[nfbcs] Is majoring in information technology in a mainstream college a good idea?

[Drenth, Joe]

Hi Amy,

It is totally possible for you to succeed in the Information Technologies field as a blind person.

There are usually always a nonvisual way of performing the same tasks that a sighted user would perform using the mouse to drag items around a user interface, etc., such as adjusting the placement and size of controls programmatically, using configuration files to assign properties, and other methods along those lines.

Many tasks in the I.T. world actually work better using text-based scripting languages to control the flow of operations in terminal mode, rather than interacting with a graphical user interface.

Don't let your lack of eyesight lower your expectations or goals -- not in the least.

I am a blind software engineer and have been working in the field of factory automation and mobile robotics for over eighteen years, and there are many others on this list who would also  agree that the field in which you are interested is not out of reach.

If you have any additional specific questions about any of this, please post them.

Warmest regards,
Joe

Joseph Drenth 
Senior R&D Software Engineer 
JBT Corporation  |  Automated Systems 
400 Highpoint Drive 
Chalfont, PA  18914, USA
E: joe.drenth at jbtc.com  P: 215 822 4457
www.jbtc-agv.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy Albin via nfbcs
Sent: Friday, August 04, 2017 9:35 AM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Cc: Amy Albin
Subject: [nfbcs] Is majoring in information technology in a mainstream college a good idea?

Hello All,

My name is Amy.  I just graduated from high school and will be attending college in the spring semester.  I'm considering majoring in information technology.  I'm a completely blind user of JAWS.

The only background in computer science I have is a course in Visual Basic.  I relied on a sighted person to help me place objects, but I really understood and enjoyed the coding itself; it was just the accessibility issues.  Since my background is so scant, I don't know what to ask Accessibility Services at my college for.  For instance, I know that they use object oriented programming.  Is there a way to make that accessible?  Should I change my major?  I'm basically diving in the water not knowing how to swim.  If anyone could give me some suggestions, please, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Amy

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