Breaking Barriers: Working and Living as an Adult with Vision Impairment
In the U.S., nearly 9 million working-age adults live with serious vision impairment—even when wearing glasses. While some are thriving in the workforce, many face steep, often invisible barriers to employment and well-being.
Only about 44% of adults with vision impairment are employed, compared to nearly 94% of those without it. Almost a third say they’re unable to work at all. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a sign of deeper issues at play: chronic health conditions, limited access to public services, and economic inequality.
Drawing from national survey data, we see a clear pattern. Even among those who are employed, many report poor health and low incomes. One in three say their health is fair or poor, and a large portion earn less than $25,000 a year. This suggests that underemployment—working in jobs that don’t match their skills or needs—is common.
For those not working, the situation is even more concerning. Three-quarters report poor health, and many face multiple challenges like depression, low educational attainment, and living on less than $10,000 a year. Disabilities often go beyond vision loss, with many also facing mobility or cognitive difficulties. (Source Georgia Working Blind Report and Older Blind Report both linked here (Georgia data begins on page 37).
This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about how to live a safe, healthy life. It's time for creative approaches that don’t just acknowledge challenges but actively remove barriers.
In post-pandemic Georgia most connective tissue programs guiding people with vision loss to post-medical services have evaporated. Community outreach talks at senior centers do not happen. Vision rehabilitation ambassadors offering lunch 'n learns at optometrists offices ceased. Comprehensive, intensive center-based job readiness programs are only available out of state. Some born into families of strong advocates find vision rehabilitation services relatively quickly. Others don't know what they don't know and remain unserved and frustrated many years into legal blindness. Clients say they need:
a simple, referral system to that routes people to solutions as soon as a blinding eye condition is diagnosed
someone to talk to at the front end of vision rehab services who brings lived experience with blindness and low vision plus medical knowledge of eye conditions and recognizes their trauma
functional transportation to break the tendency toward isolation
a safe atmosphere to share feelings and heal shame when attitudes of seeing people suggest "who I am is not OK" and
helping systems prepared to serve anxious, depressed, angry, or traumatized clientele with holistic care to address big feelings upfront so new skills for life can be fully absorbed.
With the right support, millions of Americans with vision impairment can thrive—not just survive.
Thought for today: Change happens one step at a time. What is one small thing I can do differently today with what I have where I am?