For anyone living with an inherited progressive sight loss condition, a supportive and understanding employer is key. Due to the progressive nature of conditions like retinitis pigmentosa (RP) consultation and possible adaptations are needed on an ongoing basis.
Our Email Helpline team were able to offer invaluable help to the employer of an individual with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) recently when they got in touch to ask for advice in delivering a ‘toolbox talk’ to company employees about how to support a colleague.
The helpline team member shared personal experience of living with Retinitis Pigmentosa with the employer which provided them with greater understanding of their employee’s condition.
The helpline were able to sign post the employer to other sight loss organisations as well as the Government Access to Work information
The organisation has an employee with 32 years of service who had been diagnosed 15-20 years previously. The employee had completed their work at a high standard and up until recently his sight-loss had not impacted upon the organisation. However, following an assessment, it was determined that they were no longer able to continue in that same role. The person was so valued by the company, they were able to redeploy the individual into a related but different role.
The adjustments needed were very small and involved the purchase of equipment only.
As a result the company concerned were able to benefit from retaining the employee’s considerable experience in their business, utilizing the employer’s product knowledge and customer relationships built over the 32 years to achieve success in their estimating department.
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Need help?
Contact the Retina UK Helpline for more information.
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