Visual Impairment Workplace Assessments for Employees in the UK and Ireland
Virtual (phone or video) £795, face to face £995, no VAT. Around two hours. A full, actionable report within ten working days.
Specialist Visual Impairment and Sight Loss Workplace Assessments for Every Kind of Role
When an employee’s sight starts to affect their work, it isn’t always obvious what will help. A bigger screen may make no difference, the right software might sit unused because nobody knows it is there, and a simple change to lighting or seating can matter more than any piece of equipment. A specialist assessment cuts through the guesswork.
Visualise carries out specialist visual impairment workplace assessments, also known as sight loss workplace assessments, for employers across the UK and Ireland. We support employees with any level of sight loss: someone newly diagnosed, someone whose sight is gradually changing, someone returning to work after a period off, or someone who has managed for years but is now finding it harder.
We assess people in every kind of role, not just in offices. That includes warehouses, shops, hospitals, classrooms, call centres, people on the road, and people who work from home or split their time between home and the workplace. Whatever the job, we look at what it really involves and what would make it easier, safer and less tiring.
Our assessments are practical and non-clinical, and they are carried out by specialists with professional and lived experience of sensory loss. The result is a clear, actionable report your organisation can put into practice straight away.
What Is a Visual Impairment Workplace Assessment?
A visual impairment or sight loss workplace assessment is a practical, non-clinical look at how an employee’s sight affects their work, and what would make it easier. It does not diagnose or grade an eye condition. It focuses on what the person can and cannot see in their working day, and what removes the barriers.
The assessment covers:
- The role in full: the employee’s duties, targets, meetings and working pattern, and the visual demands each task brings, such as reading small print or figures, long periods on screen, telling colours apart, or moving around a building or site.
- How their sight affects their work: in their own words, including the size of print or screen they need, how close they sit, the effect of glare, dim light or busy backgrounds, and whether their vision changes through the day or becomes tiring.
- Their workstation and systems: monitors, keyboard, software and the applications they use, at home, in the office or both.
- The working environment: lighting, glare, layout, signage, and getting around safely.
- What already helps, and what else might: settings, built-in accessibility features, lighting or magnification, talked through with the employee and, where possible, tried during the assessment.
- Health and safety: any concerns, with practical guidance.
From this we produce clear, practical recommendations that remove barriers and support the employee’s performance, confidence and wellbeing.
How It Works
- Referrals usually come from HR, occupational health or a line manager. Use the Make a Referral button to download the referral form, complete it and send it back to us.
- We contact the employee directly within two working days to arrange a time that suits them.
- We carry out the assessment by phone, video or in person, depending on what is needed. It usually takes around two hours.
- We write a full, actionable report and send it to you within ten working days. You can then share it with the employee.
If you have any questions once you have read the report, just get in touch.
Virtual or Face to Face?
Most of our assessments are now carried out virtually, usually by phone, or by video where that suits the employee. In our experience, a virtual assessment produces the same detailed, actionable report as a face-to-face visit in most cases, with no travel and faster booking. Face-to-face assessments remain available where a physical review of the workplace is needed.
What the Report Covers
Every specialist sight loss workplace assessment report is written to be acted on. It covers:
- the employee’s role and duties
- the barriers they face
- any health and safety concerns, with guidance
- reasonable adjustments
- equipment and assistive technology, such as screen readers and magnifiers
- changes to lighting, layout and the working environment
- anything that may help at home as well as at work
- practical advice for managers.
Every recommendation is proportionate and specific to the role.
Why It Matters, and What the Law Expects
England, Scotland and Wales. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, so that they are not put at a substantial disadvantage compared with colleagues. This includes many people with sight loss.
Northern Ireland. Disability in employment is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which places a similar duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments.
Ireland. Under section 16 of the Employment Equality Act 1998, as amended, employers must take “appropriate measures”, often called reasonable accommodation, so that a person with a disability can do the job, unless those measures would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer.
Employers in Ireland may be able to get help with costs through the Work and Access programme. Its Workplace Needs Assessment grant provides up to €2,500 towards an assessment, and the Department of Social Protection sets criteria for the assessor, including professional registration. Please ask us about your situation before applying. The programme can also fund workplace equipment (up to €12,000) and adaptations (up to €25,000), and our report sets out clearly what is needed. Approval must be in place before anything is bought.
Whichever applies, getting adjustments right early helps people stay well and productive at work, and avoids the costs of absence, lost skills and disputes. Our assessments give you:
- expert guidance to help you meet your obligations
- a more inclusive, supportive working culture
- support for employee confidence and retention.
Access to Work
Access to Work is available in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own Access to Work programme. Access to Work can help pay for support, but it will not pay for reasonable adjustments an employer is legally required to make. Its own staff guide says advisers “must take into account any previous assessments a customer has had”, and that “a further assessment may not be necessary unless the customer asks for one” or the type of work has significantly changed. Funding decisions always rest with Access to Work, and it may still arrange its own assessment.
Who Is It For?
We work with:
- employers managing accessibility across varied roles
- HR teams and occupational health professionals who need specialist input
- line managers looking for practical advice
- insurers and case managers supporting a return to work
- employees, through a referral from their employer.
Whether it is an engineer, teacher, warehouse operative, call centre worker or administrator, we can help.
Assessment Cost
- Virtual assessment, by phone or video: £795, no VAT
- Face-to-face assessment: £995, no VAT
The price includes the assessment and the full written report. Travel for face-to-face assessments a long way from us may be charged, and we always confirm this before booking.
Make a Referral Today
Don’t wait until your colleague is struggling. Let us help you get it right from the start.
Have questions first?
📞Contact us today to discuss how we can support your team – call Dan on 07472 305 268
✉️ Or email us directly at referrals@visualisetrainingandconsultancy.co.uk
Let’s work together to create a workplace where vision loss is not a barrier to success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visual Impairment Workplace Assessments
£795 for a virtual assessment by phone or video, and £995 face to face, with no VAT. The price includes the assessment and the full written report. Travel for face-to-face assessments a long way from us may be charged, and we always confirm this before booking.
Usually around two hours, which gives time to understand the employee's role, tasks, working environment and barriers.
We contact the employee directly within two working days to arrange a time. After the assessment, the report is sent to you within ten working days.
The referring organisation, which can then share it with the employee.
The employee's duties and barriers, any health and safety concerns, reasonable adjustments, equipment and assistive technology, changes to the working environment, anything that may help at home as well as at work, and advice for managers.
Usually not. Most of our assessments are carried out by phone, or by video where that suits the employee. In our experience, this produces the same detailed, actionable report as a face-to-face visit in most cases, with no travel and faster booking. Face to face is available where a physical review of the workplace is needed.
No. We assess people in education, healthcare, retail, operational, customer-facing and hybrid roles.
Access to Work's staff guide says advisers must take into account previous assessments a customer has had, and that a further assessment may not be necessary unless the customer asks for one or their work has significantly changed. Funding decisions always rest with Access to Work.
Yes. The employee should agree to the referral before it is made. Their information is treated in confidence, and the report is sent only to the referring organisation.
Usually the employer, or an insurer or case manager who commissions the assessment.
Yes. We carry out assessments for employers in Ireland, by phone, video or in person, and Irish employers can commission an assessment from us directly.