Social integration and its impact on the sense of belonging among visually impaired employees

Abstract

While organisations increasingly commit to disability inclusion, many visually impaired employees continue to experience workplace isolation. Yet we know relatively little about how workplace structures, psychosocial safety, and belonging interconnect for visually impaired employees in African contexts. Most existing studies focus on employment rates rather than inclusion quality, and few examine how structural and relational factors interact to shape belonging. This qualitative study explored how social integration shapes belonging amongst 28 visually impaired employees and organisational representatives in South African workplaces through semi-structured interviews analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed complex interactions between structural and psychosocial factors. Structural accessibility, including assistive technology, accommodation procedures, and meeting communication practices, fundamentally shaped integration, with 82% of participants reporting meeting communication barriers. However, accessibility alone proved insufficient. Identity safety, perceived acceptance, and freedom from microaggressions determined genuine belonging beyond mere presence. These pathways interacted synergistically. Structural barriers created ceilings that psychosocial support could not overcome, whilst organisational culture moderated pathway effectiveness. Early career experiences set trajectories that accumulated over time. Intersecting identities compounded barriers beyond additive effects. The findings suggest organisations must address both structural and cultural dimensions simultaneously through universal design, disability awareness training, leadership accountability, and co-creation mechanisms that position visually impaired employees as solution design partners.