Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives Report: One year on

On Monday 2^nd February the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Vision Impairment hosted Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives, a parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons.

The event marked one year since the publication of the Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives report, which explored the barriers faced by people with visual impairments in accessing, sustaining, and progressing in employment. The reception provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made since the report’s launch and to discuss next steps for improving inclusive employment opportunities.

Hosted by Marsha De Cordova MP, Chair of the APPG, the reception brought together parliamentarians, employers, sector leaders, and people with lived experience. Discussions focused on the importance of supporting people with visual impairments into work and ensuring they are able not only to enter employment, but to thrive and remain in the workplace.

The APPG was pleased to welcome Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Employment, whose attendance provided an important opportunity for ministerial engagement with the report’s findings and the lived experiences shared during the event.

The Minister’s contribution was complemented by powerful speeches from Monique Hayles from John Lewis Partnerships and Jamie Ward from Channel 4. Both shared their own lived experience as well as an employer’s perspective. Their contributions reinforced the need for accessible recruitment processes, effective workplace adjustments, and continued collaboration across sectors.

Attendance at the reception was strong, with a wide range of stakeholders represented. The APPG was particularly pleased to welcome a number of MPs, including:

• Shockat Adam MP
• Richard Baker MP
• Seamus Logan MP
• Gagan Monhindra MP
• Baggy Shanker MP

Several of these parliamentarians were attending an APPG event for the first time, helping to broaden engagement with the group’s work.

The reception was held in an open, drop-in format to encourage conversation, networking, and collaboration. There was clear enthusiasm for the report’s recommendations, with many attendees expressing interest in continuing to engage with the APPG’s work.

The APPG looks forward to building on the momentum from the reception as it continues its work on eye health, visual impairment, and inclusive employment.