Patrick\u2019s experiences with employers and the Access to Work programme haven\u2019t always been positive. Patrick recalls how their lack of understanding and support left him struggling to see, disabling him at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been using digital magnifiers for over 20 years, these devices are completely invaluable to me<\/a>. My visual impairment means that I rely on these text-enlarging screens for writing or looking at paperwork. Today, it wouldn\u2019t be possible for me to do my job if I didn\u2019t have access to a digital magnifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, I had a bad experience with an employer who wasn\u2019t able to appreciate how this technology supported me. Following bad advice from my Access to Work team, I was left struggling to see for 18 months. I could only do part of my job and it was very, very frustrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I first started receiving Access to Work support, there was a meeting with myself, my new manager and the Access to Work representative. I explained what it was I\u2019d be doing and what my needs were so that they could put the report together. I was under the assumption that the person putting together my report would have specialist knowledge around visual impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report recommended a specific magnifier for me to use at work. If you can imagine, it was like a microscope attached to a large screen monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d just recently been in touch with Sense; they\u2019d been helping me navigate Microsoft Teams for the first time \u2013 not an easy piece of software for the visually impaired! It was during one of the Sense Employment sessions <\/a>that I was introduced to other magnifiers. I realised there was another model that might be more useful for me than the one which had been recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I sent a message to my employer telling them that I\u2019d tested out this new magnifier and would like to try it \u2013 it was \u00a31,000 cheaper than the one Access to Work had recommended as well! But that employer felt that they ought to go with recommendation and they went ahead and bought the other magnifier for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unbeknownst to either of us, it wasn\u2019t a video magnifier at all. It was a microscope \u2013 something I only found out later when I spoke to someone from RNIB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I contacted RNIB independently and told them about it and how it didn\u2019t work properly. When I explained the details, a woman from RNIB said, \u201cThat\u2019s not a video magnifier, that\u2019s a microscope.\u201d I was shocked. I assumed that the person doing an Access to Work recommendation would have the experience of visual impairments and the different items they were recommending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It meant that for those 18 months I could only do part of my job. It was very difficult, but I had to keep on using the equipment that they\u2019d provided. There wasn\u2019t much else I could do. The tech is very expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt disheartened. I was trying to explain to my employer why this magnifier wasn\u2019t right for me and they just weren\u2019t really able to understand. They didn\u2019t have experience of having employees with visual impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now I have the experience to say, \u201cI know better than others what would suit me and my needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was fortunate to know that I could turn to Sense and to RNIB for support. But another person \u2013 who might not know where else to get information \u2013 might be stuck. They\u2019d also think that they were dealing with someone who had experience of visual impairments \u2013 but that’s not always the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tech is not widely known about so it can be hard to get the right guidance. Even my eye specialist, who I\u2019d mentioned all this too, I think his exact words were \u201cI haven\u2019t got the experience of dealing with that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas someone from RNIB or Sense would be able to see things from your point of view, they\u2019d understand immediately if the tech wasn\u2019t right. That\u2019s where I\u2019d always recommend people to go. Through them, you can test out different kinds of magnifier<\/a> and get in touch with the production companies to get demonstrations. That kind of support is so helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Sense, we’re committed to tackling the barriers people with complex disabilities face looking for and holding down work. We do this through our specialist employment services<\/a> in Birmingham and Loughborough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But support must also come from the Government and employers if opportunities for disabled people are to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBattling a flawed prescription<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I felt disheartened at having my needs ignored<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Getting the help from someone who understood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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