Blind and partially sighted people still facing “structural barriers and persistent misconceptions,” APPG says

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment has updated its Changing attitudes, changing lives report, a year and a half on from its initial publication.

The original report, published in October 2024, detailed how a “step change” was needed in attitudes towards blind and partially sighted people at work, with employers often not understanding the needs of employees with visual impairments.

The updated report, published in late April, noted that the headline statistic remains unchanged as of early 2026: only one in four people of working age who are registered blind and partially sighted are in employment.

While many employers are committed to inclusion, misconceptions about cost, productivity and complexity persist, the report said.

The report outlined three areas that still need work, as well as priorities for the Government in the year ahead.

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1 Bolder reform for the Disability Confident scheme

The APPG’s original report raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Disability Confident scheme – a voluntary initiative that encourages organisations to recruit those with disabilities and support them effectively in the workplace.

It remains possible to reach the highest level of the Disability Confident scheme without employing a disabled person, the report noted.

The updated report acknowledged that a delivery plan for the reform of the scheme was published in February 2026.

Plans for reform of Disability Confident include introducing clearer standards, improving transparency, and strengthening accountability. The reform plan, which is running until December 2026, also includes changes to how long employers can remain at the entry level of the scheme.

However, the updated Changing attitudes, changing lives report has emphasised that if “the scheme is to drive genuine change, it must go further — with clearer performance measures, stronger quality assurance and demonstrable outcomes in recruitment and retention.”

Employers should be required to evidence the recruitment and progression of disabled people as part of Disability Confident accreditation, the report advised.

The report added: “If Disability Confident is to carry weight, it must provide confidence to disabled people as well as employers.”

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2 A flawed renewal process and a long waiting list for Access to Work

Concerns remain around Access to Work, including around delays, inconsistencies and reductions in awards at renewal, even when there have been no changes in the level of support the individual requires, the report said.

The original report noted that Access to Work is currently the single most common employment issue raised by people with sight loss.

Evidence gathered by the Royal National Institute of Blind People revealed reductions in support at renewal – including cuts to support worker hours and rates, despite no change in circumstances.

There are over 66,000 outstanding applications to Access to Work as of March 2026, the APPG’s updated report said.

The waiting list for Access to Work is long-documented, with OT first reporting on the issue in 2023.

To be effective, the scheme must be “reliable, timely and consistent,” with clear service standards, including maximum waiting times and a fast-track process where an individual’s job is at risk, the updated report said.

The report added that “decision-making at renewal should be more transparent, with written justification required for any reduction in support where circumstances have not changed.”

Disabled people, including blind and partially sighted people, should be involved in the design and delivery of future changes in a meaningful way, the report emphasised.

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3 An employment gap that is failing those with disabilities

An employment gap that has been brought about by employer misconceptions and low expectations, inaccessible recruitment processes, and delays and inconsistencies in employment support schemes that undermine confidence, continues to be a problem, the report said.

The APPG also noted that vision rehabilitation services “remain inconsistent and under-resourced.”

“Closing the employment gap will require a coordinated, cross-government approach that addresses these systemic issues alongside employer attitudes and practices,” the report emphasised.

Priorities for the year ahead

“One year on from the publication of Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives, progress has been made in raising awareness and sustaining parliamentary engagement,” the report’s conclusion said.

The report added: “However, the evidence gathered over the past year makes it clear that structural barriers and persistent misconceptions continue to limit opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.”

Whilst identifying the specific areas that still require work, the APPG also set areas that it believes the Government must focus on in the coming year if it is to move towards strengthened employment rights and improved equity for those with disabilities.

Ambitions set out in the Keep Britain Working review, including a focus on improving data and labour market participation for disabled people, are evidence that the Government is committed to taking positive steps forward, the APPG said.

Progress should focus on tackling employer attitudes and accountability, strengthening Access to Work, making Disability Confident meaningful, designing accessibility into systems from the start, strengthening vision rehabilitation services, and expanding pathways into work, the report emphasised.

The updated Changing attitudes, changing lives report can be read online.