2. Chelsea Mohler, MSC Candidate

3.  Explore the process of obtaining/retaining employment  Identify methods to overcome barriers  Identify strategies to locating work

4.  Personal experience catalyst for research topic

5.  Low rates of employment – 32%  General population – 8% unemployment rate

6.  Macro-barriers  Personal barriers

7.  CNIB career and employment support  Ontario Disability Support Program  Employment Support Program  Ontario works,  Employment Readiness  Career Connect, London  Supports address barriers at a micro-level

8.  Definition of success  Factors that contribute to success  Transferable skills

9.  Strategies and processes to support employment  Challenges to upward mobility

10.  Qualitative study  Constructivist Grounded Theory  Characteristics of this approach

11.  Semi-structured interviews  Interview One  Interview Two  Grounded theory analysis

13.  Lack of pedestrian sidewalks or audible pedestrian crosswalk signals  Unreliable bus service and inconsistent audible stop calling on all public transport  Infrequent bus stops in residential areas

14.  Job listings which are not available electronically  Governmental programs and policies that create disincentives to engage in paid work

15.  Career compromise  Proving worth to employer  Managing disclosure  Employment seeking and keeping complex, non-linear process  Layering of barriers

16.  Identify innovative methods of seeking and keeping employment  Changing employers’ attitudes and those of job seekers wishing to abandon their search

17.  Master’s thesis  Presentations  Academic journals (e.g., Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Insight: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness)

18.  Advisor: Professor Lisa Klinger  Funding sources:  Social Science  Humanities Research Council  National Education Association of Disabled Students I would also like to thank the research department at the CNIB for their ongoing support.

19.  Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.aoda.ca/http://www.aoda.ca/  Butler, S., Crudden, A., Sansing, W., & LeJeune, B. (2002). Employment barriers: Access to assistive technology and research needs. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 96(9), 664-667.  Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. London: Sage.  Conference Board of Canada: Employability Skills (2010). Retrieved from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/empl http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/empl  Crudden, A., McBroom, L. W., Skinner, A. L., & Moore, J. E. (1998). Comprehensive examination of barriers to employment among persons who are blind or visually impaired. Mississippi State University.  Employment Ontario: Literacy and Basic Skills Program (2009). Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/literacy.html http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/literacy.html  Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: Unemployment Rate and Well-Being in Canada. (2010). Retrieved from http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=16http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=16  Jongbloed, L. (2003). Disability Policy in Canada. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 13(4), 203- 209.  Shaw, A., & Gold, D. (2007). Identifying the facilitators of successful employment for persons with vision loss. Toronto: CNIB.  The Cost of Vision Loss in Canada. (2009). Retrieved from www.cnib.ca//vision-loss- employment/default.aspwww.cnib.ca//vision-loss- employment/default.asp