In the United States, a persistent employment gap reflects missed opportunities for both individuals and industries. NSITE, a nonprofit known for its innovative workforce solutions, believes the broader employment landscape reveals a paradox.
On one side, US employers often face challenges in finding qualified talent. On the other side, skilled professionals who are blind or visually impaired are frequently overlooked, even though they’re eager to contribute. As of 2024, 10% of people aged 16 to 64 with vision difficulty were unemployed, compared to only 4% of those without vision difficulty.
NSITE recognizes that these figures point to structural barriers, outdated assumptions, and a limited understanding of what true accessibility involves. Many employers still underestimate the ease and affordability of workplace accommodations. A long-running study by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, found that over half of workplace accommodations incurred no cost to implement. Nearly 40% involved a one-time expense, most often around $300.