[nfbcs] Career Advice

[John G. Heim]

I googled tfor info on the program. A link is below. A one paragraph summary
is as follows...

> Program Description: The Programming curriculum prepares clients to work
in a wide range of programming 
> environments including .NET and JAVA, and other application projects as
well. Certification exams for JAVA and 
> Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) are offered through the
program. Some prior programming 
> experience is helpful, but not necessary to be successful in this course.
This program often offers the opportunity to get 
> a commitment for employment with the Internal Revenue Service.

http://lwsb.org/index.php/general-overview/vocational-catalog/#content

Wasn't it this list where we just had a huge debate about java?  I'm
thinking java programming might be making a huge comeback in writing apps
for mobile phones.  But I'll admit I don't really know what I'm talking
about. I would note, however, that the link above indicates that the Lions
web site itself is written in php, not .net or java.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 9:38 AM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Career Advice

Hi Daniel.
I got a programming certificate, after I found I was going nowhere with my
college degree.  I looked around, and found a certificate course that taught
the languages employers were looking for at the time.  It was local, not
out-of-state.
If you do go to Lions World, try to make sure that they are teaching
languages that will actually  be in demand.
Learning programming was a very good move for me.  I have a secure job that
pays well, and is usually interesting.  I'm not sure if the IRS job pays
well, or is interesting.
My brother is also a blind programmer, working for subcontractors to the
government.  He gets paid OK, but gets laid off every few years.
So your results may vary. But I think he'd rather be programming than having
a rather dull but secure IRS job.
HTH.
Tracy

> Hello Everyone:
>
> I hope this is the appropriate forum for this question.
>
> I am legally blind with a background in engineering and manufacturing.
> After
> talking with many blind engineers, I find that many of them are 
> thriving computer programmers.
>
> I am now trying to decide whether to go to Lions World in Little Rock 
> to take their 10 month computer programming course. My counselor at my 
> states agency for the blind wants me to go to Lions World but to take 
> one of their IRS courses, which would in essence be a guaranteed job 
> with the Feds.
>
> I am the type of person who could do any job, at least that is what my 
> aptitude tests tell me.
>
> What is life like for blind computer programmers? Do most work for 
> employers or as freelancers/contractors? Are there any languages in 
> particular I should focus on? Are there any other ways of learning 
> computer programming as a blind person than going out of state? 
> Learning on my own is just not working for me.
>
> Any advice you can give would be appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
> Daniel Garcia
> Northville, MI
>
>
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