Workplace Assessment for Employees with Visual Impairment

Every 6 minutes, someone in the UK starts to lose their sight – visual impairment is indiscriminate and can happen to anyone. Some of your valued employees could be struggling with sight loss without you knowing.  A specialist Workplace Assessment will identify their challenges and how best to overcome them.

Spotting the Signs

Here are just a few of the most recognisable signs:

• Becoming clumsy and struggling to get around the office, shop floor or workplace
• Difficulty in recognising colleagues
• Finding computer screens, print and handwritten documents difficult to read
• Eye fatigue or pain and discomfort with bright lights
• Experiencing migraines, headaches and overall tiredness
• Difficulties in dark or dim environments and with judging depth

This video explains why commissioning a Workplace Assessment is so important…

Our Holistic virtual or face to face Workplace Assessment will identify:

• Issues an employee is facing as a result of their visual impairment
• Specialist aids, resources and equipment needed to carry out duties effectively
• Training needs relating to the recommended equipment
• Impact of environmental factors such as lighting, signage and office layout
• Reasonable adjustments including flexible working, additional breaks and administration of medication
• Factors affecting the employee’s mobility to, from and within work
• Configuration and scripting of assistive technology software
• Beneficial services such as a functional low-vision assessment, referrals to social services or sight loss charities
• Requirements for a human support worker where all other adjustments have been considered
• Rehabilitation or work-related training needs
• Useful provisions such as visual impairment awareness training for colleagues
• Support that may be required at home which may impact on working performance
• Emotional support and coping strategies the employee may benefit from

Why and when should I commission a Workplace Assessment?

As a responsible employer, you’ll want to ensure that all your staff feel supported, valued and have opportunities to maximise their productivity.  You’ll also want to comply with your duty to make reasonable adjustments under The Equality Act 2010.

The majority of people with a visual impairment work around their issues but are not aware of the resources and workplace adjustments available to them. Therefore, we recommend commissioning assessments before new employees start in their roles. Current employees who acquire eye conditions through illness, infection, injury or for hereditary reasons and those with existing eye conditions should also be assessed.

Workplace Adjustment Procedure

Please download and return the referral form below. On receipt of the completed form, a virtual or face to face Workplace Assessment will be arranged with the employee who is experiencing difficulties with their vision as follows:

• Our consultant will be assigned the referral.
• An assessment appointment will be arranged within three working days of initial receipt of referral.
• Upon agreeing a convenient date with the employee, the consultant will establish the difficulties they are facing.
• The consultant will assess the duties the employee carries out and recommendations will be discussed to enable them to do their job more effectively.
• Upon completion of the assessment, the report will be submitted within 14 days to the employer, insurer and/or occupational health provider

Testimonials

“I am visually impaired and have undergone corneal transplant surgery which has not, unfortunately, been a great experience. Following this, I had a workplace assessment conducted by another provider which only lasted around 15 minutes and severely lacked the expertise needed to successfully help me return to work.

However, on a more positive note, Dan conducted a workplace adjustments assessment for me and my employer. I cannot begin to stress how necessary and invaluable his input was during my return to work journey. The 2 hour assessment conducted by Dan was immensely thorough and his expertise and knowledge within this particular area has proved to be very useful and resourceful to me personally, and our business.

I encourage anyone involved in supporting employees with visual impairments to contact Dan as he provides a wealth of information and can help to ensure that managers deliver the correct support to enable employees to retain and develop their roles.

A return to work journey encompasses a labyrinth of stumbling blocks which can be avoided with the appropriate knowledge, adjustments and support. I now look forward to developing my career thanks to Dan’s recommendations which have given me renewed confidence.”

HA – Assistant Manager at a leading UK bank

 

“I have advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy in both eyes and was referred to Visualise Training and Consultancy for a visual impairment Workplace Assessment. I found the whole process very helpful.

Dan had already familiarised himself with my condition, was incredibly knowledgeable about the benefits, support and services available to me and was refreshingly open about sharing his personal experience of dealing with his own visual impairment journey. He made a number of recommendations about how my employer could help me and he followed up on each of these very promptly.

The necessary software and equipment has now been ordered and following a referral from Dan, my sensory support social worker has referred me for mobility training on long guide cane use.”

Company Director

 

Dan recently completed my workplace assessment. He was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The most incredible thing was that he understood from the inside out the difficulties I was experiencing at work with sight loss, and proposed simple solutions to enable me to succeed. He signposted me to RNIB services and a local charity who could guide me through the process as well as suggesting assistive technology solutions that are to be honest life savers, as well as recommending a support worker.

She has been a Godsend, and now instead of working flat out in order to keep up, she takes the admin tasks from me on a weekly basis, and I can just concentrate now on performing in my job more effectively. I would thoroughly recommend Dan for a workplace assessment because his commitment, understanding and meticulous attention to detail about my individual needs and bespoke solutions was second to none.

Susie, Hampshire

 

In all honesty I did not have particularly high expectations for the Visualise assessment, maybe due to scepticism from previous experiences with other organisations. However, from the get-go, you and your team made me feel comfortable, supported and more than just another client.

Not only did you do this along with providing some useful resources in the visually impaired world including your extensive knowledge but then continued to support me well after your responsibility ended. I was getting little to no support from other organisations and you went (and continue to go) truly above and beyond to support me at a difficult time in my life, being new to sight loss.

I cannot thank you enough.

George, Customer Service Adviser

 

“I was really anxious about having a Workplace Assessment but you put me at ease and your consultant was very knowledgeable. Thank you for the adjustments you have recommended, they are making my working life so much easier!”

Costs and Booking Information

We cover the whole of the UK and Ireland.

The cost of a workplace assessment and recommended actions report is £795 plus travel and accommodation expenses if applicable.  VAT is not applicable.

For more information, advice or to book a virtual or face to face Visual Impairment Workplace Assessment, please email Daniel Williams at daniel@visualisetrainingandconsultancy.co.uk or call on 07472305268.

You can also make a referral online by using this form – here’s the download link: Visualise referral form for a workplace assessment