[nfbcs] Research

Thu Feb 23 18:34:28 UTC 2017

Joe,

I agree that it's doable. Whether it's worthwhile is another question.
I transferred to UT Austin because I loved programming and learning.
Once there, I spent much more time struggling with access than I spent
programming or learning.

On 2/22/17, Joseph C. Lininger via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Amanda,
> I have to disagree. I currently have an under grad degree in CS, and I
> am working on a Ph.D. I am also employed full time as a computer
> scientist. There are some issues the blind will experience with
> technical degrees that are unique to those degrees, but it's definitely
> doable.
>
> --
> Joe
>
> On 2/22/2017 12:13, Amanda Lacy via nfbcs wrote:
>> I have a CS degree. I cannot in good conscience recommend it to other
>> blind students unless they accept that they will experience a lot of
>> hurt. I don't have satisfying answers to most of your questions.
>>
>> On 2/21/17, Michael via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hello Andy,
>>> Thank you for your response. Before answering your questions, I will
>>> preface
>>> my response that this project is entirely predicated on ensuring other
>>> blind
>>> students, who may be considering computer science, do not do what I did;
>>> namely, believing that blind people cannot do computer science. Now, your
>>> questions:
>>> (1) No University, community college, or vocational school is funding
>>> this;
>>> this is an assignment that I have received on behalf of the Louisiana
>>> Center
>>> for the Blind (LCB) for my technology class.
>>> (2) I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, this past December
>>> with
>>> an Honors B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in logic, metaphysics, and
>>> epistemology.
>>> (3) This guide will serve to educate prospective computer science
>>> students
>>> who are blind. When I was in high school, I was extremely interested in
>>> doing computer science. I was told that blind people could not do
>>> computer
>>> science; mistakenly, I believed this to be true and thus proceeded into
>>> the
>>> liberal arts. If I can provide clarity to other students thinking about
>>> computer science, or elucidate blind students when it comes to the
>>> copasity
>>> of blind people, I would be very happy. As it stands, the only place I
>>> know
>>> for sure this research will end up is the national Association of Blind
>>> Students website, as I sit on the board and can make that happen.
>>> Otherwise,
>>> I have no idea.
>>> (4) This is true. I did not make this anonimis. If people are willing to
>>> answer, I would be very happy, and will of course cite you, or not cite
>>> you,
>>> depending on your permission. If people are not willing to, I totally
>>> understand that as well.
>>> I hope I was able to address your concerns.
>>> For anyone else who wishes to help me out, you can email your responses
>>> to
>>> my email (mausbun at nevada.unr.edu) or, if you feel confortible, just
>>> responding to this thread.
>>> Thank you again for all your attention and time!
>>> Respectfully,
>>> Michael Ausbun
>>> Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada.
>>> Secretary, National Association of blind Students
>>> Student, The Louisiana Center for the Blind
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy B. via
>>> nfbcs
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 2:24 PM
>>> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Andy B. <sonfire11 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Research
>>>
>>> I am interested in answering these questions. However, you never
>>> displayed
>>> your credentials or qualifications in the subject. What school is funding
>>> this study? Where did you graduate and with what degree? What do you
>>> intend
>>> on doing with the guide when it is finished? The results of this survey
>>> are
>>> not anonymous. Therefore, people might be hesitant.
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael via
>>> nfbcs
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 2:45 PM
>>> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Michael <mausbun at nevada.unr.edu>
>>> Subject: [nfbcs] Research
>>>
>>> Hello All:
>>> 	My name is Michael Ausbun, and I am currently a student at the Louisiana
>>> Center for the Blind. I am conducting research, to develop a
>>> comprehensive
>>> guide for prospective computer science students. I would much appreciate
>>> it
>>> if you would take some time and answer the following questions.
>>> 	Thank you for your attention in this matter.
>>> Respectfully,
>>> Michael Ausbun
>>>
>>> Research questions:
>>> Advocacy:
>>> (1)	What accommodations do you believe were most beneficial to you in
>>> completing your degree?
>>> (2)	What accommodation(s) were necessary when completing visual
>>> components
>>> of one’s degree requirements?
>>> (3)	In what ways have you advocated for the modification of materials to
>>> ensure equal access for yourself or future computer science students?
>>> (4)	What is the most important question(s) a computer science student
>>> should
>>> ask their instructors before and during a selected course of study?
>>> (5)	Are there any Universities, companies, or organizations who have been
>>> greater benefactors?
>>> Academics:
>>> (1)	How much math and science is necessary for a person to be successful
>>> within the computer science field.
>>> (2)	In general, are materials accessible with access technology?
>>> (3)	What are some effective, and somewhat universal, techniques for
>>> manipulating and writing computer languages?
>>> (4)	In what ways did your assignments get modified, to establish equal
>>> access to all requirements?
>>> (5)	What are some effective ways for designing accessible algorithms and
>>> data structures?
>>> (6)	When developing a portfolio, did you find an accessible way of
>>> publicly
>>> displaying your code, or for hosting your portfolio?
>>> (7)	After publishing your code, what methods do you use to ensure the
>>> visible code is visually appealing or readable?
>>> (8)	Are there any courses you might recommend to take in high school to
>>> prepare someone going into the computer science field?
>>> (9)	Besides the source work required to obtain your degree, what
>>> additional
>>> course work might you recommend to enhance one’s employment
>>> effectiveness?
>>> Access technology:
>>> (1)	What access technology gave you the greatest degree of opportunity to
>>> compete on an equal playing field with your peers?
>>> (2)	What challenges did access technology present when interacting with
>>> the
>>> technology required to complete tasks and assignments for your computer
>>> science degree or profession?
>>> (3)	What role does access technology play in the completion of your daily
>>> assignments or tasks?
>>> (4)	How might modifications to standard technology create more
>>> opportunity
>>> for usability with access technology?
>>> General technology:
>>> (1)	In what ways is the general technology inaccessible when paired with
>>> access technology? Are there any work arounds for these issues?
>>> (2)	What sort of accommodations are necessary for the use of most general
>>> technology used in this field of study or profession?
>>> (3)	Can standard tasks be completed on a unit without extensive
>>> modification
>>> or accommodations?
>>> Does most technology come ready to use? Are there ways to increase one’s
>>> productivity when using Python JavaScript C++ swift and racket, and
>>> integrated development environments (IDEs)—such as CodeLite, Eclipse,
>>> NetBeans, VisualWX, Xcode, and KDevelop?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>
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