Employment challenges for persons with visual impairment in Windhoek, Namibia

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Disability Studies
• Employment Studies

Background:

• Securing and maintaining employment presents a significant challenge for individuals with disabilities.
• Visual impairments often impose limitations that exacerbate employment difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted employment challenges encountered by individuals with visual impairments.
• To understand the barriers faced in both securing and retaining employment.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach with an exploratory design.
• Snowball sampling technique for participant recruitment (n=9).
• Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Individuals with visual impairments experience persistent adverse challenges in employment.
• Key issues include discrimination, isolation, rejection, and lack of recognition from tertiary to post-tertiary levels.

Conclusions:

• Ongoing support from diverse stakeholders is essential for individuals with visual impairments seeking employment.
• Increased stakeholder sensitization is needed to foster effective inclusion and diversity management in employment.