Sight Loss & Partially Sighted Awareness: Improve your Accessibility in the Workplace

20 May 2025

Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News

Understand the adjustments you can implement to become accessible to partially sighted individuals or those with sight loss.

Being accessible in the workplace is not only crucial but required by law. In this blog, we aim to raise awareness of the experiences people who live with sight loss or visual impairment may face. Including practical insights into how your business can provide the appropriate adjustments to meet their needs.

Keep reading to understand:

Sight loss and sight conditions.
Common barriers in the workplace.
Why accessibility matters.
How your business can become more accessible.

Research from The Beacon Centre for the Blind highlights ‘Over 500,000 people living with a disability in the West Midlands are almost 20% of the population’ and ‘Require an additional £1,070 a month to maintain the same standard of living’. Let’s begin to understand how we can accommodate for people with sight loss and conditions.

Sight loss and sight conditions

A labelled diagram of the eye. Showing the full eye anatomy including: Cornea, Iris, Ciliary Muscle, Suspensory Ligament, Sclera, Retina, Fovea, Optic Nerve, Lens, Pupil & Conjunctiva Blindness is the most common of sight conditions, but several other conditions are equally important to understand when creating an inclusive environment.

These conditions are:

Cataracts

Cataracts cause the lens to scatter light, making your eye appear cloudy or milky. This can have varied effects on your vision. There are three main types of cataracts that can occur.

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts – The most common type, beginning in the centre (nucleus) of the lens and potentially spreading.
Cortical cataracts – Start at the outer edge of the lens and can progress inward if untreated.
Posterior subcapsular cataracts – Form at the back of the lens near the retina, often affecting vision more quickly. It’s important to note that cataracts can also be present at birth due to genetic or inherited gene mutations.

Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This is known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the damage to the macula causes a loss of central vision. This condition does not cause complete blindness; it significantly impacts the ability to see straight ahead and focus. AMD is irreversible and the leading cause of severe sight loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy

People with diabetes are likely to experience sight complications and this type is common for vision loss. It occurs by the damage of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the retina. Without early diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to sight loss over time. Although, it will take a few years to get to a point where it could hinder an individual’s sight.

Glaucoma

The eye produces a watery fluid that drains out through the coloured part of your eye (The Iris) that meets the cornea. In primary open-angle glaucoma (The most common type), the drain is open, but the filter gets a bit blocked. So, the fluid can’t get out properly and pressure builds up in your eye.

There are 4 other types of glaucoma including:

Acute angle closure glaucoma.
Secondary glaucoma.
Normal tension glaucoma.
Congenital glaucoma.

Common barriers in the workplace

After understanding the types of sight loss and the impact of sight conditions, it's easier to recognise how it can create challenges in the workplace. These barriers often stem from physical layout, technology use, and lack of awareness.

Physical

A picture of an office space with sunlight reflecting through the windows, a transparent meeting room and rows of desks with black office chairs Poor lighting, unclear signage and cluttered layouts can cause distress and discomfort for people with sight conditions. As navigating these environments can be unsafe and uncomfortable.

Technology Access

Technology has come a long way and can greatly enhance independence; technology including screen readers and braille displays are essential. Not providing these can impact visually impaired employees to work effectively.

Awareness and understanding

Businesses who don’t have an understanding of how to support visually impaired employees can lead to misperception and bias during hiring and promotion opportunities.

Why Accessibility Matters

As mentioned previously, accessibility is a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination and ensures their rights are protected. Additionally, ensuring your business welcomes and includes people with disabilities demonstrates authenticity and advocacy. Therefore, it reflects social responsibility and influences other businesses to follow in your footsteps.

With the right support and resources, people with sight conditions can thrive in a wide range of roles, including:

Corporate Services Director.
Care & Support Worker.
Health Partnership Strategic Lead.
IT Trainer.
Marketing Intern.
Receptionist.
Retail Assistant.
Sight Loss Advisor.
Trustees/Non-Executive Directors.

How can you become more accessible?

Your website and communications

As well as improving user experience, it’s essential that you make your website user friendly to people with sight loss. Ensure your digital content is accessible by:

Using a clean and simple website layout.
Including alternative text for all images.
Ensuring screen reader compatibility.
Designing accessible forms and documents
Limiting the use of PDFs, these are harder to access.
Allow email communications to have large font options, using simple text and limiting imagery.
Providing a variety of contact options (E.g. Phone, email and online forms).

Your physical environment

Workplaces should offer:

Accessible parking, toilets, ramps and lifts.
Clear signage and use of contrasting colours to aid navigation.
Minimal outdoor obstructions such as A-signs or furniture.
Simple instructions for finding the building and reception.

Your Team

Educating your team to welcome individuals with sight disabilities can prevent social isolation and promote a compassionate work environment. This can be achieved by providing training sessions to build understanding and encourage inclusive practices. Also, allowing assistance dogs can make a huge difference and ensure that people with sight conditions feel safe and secure in their role. Beacon Centre can conduct a full review of your workplace and that includes transport and access links, while offering ways you can provide adjustments to become more accessible. This includes a review of your website and communication documents. They also provide training to spark more open conversations that aim to support people with sight conditions to fulfil their mission.

Establish partnerships and reach out to charities

The Beacon Centre for the Blind logo

We are proud to partner with The Beacon Centre for the Blind and understand the steps we can take to become more accessible and raise awareness for an important cause.

We encourage you to reach out, start the conversations and continue to find the best ways to become more inclusive and diverse as a business.

The Beacon Centre has a page dedicated to employment and coaching you can undertake to ensure people with sight conditions can thrive in your business. Discover their page here.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has opened up new ways you can become more accessible and understand sight disabilities. As this year’s Chamber Charity of the Year, The Beacon Centre for the Blind is helping to bring meaningful change across Black Country businesses by ensuring people with disabilities have the resources to live and work comfortably, reflect your organisation’s values and care for both staff and clients. Thank you to The Beacon Centre for the Blind for providing the resources to create this blog.

Let’s continue working together towards greater inclusivity and diversity. The change starts with us.