TRADUCTEUR D’ESPACE
CRÉATEUR DE LIEN
CRÉATEUR DE LIEN
18 novembre 2024
Faced with a shortage of talent, have you considered the untapped potential of visually impaired professionals?
Many people have preconceived ideas about what jobs are accessible to visually impaired or blind people. But did you know that the professional world is evolving in this area? New careers are opening up, breaking down barriers and stereotypes.
Posté par Sylvain dans : Accessibility and Inclusion (En)
Contents :
Do you know Hakim Kasmi, radio reporter at Radio France, blind from birth? In France, around 50% of visually impaired and blind people are unemployed, compared to the general unemployment rate of 19% for the disabled. Why is there such a gap?
There are many reasons: limited access to education, disappearance of traditional professions, lack of awareness of this disability among employers... This vicious circle can be broken, as we shall see in the following sections.
When you think of jobs for the visually impaired, some classics may spring to mind: teleconsultants, secretaries, piano tuners, physiotherapists. These professions have long been the mainstays of employment for the visually impaired. But the list is growing and diversifying.
Today, the professional landscape for visually impaired and blind people is undergoing a veritable revolution. Because business leaders are also looking for soft and hard skills. Soft skills such as empathy, creativity, adaptability, active listening and team spirit are particularly valued.
You'd be surprised to know that among them are sales assistants, industrial production line operators, lawyers, florists, jurists, salespeople, cycle mechanics, engineers, web marketing assistants, radio hosts, astrophysicists, computer developers, website developers, actresses, dance teachers, cybersecurity specialists, etc. Of course, some professions remain inaccessible, such as bus drivers and golf instructors, and others can be discovered in this video.
Their skills and determination open doors in fields previously unimaginable. It's a huge step forward, don't you think? These new opportunities show that the limits are not where we imagine them to be. Visually impaired and blind people are no longer content to go with the flow: they are now sailing in deep waters, exploring and conquering new professional horizons.
In France, for example, the law of July 10, 1987 marked a turning point. It encourages companies with over 20 employees to hire more disabled workers, with a target of 6% of the workforce. This was a first step towards greater equality in the workplace.
The visually impaired and blind people who have found their way into the professional world testify to their successful integration. Most feel welcome and valued in their company. Efforts to adapt workstations and the professional environment are bearing fruit.
But there is still a long way to go. Accessibility of workplaces and tools remains a major challenge. Fortunately, associations and resources are available to help. They offer invaluable support in the job search, training and adaptation of workstations.
Let's break some clichés! Many people think that employment options for blind and partially sighted people are limited. Not true! Brilliant careers in many fields are a reality for blind and partially sighted people. With the right technology and adaptations, almost any career is accessible.
Another myth is that visually impaired people can't use most technologies. Wrong again! Technology has become a way of life for some. Computers, cell phones, apps - they're not out of reach. In fact, many blind people say that technology has revolutionized their lives.
The real obstacle is often the employer's willingness to give a visually impaired candidate a fair chance. The tools for better inclusion in the world of work are already there, and can be partly covered by AGEFIPH or FIPHFP.
Visual impairment in the workplace is often misunderstood. Many companies are reluctant to hire visually impaired and blind people, fearing that their disability will be an obstacle. The truth? Technology has changed all that.
Modern tools offer blind and partially-sighted people everything they need to excel in their work. Imagine Braille displays, voice-reading software, 3D access maps with voice descriptions, and so many other innovations that turn obstacles into opportunities.
Let's get back to Hakim Kasmi, a senior reporter at Radio France. Yes, he was blind from birth. But that's never stopped him. Even as a child, Hakim dreamed of becoming a journalist. Despite doubts and obstacles, he never gave up on his dream. Of course, he worked twice as hard as anyone else to realize his ambition. And he succeeded!
Today, he reports on his work, traveling alone in France and abroad. He uses adapted tools such as a Braille display and voice synthesis. Impressive, isn't it?
Hakim is not an isolated case. There are so many other visually impaired people succeeding in diverse and exciting careers. Their secret? An iron will and an ability to overcome challenges. These are qualities that many employers are looking for, aren't they?
These stories are not just inspiring. They're living proof that visual impairment doesn't have to be a barrier to professional success. So, if you think something is impossible, think of Hakim and all those who, like him, turn the impossible into the possible!
In a world where innovation is king, a silent revolution is taking place. Imagine a world where visual limitations are no longer an obstacle to the independence of the visually impaired. This is the world Virtuoz makes possible.
Virtuoz is a simple, practical solution for tactile and voice maps. It opens the door to autonomous mobility in all indoor and outdoor spaces. Working closely with users right from the design stage, each product is a direct response to real needs.
Imagine entering a building and immediately feeling a sense of familiarity and security. For users, Virtuoz is a bridge to equality, fairness and autonomy, transforming every space into a welcoming, accessible place.
Remember, every little step towards inclusion counts. To find out more about how to make the corporate world more accessible, why not book a demo with Virtuoz?
Contact our team today.
Historically, jobs such as teleconsultant, secretary, piano tuner, masseur and physiotherapist were common. However, more and more visually impaired and partially sighted people are taking on a variety of jobs such as lawyers, engineers, marketing managers, human resources managers, computer developers and so on.
Challenges often include a lack of knowledge about visual impairment on the part of employers, limited access to adapted training, the disappearance of certain traditional professions, and investment in assistive technologies. For this last point, it is possible to obtain funding for workstation adaptation from AGEFIPH or FIPHFP.
Absolutely. Thanks to advances in technology, there are a number of adapted tools such as screen readers, Braille displays and text-to-speech software that make technology accessible to people with vision impairments.
Adaptations can include appropriate lighting, adapted computer screens, tactile cues for orientation, adapted access maps (tactile and voice), and the use of screen magnification software or screen reviews.
Virtuoz offers innovative solutions to improve accessibility and autonomy for visually impaired and blind people. To find out how these technologies can help in a professional context, feel free to book a demo.