[nfbcs] Computer science major college question

[Deborah Armstrong]

I completely agree with the comment on developing solid communications skills. In most of my jobs, writing code, writing manuals and doing tech support, I was one of the few people whose first, native language was English. And because I obviously couldn't do graphical programming, or desktop publishing, I was often the main communicator for the department. For example, I was the one who coordinated beta testers, handled compilation of releases, saw to it that everyone knew what everyone else was working on. I wrote posts for the knowledge base and I communicated with people we outsourced to do various jobs. Also because my code was well-commented, I was often asked to code something that might need to be altered frequently. I was not a brilliant programmer,  but companies can't function with just geniuses doing the work.

Be aware too that talents might lie in other areas in tech than just writing code. I wanted very much to be a foreign language simultaneous translator. I have a facility with foreign languages, and lived in Germany as an exchange student. Though I quickly picked up German, I discovered, when my family arrived for a vacation that I was a terrible translator. I could speak and understand both English and German but I couldn't effectively move between the two languages, nor could I translate ideas from one in to the other. Basically I was like the tone-deaf person who tries to join the choir but has no musical talent. I'm glad I discovered this early before I spent years seeking a goal for which I had no talent!

So besides writing code, you might discover a talent for tech writing, as I did, or for creating test plans/scripts, or tracking release changes, or designing algorithms, or communicating with other developers, or teaching programming or even selling technical products such as firmware development toolkits. Studying computer science could mean all of those things in your future.

>I sometimes wonder if that's why some blind people are unemployed--that it's such a huge hassle sometimes to figure out access problems.
Boy do I agree there! It is a giant hassle and getting worse. It's one reason I'm working at a college instead of in the private sector these days.  But when I thought I was going to loose my job a few years ago, I plunged right back in to it; researching the accessibility of everything from development integrated environments to remote-access tools and secretly wishing someone would just do it for me. I kept thinking about all the arranging I do for blind students at this college, making sure their materials are accessible and negotiating with professors who think the student can't cope in their classroom and realizing that  though I was legally obligated to level their playing field, my doing so was preventing them from growing their own independence.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2016 5:14 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question

I want to add 2 things to Nicole's well-thought-out post.
In my office, communications skills are essential for everyone.  Even people who mostly write code still have to communicate clearly with the rest of the team, and often with their users.  Sometimes it's through email, and sometimes speaking with the other person.  Either way, it has to be effective.  So classes in communication skills, like writing or presenting, are useful.

And to another of Nicole's points, not only do other people not know what blind people need, they often make assumptions about what we need which are completely wrong.
Back when I went to college, my school had no disabled student services department at all.  I had to make all my own arrangements to get textbooks and take tests.  It was a pain, but I learned how to do it, and how to explain to authority figures like professors exactly what I needed.  I think the experience did a lot for me, once I graduated.  I'm sure it's very nice for someone else to make all those arrangements, but I am concerned that blind students get used to someone else handling all that stuff.  Maybe someone will be around to keep making arrangements, at least the first time, when the student graduates and gets a job, but mostly you're on your own, and you have to know how to manage your accessibility needs yourself. Like Nicole said, if you sit back and wait for someone else to figure it out, it may never happen, or you may not actually get what you need.  If you don't know what you need, you have to know what resources to tap to figure it out.
I sometimes wonder if that's why some blind people are unemployed--that it's such a huge hassle sometimes to figure out access problems.  Jumping down from my soapbox.
Tracy