Senior Pupil Warns of Barriers Young People with Visual Impairment Face in the Workplace
A Portobello High School pupil is speaking out about the challenges visually impaired young people face in securing work experience and employment opportunities, after overcoming barriers of her own through a summer internship with Sight Scotland.
Millie Williams, who is in sixth year and has the rare genetic eye condition Leber’s congenital amaurosis, says many young people with sight loss struggle to gain employment and valuable workplace experience because employers are often unsure how to support them.
Millie, who has been visually impaired since birth but was not diagnosed until the age of five because of the rarity of her condition, faced repeated challenges in securing work experience, with many employers uncertain about what adjustments might be needed for a young person with a visual impairment.
Determined not to let those barriers stand in her way, she secured a placement through the Career Ready programme with Sight Scotland. Millie joined Sight Scotland’s People and Culture team earlier this summer, where she used her lived experience to help improve accessibility, engagement and recruitment processes across the organisation.
The four-week internship has boosted her confidence, developed valuable workplace skills and given her first-hand experience of professional life, leaving her feeling ready to enter the world of work when she completes her studies.
She said: “I’d never had any work experience before, and finding opportunities can be really challenging when you have a visual impairment.
“Some employers simply haven’t worked with someone who has sight loss before, so they can be unsure about what support might be needed and are sometimes reluctant to offer placements. That can be really discouraging when you’re trying to gain experience and build your confidence.
“When I was matched with Sight Scotland, I was delighted. It felt like the perfect place to start because everyone understood the challenges that I face on a daily basis, but more importantly they also focused on what I can do rather than what I can’t. I’ve had the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and gain valuable experience in a real working environment.
“During my placement, I had the opportunity to visit a range of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans services, including the Royal Blind School, the Scottish Braille Press and the Veterans Activity Centres.
“I was also involved in the People and Culture team’s ARO project, which stands for Attraction, Recruitment and Onboarding. As part of this, I reviewed websites and digital platforms used by the organisation to see how welcoming and engaging they were, particularly for younger people like me.
“I also looked at how accessible they were for people with visual impairments, helping to identify ways to make them more inclusive for everyone.
“Working with Sight Scotland has been an amazing experience. Being part of an organisation where people genuinely understand visual impairment has made a huge difference. The team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive from day one. They’ve given me opportunities to learn, develop new skills and gain experience that will help me in the future.”
Millie added: “Before I started, I could be quite nervous about introducing myself or asking for help when I needed it.
“Now, I feel much more comfortable communicating with others and taking part in conversations. It’s also given me a real insight into what working life is like and what it means to be part of a team. The placement has really boosted my confidence and shown me that my visual impairment doesn’t have to hold me back.”
Carol Ann Boyer, Director of People and Culture at Sight Scotland, said: “It has been fantastic to welcome Millie to the team and watch her grow in confidence throughout her placement.
“Work experience plays a vital role in helping young people develop skills, explore career options and prepare for the future, and we are proud to provide those opportunities in an inclusive and supportive environment.
“Young people with vision impairments should have the same opportunities to gain workplace experience and pursue their career ambitions as anyone else. We hope Millie’s story encourages more organisations to open their doors to disabled young people and recognise the talent, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives they can bring to the workplace.”
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans’ 2027 internship programme is now open for applications. To register an interest or find out more, visit sightscotland.org.uk or email Lesley Sweeney at lesley.sweeney@sightscotland.org.uk.