A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Adults who are blind or have low vision (B/LV) experience higher unemployment rates than the general population. They may face persistent challenges in finding a job, which can lead to problems with financial stability, housing, social participation, physical health, and mental health including depression and anxiety. Previous research has found that programs that teach job search skills can help build confidence, improve employment outcomes, and improve mental health for adults and young adults. However, no studies have evaluated this type of program specifically for adults with B/LV.
In a recent NIDILRR-funded study, researchers at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Among People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision tested The Job Search Blueprint, a remote training for job search skills, to see if it could help adults with B/LV improve their job search knowledge, behavior, and confidence; improve employment outcomes; and reduce anxiety and depression.
The study included 86 unemployed adults with B/LV who were seeking work at the time of the study. About half of the participants were in the Job Search Blueprint group and the rest were assigned to a control group. The Job Search Blueprint group received a five-day remote group training delivered by videoconferencing that covered topics such as identifying and presenting strengths and skills, creating resumes, preparing for interviews, disclosing a disability, networking to find job leads, communicating with employers, and preparing to handle setbacks. The control group received job search information by email, including a resource document and a tip sheet. Both groups completed surveys before the Job Search Blueprint started, one month after, and at 6-month and 18-month follow-ups. Surveys assessed job search knowledge (up to 6-month), behavior, and confidence; employment outcomes; and anxiety and depression. Surveys for the Job Search Blueprint group also assessed acceptability of the program at 6- and 18-month follow-ups.
The participants’ average age was 46 years. Most participants were female and many had college or graduate degrees. More than half had been unemployed for a year or more. Nearly half of the participants reported having additional disabilities or chronic health conditions. The study’s main findings were as follows:
The Job Search Blueprint group showed significantly greater improvement in job search knowledge than the control group immediately after the program, and they maintained that gain at the 6-month follow-up. The Job Search Blueprint did not significantly improve participants’ job search behaviors or confidence.
There was no difference in employment outcomes between the Job Search Blueprint and control groups.
The Job Search Blueprint group experienced significantly lower anxiety levels than the control group right after the program. However, this benefit was not maintained at the 6-month or 18-month follow-ups. There was no difference in depressive symptoms between the Job Search Blueprint and control groups.
Participants rated the Job Search Blueprint highly and most reported they would recommend it to other adults with B/LV.
According to the authors, the findings show that a short, intensive virtual job search intervention like Job Search Blueprint can improve job search knowledge and reduce anxiety among adults with B/LV. The authors suggested that the program’s active teaching and learning methods likely helped participants learn and retain skills they could apply to their own situations. The lack of employment outcome differences may be due in part to participants’ long periods of unemployment, low readiness for the job search, lack of awareness of career options, or worries about having to relocate for work. The authors also noted that the Job Search Blueprint did not address broader contextual factors like labor market conditions and hiring trends, which could have impacted employment outcomes. Finally, the program’s focus on preparing for setbacks may have helped reduce anxiety among participants initially, but ongoing external stressors may be why those reductions did not last.
The authors recommended conducting future studies with larger samples, stronger measures of job readiness, and additional employment-related measures. They suggested examining whether participant circumstances and characteristics, such as duration of unemployment or depression risk, influence how well the program works. The authors also recommended testing hybrid approaches that combine group training with individualized support, such as one-on-one coaching, which has been beneficial in studies with youth with B/LV. They suggested pairing the intervention with vocational rehabilitation services, providing ongoing support, and regularly reviewing and updating interventions to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
To learn more:
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Among People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision offers many resources for job seekers as well as employers and human resource professionals, from factsheets and apps to program manuals and guides. The Center recently added a free course to learn about The Job Search Blueprint.
Career One Stop is a federally-funded program that helps people with disabilities explore career options, find training and education, build job search skills, and find local help and services.
To learn more about this study:
Cmar, J. L., & Antonelli, K. (2026). Randomized controlled trial of a job search intervention for adults who are blind or have low vision. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552261442964