THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING AND
RETAINING EMPLOYMENT
AMONG THE VISION RESTRICTED
Chelsea Mohler, MSC Candidate
STUDY GOALS/PURPOSE
Explore the process of
obtaining/retaining employment
Identify methods to overcome
barriers
Identify strategies to locating
work
POSITION OF RESEARCHER
Personal experience catalyst for research topic
BACKGROUND
Low rates of employment – 32%
General population – 8% unemployment rate
BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT
Macro-barriers Personal barriers
SUPPORTS FOR EMPLOYMENT
CNIB career and employment support Ontario Disability Support Program Employment Support Program Ontario works, Employment Readiness Career Connect, London Supports address barriers at a micro-
level
SKILLS FOR SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT
Definition of success
Factors that contribute to success
Transferable skills
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Strategies and processes to
support employment
Challenges to upward mobility
METHODOLOGY
Qualitative study
Constructivist Grounded Theory
Characteristics of this approach
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Semi-structured interviews
Interview One
Interview Two
Grounded theory analysis
FINDINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL OBSTACLES
Lack of pedestrian sidewalks or audible
pedestrian crosswalk signals
Unreliable bus service and inconsistent
audible stop calling on all public
transport
Infrequent bus stops in residential areas
PROCEDURAL BARRIERS
Job listings which are not available
electronically
Governmental programs and
policies that create disincentives
to engage in paid work
STRATEGIES
Career compromise
Proving worth to employer
Managing disclosure
Employment seeking and keeping
complex, non-linear process
Layering of barriers
IMPLICATIONS
Identify innovative methods of
seeking and keeping employment
Changing employers’ attitudes
and those of job seekers wishing
to abandon their search
DISSEMINATION OF FINDINGS
Master’s thesis
Presentations
Academic journals (e.g., Journal of
Visual Impairment and Blindness,
Insight: Research and Practice in
Visual Impairment and Blindness)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Advisor: Professor Lisa Klinger
Funding sources:
Social Science
Humanities Research Council
National Education Association of Disabled
Students
I would also like to thank the research department at the CNIB for their ongoing support.
REFERENCES
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.aoda.ca/
Butler, S., Crudden, A., Sansing, W., & LeJeune, B. (2002). Employment barriers: Access to assistive
technology and research needs. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 96(9), 664-667.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis.
London: Sage.
Conference Board of Canada: Employability Skills (2010). Retrieved from
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/empl
Crudden, A., McBroom, L. W., Skinner, A. L., & Moore, J. E. (1998). Comprehensive examination of
barriers to employment among persons who are blind or visually impaired. Mississippi State
University.
Employment Ontario: Literacy and Basic Skills Program (2009). Retrieved from
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/literacy.html
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: Unemployment Rate and Well-Being in Canada.
(2010). Retrieved from http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/[email protected]?iid=16
Jongbloed, L. (2003). Disability Policy in Canada. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 13(4), 203-209.
Shaw, A., & Gold, D. (2007). Identifying the facilitators of successful employment for persons with
vision loss. Toronto: CNIB.
The Cost of Vision Loss in Canada. (2009). Retrieved from
www.cnib.ca//vision-loss-employment/default.asp
QUESTIONS