B

Baroness Sherlock (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 17 December 2025

Debate

Employment Gap for Blind and Sight-impaired People

Contribution

I am not sure we have any published statistics, but my best understanding at the moment is that there are more than 800 disability employment advisers and DEA leaders. The Government’s aim and commitment is that every work coach will have access to a specialist disability employment adviser. The DWP provides particular learning for those who come into that DEA role, and that includes specific content relating to blindness and visual impairment. It is intended to give awareness of the challenges that people with sight loss who come to us may face, highlights the support we can offer, and explains what the DWP’s responsibilities are. As an organisation, we are looking specifically to improve that. The Government have recognised that we need to be investing more. We are going to put more money in over the rest of this decade, investing more money in hiring, improving the quality and the quantity of support providing help to disabled customers. We aim for it to be tailored to each individual circumstance, and that is what we ought to do. The answer is yes, we are investing in training as well as in having people on the ground who can help.

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