Jobs & Careers for Blind or Visually Impaired Individuals

About 12 million people ages 40 and older in the United States have vision issues. Some (about 1 million) are blind. Others (about 3 million) have vision issues that persist after correction. 

Your vision doesn’t determine your intelligence, skill level, or willingness to work. Many people with low or no vision hold down successful and lucrative jobs. But far too many professionals opt out of work due to vision issues. 

Just 44 percent of people who are blind or visually impaired are employed compared to 79 percent of people without those disabilities. Joblessness is closely tied to disability severity, as the worse your condition is, the less likely you are to find and keep a job. 

Whether you’re searching for a job now or hoping to make the position you have stick, know that you have rights. And know that a few adjustments to your workplace setup could make your daily routine a little easier. 

What Does Visual Impairment Mean?

Visual disabilities exist on a spectrum from mild to severe. Understanding where you fit is critical as you consider your rights and choices. 

Low Vision 

The term low vision refers to people with a documented form of vision loss that impacts their daily quality of life. Four main types exist:

• Central vision loss, in which your side vision is clear, but you can’t see things right in front of your eyes
• Peripheral vision loss, in which you can see things in the center of your vision but not at the sides
• Night blindness, in which you can see clearly in bright light but not in low light 
• Blurred vision, in which your sight doesn’t clear in any condition 

Legal Blindness

People with central vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction have visual blindness. This technical term doesn’t describe your functional vision. 

You can have legal blindness that only your doctor knows about. As long as you wear your glasses or contacts, no one can spot your vision loss. 

But you can have legal blindness that doesn’t get better with glasses or contacts. 

Functional Blindness

Do you use alternative techniques (like Braille or screen readers) to handle daily tasks? You could qualify for functional blindness. Your adaptive technology helps you to live fully, but without these devices, you’d struggle. 

This term also doesn’t describe your functional vision. Many people with low vision corrected by glasses prefer to use screen readers or large-font text to ease eye strain. 

But the use of functional devices sets this category apart from legal blindness. 

Total Blindness

Of all people with eye disorders, only 15 percent are totally blind. Most people have some degree of light or form perception. If you don’t, you have total blindness.

Even people with total blindness can handle everyday activities with adaptive technology. Braille or screen readers could help you do many things fully sighted people can.

But if your doctor can’t measure any light response in your eyes, a total blindness diagnosis is appropriate. 

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10 Jobs to Consider if You Are Blind or Visually Impaired

No national-level employment programs are made just for people with vision loss. One potential reason is that people who can’t see can tackle almost any job a sighted person can. You may need a few workplace adjustments, but there’s no reason your lack of crisp vision should keep you out of the job market.

These are a few jobs people with low or no vision can consider. 

1. Chiropractor 

Examine patients with pain and offer adjustments to realign sore bones and muscles. You’ll need a doctor of chiropractic degree and a state license to get started.

Visiting a local professional before enrolling in school could help you determine if this is the right career. 

Typical annual salary: $75,000. 

2. Counselor 

Work with individuals and couples in “talking cure” sessions. Conduct them in person or via telemedicine, and work in a clinic or from your own home.

You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to get started, and some positions require more education.

Typical annual salary: $48,000.

3. Customer Service Representative 

Nearly every industry with customers needs someone to take calls, answer questions, or process orders. As a customer service representative, you’ll talk with the public on the phone or in person. 

Typically, you need just a high school diploma to get started, but people skills are a core requirement. 

Typical annual salary: $37,000.

4. Engineer

Build mechanical, plumbing, or electrical systems for modern buildings. Design with a computer, and visit the job site to see your creations in real time.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to enter the engineering field, and you’ll need a license within your state.

Typical annual salary (for mechanical engineers): $95,000.

5. Financial Advisor

Teach your customers about wise money management. Manage estates, set up savings accounts, and otherwise help people make the most of their assets. Work in a bank, or work as a private consultant.

You’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree to get started as a financial advisor.

Typical annual salary: $94,000.

6. Journalist 

Keep your community informed through your words. Conduct interviews with the movers and shakers, and digest that information for your audience. Work as a writer or step in front of the camera. 

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, and some positions require a completed internship. 

Typical annual salary: $48,000.

7. Motivational Speaker

Share words of wisdom with the world. Travel frequently and tell people your story, or set up a podcast or social media presence. You’ll need grit and hustle to get started, as no company hires for a position like this. But you’ll have the freedom to make your own job, set your goals, and define success. 

No typical salary exists, as everyone makes different amounts based on talent, luck, and opportunity. 

8. Software Developer 

Write code for video games, machinery, private companies, and more. Spend all day in front of a computer, and know that your creations will be put to good use. Focus on software that helps other visually impaired people, or work on projects that support your other passions. 

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree (at least). 

Typical annual salary: $110,000.

9. Speech/Language Pathologist 

Help your clients improve their speaking and/or swallowing skills. Conduct in-person screenings and design therapy programs. Know that your work will directly help your patients to live better lives. 

You’ll need a master’s degree for this job, and you’ll likely need a state license. 

Typical annual salary: $79,000.

10. Teacher

Shape young minds every day with your work. Focus on very young students in elementary school, or spend your days on a college campus with older students. Some people choose to work in schools for the blind, but you might be just as successful at the school down the road from your home. 

You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, and some states require advanced degrees. You’ll also need a license. 

Typical annual salary (for a high school teacher): $61,000.

On-the-Job Accommodations 

You’ve found the perfect job, but you’ll need a little help to handle all of the tasks. Adjustments or modifications allow people like you to take jobs and get the help you need to succeed. 

