Labour participation of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands
Authors:   , Goertz Yvonne Helena Henrica 
Published: February 2025

Labour participation of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands
An assessment instrument based on work-related success factors
Yvonne Goertz

Background
Work is an important part of people’s lives. Participation in paid labour contributes to economic independence, fulfilment from performing tasks, and personal development. Social interaction and a reduced risk of loneliness are also benefits of having paid work.
For people with disabilities, e.g. a visual impairment, labour participation may not be as straightforward. In the Netherlands, there is a need for information on the employment rate of persons with visual impairments and on differences between employed and non-employed persons with visual impairments.

Objectives
This thesis aims to establish personal success factors regarding paid work of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands in order to contribute to enhancing this participation. The goals of the study are: 1) investigating factors related to paid work of persons with visual impairments described in international research; 2) providing insight into the labour situation of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands, with the main focus on the employment and unemployment rates; 3) establishing personal success factors regarding paid work of this target group in the Netherlands; 4) developing an assessment instrument based on the personal success factors regarding paid work; 5) investigating the conditions for implementation of this assessment instrument.
Given the aims, this study made use of quantitative (questionnaire with persons with visual impairments) and qualitative (focus group with job coaches) research methods.

Results
International studies showed that factors belonging to all ICF categories are associated with paid work of persons with visual impairments. The employment rate of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands is considerably lower than that of the general working-age population, and almost half of the persons who did not have a paid job and were not actively looking for paid work would accept a suitable job if offered. We found three modifiable personal success factors regarding paid work of persons with visual impairments in the Netherlands: acceptance of the visual impairment, optimism, and mobility. Higher acceptance of the visual impairment, more optimism, and better mobility were found significantly more in the group of persons having paid work compared to the group of persons without paid work. These success factors can be integrated in a work-related assessment instrument. All three success factors are recognized and found important by job coaches, and regarding the implementation of the assessment instrument we identified facilitators and barriers.

Conclusion
Because the labour participation of persons with a visual impairment is considerably lower than the labour participation of the general working-age population, improving the labour situation for persons with visual impairments is needed. Given the associations of acceptance of the visual impairment, optimism, and mobility with having paid work, attention should be paid to these factors, and persons with a visual impairment should be supported in improvement in these areas if necessary. The assessment instrument, consisting of the three modifiable work-related personal success factors is potentially relevant for implementation in reintegration trajectories.