Sight-loss and work

[Albatrossing]

Hello! I've had quite a big sight-loss and am struggling to adjust. While i imagine that, long-term, my job COULD be done by someone who is sight-impaired, i'm not sure i can continue as i am at the moment, while i adjust. Has anyone any experience of this? I think i may have to resign, but am trying to think through the options.

I am sorry to hear this OP. Whilst not the same I have had to adjust recently to significant hearing loss which impacts my ability to do my job. I was able to get support for reasonable adjustments at work through recommendations made by Access to Work via the DWP, although it did take a while after the initial application. In the meantime your employer has a duty to make adjustments to enable you to do your job. Depending on what your job is and what adjustments would be required this may be easier or harder to achieve, but they have to work with you to try. They should refer you initially to an occupational health professional to assist with this process. HR can support if your manager is not sure how to go about this. I would not resign until you have explored your options. Your GP would be able to sign you off work if needed whilst support is put in place.

I really appreciate the reply thank you Choconuttolatta! i'm in a slightly tricky situation in that i run a very small charity they would do everything they can to keep me, i know, but i'm just not sure i can manage it... It's such an awkward situation. Thank you again for replying, and i hope you're doing ok with your hearing loss too -- that must be really tough.

no idea why some of that is crossed out... i'm going to blame my eyes (rather than being a total technological eejit!)

Hi OP - bit of a late response- are you an employee? Could you go off sick for a while. Maybe speak to RNIB
www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/equality-and-employment/information-for-those-in-work/staying-in-work/

How are you getting on @Albatrossing?

I had sine sight loss a few years ago and Occupational Therapy were wonderful. If you are still employed and can get an assessment, I'd really recommend one.

And if it's a Macular problem, there's a working age macular FB group which the Macular Society should be able to put you in touch with.

thank you @Lawandsawdus -- only just saw your message. I contacted the RNIB in February and took some advice from them, but i was in a very particular position of running a small organisation, which meant there wasn't much room to manoeuvre. I decided to resign in the end, and am now thinking through what might happen next. Feeling ok about it, but...!

Thanks for checking in @SiouxsieSiouxStiletto . I made the decision to resign in the end. I'm going to take some time to work out what i can manage and what support i need. If i had been in a larger organisation i think i coudl have accessed a bit more support, but because my organisation was so tiny, it was just too hard.

Good idea re the facebook group -- i'll look into that.

and thanks again for checking in. HOpe you're managing your own sightloss ok, and the support you have in place is working well.

So sorry that you've had to resign. That must have been very upsetting for you.

How are you adjusting to your new sight? Have you been offered anything to help?

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto I had a meeting with a local 'mobility' person and he got me to apply for a PIP (which has just come through phew!). I've had sight degenerations before, so have always just adjusted, but this adjustment feels harder for some reason there are some basic things i'm finding harder. I think my eyesight is still at 'sight impaired' rather than 'severely sight impaired' though, so i'm walking about ok... though i'm wondering when i make the decision about that as i've been offered long cane training.

thanks for asking -- it's a very lonely experience as it's hard to describe to people. Has your own eyesight stablised? x

sorry, don't know why things are crossed out. i must be pressing something accidentally!