[humanser] Ideas for career opportunities.

[Steve Jacobson]

Tara,

Sorry if you have already explored this, but be sure to take advantage of any career counseling offered by your college.  Don't fall into the trap of trying to 
figure out what you can do as a blind person first and don't let them do that.  First, try to figure out what sort of career sounds interesting without thinking 
about blindness, and then if you narrow it down, look at what you might do within the area that interests you.  There is certainly a need for good social 
workers and teachers of the visually impaired, but don't go into those fields because you think they are safe because others have done it.  If they don't 
appeal to you, you won't be happy even if you get a job there.  Take the time to do the best you can at figuring it out, but also understand that most of us, 
and most sighted people for that matter, don't feel that certain of our choices.  Nowadays, making several major carreer changes is not uncommon, so 
thinking you are making a once in a lifetime choice makes the decision more awesome than it has to be.  It is hard to be more specific without knowing more 
about your interests and your background, though.  Unless you are really unhappy with your current major, looking at how you can use what you've already 
taken the time to learn makes some sense.  As a matter of full disclosure, I should tell you that I was a math major and am in the computer field, not the 
human services field, but am here because I have occasionally helped with technical list problems, but I had a struggle somewhat similar to yours.  I didn't 
decide on a major until I was almost into my senior year, and didn't narrow my focus to computers until well into that year.  It is not an easy decision and I 
wish you the best of luck.  There are blind people doing so many different things, though, that figuring out your true interests is very important.  There are 
challenges to getting a job as a blind person, but they are easier to deal with if you are excited about the profession you have chosen and if your choice 
leverages your strengths.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
>From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Tara Sena
>Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 9:56 PM
>To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
>Subject: [humanser] Ideas for career opportunities.

>Hello all,

>I have posted to this list previously requesting Speech-Language
>Pathologists, and now I post requesting ideas for other career options. I am
>now considering the fields of Social work, and TVI. I know to be a TVI I
>need a background in education which would require me to get a Masters in
>Special Education. Are there other ideas out there? I am young, confused and
>unsure of exactly what I want to do now that I am a month from graduation. I
>need help and I am reaching out to my fellow blind citizens for help. Please
>let me know of any information I can check out. I will keep looking at the
>AFB Career connect as well as look into the different programs around my
>state.

>I appreciate anyone's assistance and information.

>Sincerely,

>Tara

> 

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