Greg Marsh was introduced by Nancy Morris. Greg joined Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) as an Employment Specialist in October of last year. Prior to that, Greg worked in a similar capacity with Canadian Mental Health Association in Windsor, Ontario. He has worked in different capacities with a number of leading non-profits in the areas of employment, skill training, mental health and helping the homeless. Greg moved to Winnipeg because his wife is from here and she wanted to move back to be around her family. Greg agreed to the move after she told him Winnipeg is called the Hawaii of Canada.
By hiring a person with vision loss, you are actually assisting the individual and the entire family. It is important to all individuals to have employment. Work improves the feeling of self-worth. Hiring a person with vision loss is good for business and has great impact. The rate of unemployment in the visually impaired is high, 45% are unemployed. This includes those that are of working age and are blind or have severe vision loss. This percentage also includes those that have given up on applying for work positions.
Why is the unemployment rate so high? The first and biggest reason would be employer resistance. Potential employers have many concerns including;
- Cost of workplace accommodations – Government funding is available
- Fear of injury on the job
- The individual’s level of productivity – most issues solved with just software
- Co-worker’s productivity if having to look after the new hire
Most males with just a high school education work in blue collar jobs including construction and manual labour. The vision impaired individuals tend to have a lack of skills and education because there is a high level of high school drop-outs. People with disabilities, especially vision issues, continue to face discrimination in the work place. The vision impaired individuals get tired of the rejection that they receive in the search for employment. Eventually they just stop looking for work. They have employment gaps in their work histories. They need to have some work or volunteer time that is current. Also, if you have a ‘mental health’ issue, you can usually fake it during the time of an interview. With vision loss, that is not possible. When a vision loss individual finally does get a job, they tend to be very devoted to that position. This tends to be because if they are not or quit, they will have an equally hard time finding another job.
There are many different aids available to the visually impaired. Greg showed just a few during his presentation. A fluid level sensor, A talking watch, color identifier, money reader and common cell phones that can enlarge an item after taking a photo.
These people want to have a good life. A lot of his clients still live at home. The hardest age to get out working are the male 25 to 30-years old. They tend to have it pretty good at home with family looking after them. They don’t want to leave. Greg has seen the interview process go wrong many times. The HR person is asking the potential employee questions and the person assisting them will answer all the questions for them. Greg’s advice is to make sure that you are interviewing the vision impaired person directly. There are not that many obviously visually impaired individuals in the public eye. This makes it hard for the client to see themselves in many different work positions. If they do not have a job or financial support, how do they get a ‘police check’ or bus pass without a first work cheque?
Individuals with vision loss are a wonderful pool of people that can do a great job for you. What kind of positions do you have available? These people have knowledge and capabilities, just call and let us know what you have, we will try to fill the position.
Come down and look around our store. Mention this visit/presentation and receive 10% off any purchase. Call Greg and arrange a tour of the facilities.
Greg Marsh, MBA Specialist, Career & Employment
Vision Loss Rehabilitation, Manitoba
204-774-5421 ext. 6506
1080 Portage Ave. Winnipeg
(A CNIB Organization)
Q/A.
1.-Elaine Thompson questioned the ‘police check’ issue.
A. The individual will need the ‘police check’ to clear the individual of any past charges/convictions that would make them unsuitable for a particular employment position. Need ~ $60 for the ‘check’. Where to get the cash for this first step?
2.-Darvin Jasper advised that a major call centre will be hiring ~200 – 300 people for a new development inside the Polo Park former Target store building. FYI.
A.- Thanks for the information
3.- Nancy Morris asked what type of jobs do these people get?
A.- Greg advised that he has a client that is in the final stages of getting employed with the Goldeyes Baseball organization as a ticket taker at the gates. These people work as a team scanning tickets at each gate. Will start a couple weeks before any others due to extra training.
4.- Ed Thompson questioned the validity of the belief that with the loss of one sense, the other remaining senses increase in acuity in an attempt to make up for that loss?
A.- Yes, true.
Greg closed his presentation by stating that he appreciates the invitation to be able to present tonight as well as the obvious openness and spirit of the club.
Rod MacLean thanked Greg for his interesting and informative presentation tonight. He was advised that the club will be making a donation in his name to ShelterBox in appreciation of his time with us tonight.
