[nfbcs] Research

Jessica Dail jldail13 at gmail.com
Fri Feb 24 19:13:49 UTC 2017 

Hi,
I'm just curious, but why did you mis out on the benefits of your college degree?
Thanks,
Jessica

On Feb 24, 2017 1:47 PM, Amanda Lacy via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I wasn't arguing that a CS degree generally isn't worth it. But if I
> technically have a CS degree but I missed out on most of the benefits
> it was supposed to bring, am I truly prepared or qualified for these
> jobs that require CS degrees?
>
> On 2/24/17, John Heim via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > The issue of the value of a degree has come up before on this list. In
> > my capacity as President of IAVIT, I've talked to IT managers about this
> > before. I happened to be on a run with a group of guys a couple of weeks
> > ago. One of them was the manager of an IT department for a company with
> > maybe a hundred employees in a handful of states.
> > I brought up this issue about some blind people thinking a degree isn't
> > worth it. He was, in turn, shocked, amused, then horrified. First he
> > expressed surprise, then he made a little joke. Then when I explained it
> > really was controversial, he was horrified. He said essentially that a
> > blind person already has such an uphill battle that you really don't
> > need to add not having a degree on top of it.  He said they get so many
> > applications for entry level positions that they don't need to bother
> > with people who don't have a degree in CS or related field. They don't
> > even bother with people who don't have degrees for a lot of mid-level
> > positions.
> >
> > So I asked him, "Which would be worse, having a misspelling on your
> > resume or not having a degree?" He said, "You know, quite honestly, the
> > degree would be a bigger problem.
> >
> > Having a degree so greatly expands the number of positions you qualify
> > for that is absolutely worth it especially for a blind person.
> >
> >
> > On 02/24/2017 06:31 AM, Joseph C. Lininger via nfbcs wrote:
> >> Amanda,
> >> Worth while is the point I'm disagreeing with you on. Pretty much any
> >> degree is "doable", but as you point out with some there's no point
> >> because you won't be able to learn or do anything with that degree once
> >> you finish. That doesn't just apply to blind people either; there are
> >> worthless degrees out there.
> >>
> >> What I am arguing is that it is in fact worth while. I studied computer
> >> science at a couple of schools. In both cases, I was able to learn the
> >> material and I was able to complete most of the course work. There were
> >> a couple of situations where I needed some extra help, and there were a
> >> couple of major assignments I can remember where the professor had me do
> >> an alternative assignment. In those cases, it wasn't because I couldn't
> >> do the work in question, it was because the visual aspects weren't the
> >> point of the assignment and I could get the same information by doing
> >> something else.
> >>
> >> As for whether the degree is worth while from a career perspective,
> >> well, you can have quite a lengthy discussion on that particular
> >> question. As someone who has worked in the field for years, both with
> >> and without a CS degree, what I will say about it is this. If you want
> >> to work in the computer science field, as in the deep technical aspects
> >> of it and not just as a network admin or help desk rep or something like
> >> that, you almost have to have a computer science degree these days. It
> >> is possible to get hired as a software developer or other highly
> >> technical job without the degree, but it is not easy and the best jobs
> >> go to those with the degree.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Joe
> >>
> >> On 2/23/2017 13:34, Amanda Lacy via nfbcs wrote:
> >>> 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?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
> >>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> >>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>
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> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/john%40johnheim.com
> >
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> >
>
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