As employers search for scarce skills, one source of talent is often overlooked. People with visual impairments have the skills, abilities and ambition to make a meaningful contribution to work, but many are left out not because of ability, but because organizations are unsure where to start.
At the Trilog Business in Society conference, Absa and Primedia, in collaboration with the Hein Wagner Academy, launched a free practical business guide to help employers hire and integrate people with visual impairments throughout the full employment journey.
Designed for businesses of all sizes, this guide provides step-by-step, plain language guidance on accessible recruitment and workplace support, informed by lived experience and South African workplace examples.
It includes practical tools and advice across the employment lifecycle:
- Preparing for recruitment and running accessible interviews
- Onboarding and workplace adjustment
- Assistive technology and day-to-day functioning
- Performance Management and Retention
- Templates and checklists to help teams take action at each step
“At Absa, we've seen what's possible when the right support is in place. This guide builds on that experience to help other businesses take practical steps to hire and support employees with visual impairments, and create workplaces where inclusion strengthens performance,” said Manoj Puri, Absa Group Chief Safety Officer.
The launch comes as South African businesses face persistent skills gaps, high unemployment and increasing pressure to deliver inclusion with measurable impact.
Trish Taylor, Head of Primedia Cares, said, “Many businesses want to hire holistically, but hesitate because they don't know how to integrate people with visual impairments into their teams. This guide takes away that uncertainty with practical steps that any organization can implement.”
“As we look to the future of work, it is essential that opportunities expand to reflect the diverse society we serve – and that employers have practical tools to deliver on their commitments,” Taylor said.
The guide is informed by Absa's experience through the Cyber Security Academy, established in 2021 in partnership with the Hein Wagner Academy. The program trained 10 visually impaired students through a three-year cyber security course.
Five graduates are now in sustained employment, including roles at Absa and Primedia. Absa employed four graduates and Primedia employed one graduate in its technology department. A second group is currently completing its first year at the Hein Wagner Academy.
The guide was launched with extensive discussion at the Trilogue Business in Society conference. It is positioned as a practical extension of the national conversation about inclusion, economic participation, and the future of work.
The aim is simple: to help businesses turn intention into action – quickly, practically, and at scale.
Download the free guide: https://www.absa.africa/cybersecurity-academy/