When it comes to employment, assistive technology poses its own challenges. The cost is one factor. This is different in all countries, but should be considered. Assistive devices take time to get and this again is a problem with short employment contracts, which is the current trend. Compatibility between the assistive devices and the software used by the employer is also a matter that needs to be worked out.
Work can be different A growing number of visually impaired people opt for self-employment.
Here they can build on individual skills, control the amount of work they take on, tailor the working environment and practices as well as the technological infrastructure to their needs. Cooperatives with limited liability together with other visually impaired people is less risky, gives peer support and offers opportunities for people with complementary skills to work together, for example furniture upholsterers and an accountant or physiotherapists, a receptionist and an administrator. Here the risk is shared and ability maximised. Networks of visually impaired entrepreneurs is another way of offering support. In eastern Europe large companies or factories for visually impaired people are the major employers.