Lost in Transition: The post-school experiences of young people with vision impairment
One in three people with vision impairment did not gain quality employment despite earning qualifications in line with the general population. (Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels)
Executive summary
- In England, there are over 30,000 children and young people with vision impairment; a low incidence group who often have limited representation within society
- Inclusion of young people with vision impairment is impacted by a number of enablers and barriers within education, employment and society generally
- Young people with vision impairment face a number of pinch points in their journeys as they transition into adulthood and employment,including complex transitions into higher education and lack of support accessing the labour market
Key recommendations for policymakers to consider to ensure that young people with vision impairment have an equitable educational experience and are supported to reach their potential in life include:
- Address gaps in provision for students with vision impairment in further education, including exploring the possibility of extending the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) scheme to cover Further Education settings
- Consider the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) in ongoing policy developments such as the ‘Skills for Jobs’ White Paper and the National Strategy for Disabled People
- For the DSA and Access to Work processes to be simplified so that young people with vision impairment can more easily and effectively access the vital support that they require to support their studies and access employment
- Improve awareness and uptake of the Access to Work scheme. This should include investigating the possibility of introducing an Adjustment Passport for young people with disabilities, which would travel with the young person as they transition
Background
The Longitudinal Transition Study is a unique piece of research that has followed the experiences of 82 young people with vision impairment for 11 years as they completed their compulsory education and followed various pathways. This included further education, higher education and employment. This policy briefing focuses on research findings and final outcomes of young people with vision impairment in England and Wales.
Academic
Dr Rachel Hewett
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