Employers are required to provide these adjustments, as long as they don’t cause significant difficulty or expense. Common accommodations requested by people with vision issues include assistive devices for the following:

• Reading printed materials: Optical scanners, Braille embossers or displays, large-print documents, or in-person readers could be helpful. 
• Handling electronic materials: Computer screen magnifiers, screen reading software, and accessible websites could make interacting with the digital world easier. 
• Movement: Employer policy modifications to allow guide dogs or drivers to guide or transport the person off site could be helpful. 

You may also request changes in your workspace. Brighter lights could help you see some parts of your work easier, and if you’re using screen readers, you may need headphones or other devices to let you hear clearly. 

Transportation Concerns: How Will You Get to Work?

Many of the jobs we’ve discussed allow for work-from-home (WFH) setups. A job like this doesn’t involve regular commutes. You’ll log in from home and complete your tasks in familiar surroundings.

But many WFH positions require regular in-person meetings. And some jobs don’t allow their workers to log into the work network from home. 

Public transportation is a critical resource for people who are blind or visually impaired. Grow accustomed to your route, and you can get there and back easily. And you may qualify for door-to-door programs that take you where you need to go with few detours.

But if the job you’re considering isn’t near a major transportation hub, think hard about how you’ll get there and home. Can you lean on rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft? Or is it best to keep searching?

Understand Your Rights

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers several protections for employees and job seekers. You’re protected from discrimination under this act, and if your employer steps out of line, you could be entitled to financial compensation. 

Per the ADA, you’re not required to disclose your disability during a job interview unless you need a reasonable accommodation to apply (like an application in a larger font). You’re also entitled to ask your employer for reasonable accommodations (like screen readers) to do your job once you’re hired. 

These protections can help you get and keep a job, but you must be alert and aware of discrimination. For example, researchers say people who are blind tend to make $13,000 less than their non-disabled peers. 

Ensure that your good work is recognized. Don’t be afraid to speak to the company’s human resources department if you think you’re not receiving fair treatment. 

3 Job Search Tips for Visually Impaired Individuals

Visually impaired job seekers should follow the same job hunt best practice tips as their sighted peers. Keep your resume up to date, apply often, be courteous, and don’t give up. This advice works for anyone looking for a job, no matter the market. 

But visually impaired people should take a few extra steps to ensure they get noticed. 

1. Connect With Your Peers 

Negative assumptions about blindness can keep you away from the job you want. Connect with other disabled peers and find out how they handle discrimination. 

You could learn about companies that are fair to everyone regardless of disabilities, and your connections could give you the inside track on the job you’ve always wanted.

Seek out professional organizations per your chosen career. Better yet, find a group that is made for visually impaired people in your career. (See our resource below.)

2. Choose When to Share

Some people opt to share their visual impairment early. Your conversation can help the employer understand the accommodations you need, and you could help dispel some myths that keep others like you from landing the job. 

But you may feel uncomfortable discussing your visual disability at a delicate point in the negotiation. Remember that you’re not required to tell your potential employer anything. This is your decision; you can make it however you’d like. 

3. Use Social Media 

Join LinkedIn, and find out about the company you’d like to join long before you apply. How many employees do they have? How many of those employees have disabilities like yours? 

A quick research session could tell you if this company seems like a good fit for someone like you. 

Resources for Visually Impaired Job Seekers

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies: Connect with experts in your state who can help you find a great job or keep the one you have. Discuss assistive technologies and learn more about local resources that could help. 

• National Industries for the Blind: Tap into resources made just for blind people. Search for career opportunities, or sign up for training programs to help you prepare for the perfect job. 

• American Council for the Blind: Find a professional association in your industry, and connect with other visually impaired people doing the work you want to do. Check this resource often, as new industries are added regularly. 

References

1. Fast Facts of Common Eye Disorders. (June 2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

2. Reviewing the Disability Employment Research on People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: Key Takeaways. American Foundation for the Blind. 

3. Employment Outcomes for Blind and Visually Impaired Adults. (2015). Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research. 

4. Low Vision. (April 2022). National Eye Institute. 

5. Job-Search Activities, Job-Seeking Barriers, and Work Experiences of Transition-Age Youths With Visual Impairments. (November 2021). Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.

6. Legal Definition of Blindness. Iowa Department for the Blind.

7. Low Vision and Legal Blindness Descriptions. American Foundation for the Blind. 

8. Employment Programs for Blind and Low Vision Americans: What Are We Not Doing? American Foundation for the Blind. 

9. Chiropractors. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

10. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. (April 2018). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

11. Customer Service Representatives. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

12. Mechanical Engineers. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

13. Personal Financial Advisors. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

14. News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

15. Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

16. Blindness and Vision Impairments in the Workplace and the ADA. (May 2014). U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

17. Speech-Language Pathologists. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

18. High School Teachers. (April 2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

19. State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies. Rehabilitation Services Administration. 

20. Community Members. National Industries for the Blind. 

21. Professional Employment Associations. American Council of the Blind. 

22. “Employment Is Everyone’s Job”: An Important Reminder for the Field of Visual Impairment. (February 2020). Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.

23. Factors Related to the Employment of Visually Impaired Persons: A Systematic Literature Review. (July 2010). Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.

24. A Glance at Worldwide Employment of People With Visual Impairments. (April 2002). Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.

25. Visual Difficulty and Employment Status in the World. (February 2014). PLOS ONE.

26. Job Retention and Career Advancement: A Survey of Persons Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision. (April–June 2021). The Journal of Rehabilitation.