It is shocking that the employment rate for visually impaired people is just 27 percent compared to 76 percent for the general population; a figure that has remained stubbornly low for many years. Research highlights that one of the root causes is blind and partially sighted people not having the technology skills they need for today’s digitally-enabled workplace.
Furthermore, there are a number of systemic challenges in providing technology training including the lack of a recognised digital skills framework for people who are blind or partially sighted, a lack of evidence of what training works, a lack of consistent outcome and impact measures, the lack of consistent referral pathways, as well as the need for additional specialists to deliver customised training.
TAVIP’s Digital Skills for Work Project will start to tackle these issues by developing a Digital Skills Framework for the workplace and an Outcomes and Impact Framework which will help provide a case for further specialist training in this area. The project will build on existing frameworks such as the Essential Digital Skills Framework (EDSF) and the International Certificate of Digital Literacy (ICDL) but will add an additional foundation layer focusing on accessibility.
The project is being delivered in partnership with Visibility Scotland who will be incorporating the learning into the training of Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, as well as engaging with employers on supporting new employees with Access to Work assessments, with assistive technology and with ongoing digital skills training.
TAVIP and Visibility Scotland will be working in collaboration with organisations from the Vision Partnership and Vision Collaborative Scotland to ensure the development of a sector-wide approach which builds a strong foundation for further investment and service development in this area.
The two-year project is being funded by Funded by Fight for Sight as part of their Digital Inclusion funding programme.
For further information or to get involved with the project contact info@tavip.org.uk or info@visibilityscotland.org.uk.