Presentation Vision conference: Delphi study on barriers to labor market participation for people with visual impairments

Conference presentation at the 15th International Conference on Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation in 2025 on barriers to labor market participation for people with visual impairments. The Delphi study explored expert consensus on general, policy-related, environmental, and individual barriers to labor market participation.

Results showed consensus that people with visual impairments do not currently have equal labor market opportunities and face barriers in maintaining employment. Experts agreed that governments and employers should do more to promote labor participation, that benefit programs should provide sufficient security during reintegration into work, and that obtaining workplace accommodations and assistive devices remains difficult.

Consensus was also reached that people with visual impairments generally have sufficient skills to participate in the labor market, but also require additional support in developing employability skills. No consensus was reached on whether the current Dutch policy landscape itself constitutes a barrier to labor market participation or on whether there is currently sufficient support in finding or keeping a job.