The Employment and Visual Ability of Partially Sighted School Leavers and Young Adults

Abstract

The investigation was undertaken in order to examine the visual ability and employment of partially sighted school leavers and young adults. The major aim was to develop a test of visual ability, the measures of which would indicate vocational aptitude. Ophthalmic, social, and psychological factors which affect the first employment entered after leaving school and subsequent employment success have been examined. A questionnaire was utilised in a major study of employment, and information on employment history, attitudes, expectations and experiences was obtained from 95 respondents, along with ophthalmic and educational details. The results showed that of those individuals who had been available for employment for a period of up to three years since leaving school, 50% had spent more than half of their available time without employment. For the entire sample, on the basis of the proportion of time which had been spent in full employment since leaving school, 31% were considered unsuccessful in employment. It was found that problems in social and emotional adjustment, development of attitudes, learning ability, the attitudes of employers, and the lack of expert guidance, advice and facility for assistance, all contribute to individuals failing to achieve full employment. Other than for individuals with visual acuity of better than 6/24, employment success was largely independent of visual acuity. Individuals with a poor or restricted visual field, however, were more often unsuccessful in employment. A simple test of visual ability was developed. The test requires subjects to determine the number of target stimuli contained within a complex display of confusion stimuli. Scores of accuracy and total time required to complete the test differentiate between successful and unsuccessful individuals. A table of probabilities for employment success or failure has been calculated for a range of scores. The test provides a simple means by which vocational aptitude can be assessed. The results of the investigation show that there is a real need for the introduction of a special establishment designed to provide expert advice, guidance, and assistance in all aspects of vocational assessment, training, rehabilitation, and placement of the partially sighted