Insights in Adaptation: Examining Self-reflection Strategies of Job Seekers with Visual Impairments in India

Abstract: Significant changes in the digital employment landscape, driven by rapid technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic, have introduced new opportunities for blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals in developing countries like India. However, a significant portion of the BVI population in India remains unemployed despite extensive accessibility advancements and job search interventions. Therefore, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 BVI persons who were either pursuing or recently sought employment in the digital industry. Our findings reveal that despite gaining digital literacy and extensive training, BVI individuals struggle to meet industry requirements for fulfilling job openings. While they engage in self-reflection to identify shortcomings in their approach and skills, they lack constructive feedback from peers and recruiters. Moreover, the numerous job intervention tools are limited in their ability to meet the unique needs of BVI job seekers. Our results therefore provide key insights that inform the design of future collaborative intervention systems that offer personalized feedback for BVI individuals, effectively guiding their self-reflection process and subsequent job search behaviors, and potentially leading to improved employment outcomes.