The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (C.N.I.B.) has released a study, which indicates that many blind, visually impaired educated people live in poverty because they can not find work. Many of the barriers they faced 30 years ago still exist.

The report is titled “An Unequal Playing Field: Report on the Needs of People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Living in Canada.” It found that only 25 per cent of blind or visually impaired adults aged 21-64 had jobs. This compares with 51 per cent of people with disabilities (aged 25–54) and 82 per cent of the general population (aged 25–54) who were gainfully employed.

And it is not lack of education that is to blame for the fact that only a quarter of blind or visually impaired adults of working age are employed. Nearly 20 per cent of the people C.N.I.B. interviewed had completed one or more university degrees. In fact, 13 per cent had an undergraduate degree, six per cent had a masters and 0.5 per cent had a Ph.D.

The study revealed that a major obstacle was the attitude of potential employers. Over half of the working-age participants in the C.N.I.B study said that employers did not see blind applicants as potential employees and a significant number were even unwilling to hire someone with visual impairment.

However, now the modern-day technology has made it easier for people with visual impairment to get around in the sighted world. People with low vision, with the help of portable magnification devices can now independently shop, do their banking and order out of a restaurant.

In fact visually impaired people have far more experience, adapting and finding creative solutions to challenges, than most employers. They’ve been doing it all their lives. And why should adapting to a work environment then be a challenge?

Shouldn’t the apathy end now?