NB24-03: Barriers to SSDI and SSI Program Participation for the Visually Impaired Community

According to the NIH National Eye Institute (https://bit.ly/3UEEwK0, Accessed on April 15, 2023), there are over 825,000 Black/African American people who have diabetic retinopathy. The number is expected to increase to more than one million by 2030. While this does not include other causes for visual impairment among the Black/African American population, the number is staggering (Ou, Y., 2021). Individuals living with a visual impairment encounter challenges navigating daily tasks, even those that may otherwise seem simple. Additionally, remaining employed may not be an option. At the same time, understanding how to apply for monthly compensation can lead to anxiety and depression since the application process can be daunting and time consuming. Therefore, applicants seek help from other establishments to support their effort. Furthermore, the literature describing how to better serve visually impaired citizens remains minimal. This research will study the specific case of Prince George’s County, Maryland by:
● Reviewing existing literature on the effects of visually impaired people’s access to community resources and services.
● Conducting focus groups and/or interviews to explore the specific barriers that the visually impaired community contends with in completing the application process for SSDI or SSI
benefits.
● Mentoring student research assistants (RAs) from the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the state of Maryland, Bowie State University (BSU).