and the general public need to change their attitudes towards VI people. They need to understand that VI people are capable of working and contributing to society in the same way as other people. In many instance VI people out perform normal sighted individuals.
We aim to pay more than the benefits VI people receive. This helps to lift that person out of the benefits trap and in doing so reduces costs to government

By taking these steps, we can create a more inclusive society where VI people have the same opportunities as everyone else.