by
Georgina Joyce
These reflections and views of Georgina, the first chairperson of VISSON. Might not be the views of other individual members, or of the VISSON group but they are the personal views of Georgina Joyce.
Back in 1995, while looking for employment I attended a job club. had I had been sighted, I would have been a member of the skilled job seekers club, or whatever they called it then. But I had to join the job club for unskilled job seekers because there was the potential for a higher level of support in the supported job club.
While I received some support, looking back, there were serious gaps in that support. For example, no one would challenge nor assist me, in challenging the discrimination that I faced in my attempts to find employment. e.g. "You could not do the job because you would have to climb stairs." and another one was, "We don’t have the equipment you’ll need for the job." During one interview, i had to undertake a typing test without any adaptive technology installed upon the computer, i.e. speech output or any screen enlargement.
Despite the inadequacies of these social structures, I made contact with Northamptonshire People First. While it might be difficult for the reader to comprehend, the nature and extent of these disempowering structures of our society, its very difficult for individuals such as myself, to define and express them because they are a matter of course of everyday life for all disabled people.
However, I gained some enlightenment of these disempowering social structures during my employment at Northamptonshire People First. which I then attempted to apply within the sphere of "visual impairment". Sadly, my endeavours have caused me much frustration in this respect. Perhaps, I thought, the first battle is that of the usage of language. very few "visually impaired" people understand, or are not willing to challenge, the disempowering nature of these labels such as "visual impairment" and "blindness". I gave this matter considerable thought and suggested that VISSON should promote and use by demonstration the term People with Limiting Eyesight. While it is obvious that such a label would become just as disempowering in nature eventually, the purpose is to challenge the use of labels attached to People with Limiting Eyesight. While at the committee level I was successful however, I feel, that outside of the committee, i cannot see any real significant change in members attitudes.
Since the launch of VISSON, one member was forced to attend a residential specialist institution, for a course that could have been undertaken in Northampton. And I myself, have had to transfer to Preston in order to continue my studies because Northampton could not provide the support that I needed to complete a degree course. However, another member was encouraged not to undertake a course here in Northampton but he challenged suggestions made to him and with a little support from an advocate initially, he has proven to be successful on his chosen course.
The local education authority have been very constructive by making the available funding and information on entitlement, as accessible as possible. While the funding is limited, People with Limiting Eyesight can participate in educational achievements, its attitudes and empowerment that has to be addressed. VISSON are seen as being a group of elitists by other People with Limiting Eyesight. Thus VISSON has felt that the focus has to be shifted to broader advocacy issues but this is where the apathy of People with Limiting Eyesight is placed. If we are only capable of simple packing work in a sheltered workshop, that’s what we’ll do. I’ll never forget those I worked with in this situation. While I have broken away and proven that I can contribute to society and gain self satisfaction, my heart aches over this unnecessary cruel and destructive social injustice that my friends refuse to acknowledge. They are blind fools in the true sense at the best of times.
Therefore, my vision for VISSON is one of empowerment from advocacy. an egalitarian approach whereby People with Limiting Eyesight support each other in challenging the perception of our needs. But a libertarian approach, by enabling individuals to have more control over their own lives’.
Can we really maintain the current status quo, whereby we’re given a bus pass but then find it very difficult to get support in learning where the bus stop is located and obtain information of when buses run? What’s the point of attending a job club when discriminatory practices are not challenged but supported by those that are supposed to support us?
Georgina Joyce
This page was last updated: 21 January 2003