IF I had one Christmas wish, it would be that more local employers open their eyes to working with us to create job opportunities for the visually impaired.

According to RNIB Scotland there are 170,000 people with sight loss in Scotland. Of those, 4,000 are registered in Fife.

For most visually impaired people, one unjust and unmerited consequence of losing their sight is that it inadvertently excludes them from participating in the job market, leaving three out of four people with visual impairment unemployed.

When for so many people having a job is an important part of living a fulfilling life, this state of affairs is not simply a waste of potential, but it can also leave some people isolated and negative about the future.

At seescape we believe that it is crucial to challenge the stigma people with visual impairment face through awareness raising campaigns and the provision of appropriate support to employers and employees.

Action needs to be taken to address physical spaces, but also the embedded, and often unconscious bias in attitudes towards people with invisible disabilities. We can help with technology, training and even regular eye tests.

My Christmas wish, therefore, and my appeal is that more businesses engage with seescape in 2019 and see how they can empower people in our community by opening up more job opportunities to the visually impaired.

CARL HODSON,

CEO, seescape

Wilson Avenue,

Kirkcaldy.