Introduction. People with visual disabilities face situations of injustice, stigmatization, and discrimination, limiting their participation in life contexts and resulting in high rates of labor inactivity and unemployment. Companies often lack the necessary accommodations, information and communication technologies, and technical aids required to provide equitable opportunities, as well as reliable official information on the characteristics of candidates seeking job placement.
Objective. To describe the sociodemographic, educational, and employment characteristics of the visually impaired population aiming for labor inclusion.
Method. An exploratory, descriptive study with a sample of 121 visually impaired participants of working age, selected through convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted using a validated labor and productivity characterization instrument.
Results. The average age of participants was 39 years, with a majority being male (56%). Among the participants, 48% had low vision and 52% were blind; 65% were single, and most lived in urban areas, reporting environmental access barriers. Regarding education, 29% had tertiary or higher-level education, while 22% had completed basic or secondary education. Additionally, 71% managed office tools such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, or phones with screen reading capabilities. A total of 84% experienced difficulty obtaining dignified and well-paid employment, and 10% of employed participants reported occupational dissatisfaction due to job roles not aligned with their training or experience.
Conclusions. The findings reaffirm the need to promote social inclusion and participation through the development of literacy strategies, formal education, job mediation, occupational profiling of candidates, and advocacy for equal rights and opportunities, positioning occupational therapists as key facilitators and coordinators in this process.