[Nfbmo] FW: [nfbcs] Career Advice

[Gary Wunder]

This may contribute something meaningful to our employment discussion.



-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John G. Heim
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 11:12 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Career Advice

I am the President of the International Association of Visually Impaired
Technologists (www.iavit.org) and I'm employed as manager of high
performance computing at the University of Wisconsin Department of
Mathematics. My opinion is that information technology is about as good of a
career for blind people as it gets. There is hardly any career where you're
not at something of a disadvantage but in information technology, you're
about as even with your sighted counterparts as you can be in any field. And
it pays well.

I was just in a tavern with my friends last week and we were talking about
the state of the job market in info tech. I mentioned how many of my blind
friends were unemployed and another guy asked, "But do you know anybody who
is any good who is unemployed?" I had to admit I did not. Everybody I know
who is blind and is unemployed either didn't have the aptitude for it in the
first place or else they let their skill set lapse. But I know a lot of
sighted people who deserve jobs far less and are still employed. I just
think its way harder for a blind person who not only has to stand out above
all the other applicants, has to stand out so much that the employer will
take a chance on a blind guy.  But, of course, that problem applies to every
career choice.

I'm not so sure about going into programming though. About 8 years ago, I
deliberately acquired a new set of skills in order to switch from
programming to systems administration. I'm not sure I'd advise even a
sighted person to go into programming these days. I think all the
programming jobs are drying up and/or moving overseas. All the blind people
I know have jobs as various kinds of systems admins. I personally do not
know a single blind programmer.  But I'm not sure my sample size is
meaningful and other people might be able to confirm or deny this impression
of mine. 

I've never been unemployed in my entire career. That's because I have never
let my skill set lapse. I spend my own time and money if necessary learning
the latest and greatest. And I work harder than everybody else. I just think
that's what you have to do to succeed as a disabled person. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel Garcia
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 9:08 AM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbcs] Career Advice

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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