Employment
Some people affected by LHON wonder what career they could possibly do with LHON vision. Some are already in a career, and need to figure out how to adapt to their vision loss to continue working. Many people’s initial response to LHON vision loss is to conclude that they can no longer do their current job, so they quit. Before taking this action, consider that it may be better to find a way to continue with an employer who knows and will support you as you work through the transition, than to leave and seek employment with a different employer. It may be helpful to pursue all internal options before making the decision to resign. The Navigating Employment page and Facebook group provide insights from the LHON community about navigating employment with LHON.
Navigating employment has been discussed at past LHON Conferences and these presentations share some of the most recent information and experiences.
The following overview, the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides information about the rights of employees with a disability, including legal blindness.
The Job Accommodation Network is an organization that provides information and free consultations about workplace accommodations and the ADA, which can be helpful when trying to obtain and maintain employment.
​National Industries for the Blind creates meaningful careers for blind and low-vision individuals.
APH CareerConnect provides ideas and examples about careers and blindness.
