Starting work after sight loss - Adrien's story
Meet Adrien.
Adrien’s work experience consisted mostly of roles in the finance and banking sectors, where he completed a CeMap course and developed his career into a mortgage advisor role.
In December 2020, he woke up and couldn’t see. Adrien had lost his eyesight and was later diagnosed with LHON (Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy) which is a genetic condition and typically affects males between the ages of 15-35. Whilst coming to terms with his new condition, Adrien was made redundant from his job.
Adrien's Employment Adviser, Vicky, told us:
Adrien met with a specialist in London, and he was told that other than experimental surgery, nothing could be done for him. There was no guarantee that the surgery offered would be successful and could in fact make the limited vision of shapes Adrien had completely disappear. Adrien decided not to go ahead with the surgery.
Our support
Adrien joined Better Working Futures - our name for the Department for Work and Pensions Work & Health Programme, eager to receive support with finding work and determined not to let his condition get in the way.
The team referred Adrien to he Royal National Institute for the Blind to support him with learning how to use JAWS (Job Access With Speech) – a screen reader for people with sight loss. This equipment would enable Adrien to access his emails and navigate a computer, as he was only able to access his text messages with a talking application over on his mobile phone at the time.
Adrien and Vicky met every week to produce a gold standard CV and search for suitable jobs. The day Adrien's CV was posted online, he was inundated with calls from prospective employers.
Moving forward
Adrien had two interviews before being appointed by a local fire safety company. Vicky said:
Adrien had two interviews and was immediately appointed by a local fire safety company. I knew that if we were able to get Adrien an interview, they would employ him without a doubt, due to his wealth of experience, his positive mental attitude, and his outgoing personality.
“Adrien is a true inspiration to everyone; I have never met anyone with such a positive mindset with the barriers he was facing. I feel honoured to have been part of his journey back into employment, this is what makes my job worthwhile!
Adrien said:
If it wasn’t for Reed in Partnership, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
