The importance of ‘strategic chat time’ for people who are blind or low vision

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of 'strategic chat time' for the integration of blind and low vision (B/LV) employees. Strategic chat time refers to social time not related to workplace business such as lunch, breaks, and informal social activities, where employees build relationships and assimilate into the company's culture. This study examined barriers B/LV employees experienced and strategies used in getting to know colleagues, developing friendships, and networking for career advancement. This qualitative research study was based on data gathered for a dissertation at the University of Toronto. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 B/LV employees in Canada. Valuable insights were discovered regarding coping strategies used by B/ LV employees to access the social arena. Strategies ranged from avoidance to active intervention. Thematic analysis was used to identify four categories for the reported strategies, namely, passive, resourceful, receptive, and proactive. These strategies reveal strong motivation to engage in the social arena and achieve social acceptance. Further research is warranted on the benefits of 'strategic chat time'.

Moving toward a better understanding of job satisfaction of South Korean masseurs with visual impairments

“…When individuals with visual impairments have supportive relationships in their life, they are more capable of dealing with constraints in the social environments, and to develop self-esteem, selfconfidence, self-acceptance, and self-identity, which are closely linked to their career development processes (Hutto & Hare, 1997). In addition, Papakonstantinou and Papadopoulos (2009) and Naraine and Fels (2013) demonstrated the importance of social support for employees with visual impairments at work, as tools for integrating them, through which they build relationships and assimilate into the company's culture. Social support can also be used as a tool for resolving problems at work by providing various practical proper information that raises the awareness of the employers or supervisors and colleagues of people with visual impairments (Naraine & Fels, 2013;Papakonstantinou & Papadopoulos, 2009).…”

“…In addition, Papakonstantinou and Papadopoulos (2009) and Naraine and Fels (2013) demonstrated the importance of social support for employees with visual impairments at work, as tools for integrating them, through which they build relationships and assimilate into the company's culture. Social support can also be used as a tool for resolving problems at work by providing various practical proper information that raises the awareness of the employers or supervisors and colleagues of people with visual impairments (Naraine & Fels, 2013;Papakonstantinou & Papadopoulos, 2009). Overall, the aim of this study is to measure not only the level of job satisfaction of South Korean masseurs with visual impairments, but also to test how fairly the new developed theory of job satisfaction…”