# Blinks and Computers

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by ItsAConspiraZ (This site is so "educational") on Tuesday, 24-Jul-2007 18:14:42

In a topic discussing successful blind people, BabyGurl_16 posted about someone her parents mentioned - a blind computer programmer. This made me think of the incredible number of blind people who are interested in some sort of computer-related career (such as myself) or who just list (playing around with) computers as one of their hobbies. It seems to me that as blind people with better access to a computer than we think we do to the rest of the world we are conditioned by those around us (parents, family members, maybe friends) that we are "computer wizzes" or just "really good at computers." I've read messages from and talked to countless young blind people (mostly male) who wanted to become some sort of computer programmer or IT specialist or what have you. Before I ask the question let me relate my own experience as a young computer user as an example:
Ever since I was little I was interested in anything which made a hum of some sort and later electronics in general. My interest for the computer probably would've died out had my teacher's not been afraid to show me how to use one. I used my first computer at 8 and in a few years knew how to get around the windows 3,1 (and at 10 win95) interface. My mother used to ask me to install apps because she didn't know how, and soon I became the smart computer guy of the family. Of course, all I was doing was installing programs and changing settings in Control Pannel. Eventually my parents realized how incredibly easy it was to click "next" continuously, and to open up control pannel and lok for the setting they needed changed. I realized that I was no real computer genius, and the only reason I thought i was was because my parents didn't know how to use it and I did. It's also a lot easier to use a computer than it is to do something less "accessible" in this sighted world (take a trip to the mall, movies, make plans to go somewhere with others etc). I can't help but feel that computer jobs have already become one of the few stereotyped blind jobs (right up there with radio DJ and switchboard operator). I also feel that most of us think that's what we should be doing because of outside influence ("you're so great with computers!" etc) and rather than think about what we'd like to do we just settle for something we think that we're good at. It's not easy saying this as an aspiring computer programmer mainly because of the guilt I feel for choosing such a stereotypical career, but I'll get over it. What do you think?

## Post 2 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Tuesday, 24-Jul-2007 19:45:10

I think most people who think there good with computers actually suck, and the only true mesure of how good you are is what other IT professionals think.

## Post 3 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 25-Jul-2007 4:32:08

I agree with Jared on this one totally. I also think his staement is generalizable to most kinds of work. How many of us know blind people who play music and the general public thinks they're just so darned wonderful and smart and clever, etc. When we hear them play, they aren't anything to write home about. A person shouldn't make a career decision based totally on what others think of their ability, but also, what gives them fulfillment as well.
Lou

## Post 4 by wildebrew (We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?) on Wednesday, 25-Jul-2007 5:23:03

Well, basically I don't see why a stereotypical bind career is bad. If the jobs in question are good or what you really want to do that's fine and it's a fact a lot of jobs are not accessible for us to do. I'd rather be a successful programmer who contributes 95% than, say, a doctor who can only do 30% of what his colleagues can contribute (of course such a measurement is arbitrary and not accurate in any way). And I have no issues with someone thinking the other way around. I started out with computer programming and I am utilizing it within a bank and slowly moving to move and move business oriented analysis, it works good for me and eventually I will have totally switched over into business I think. And that is a fact, you can start out by playing on your strengths and then take the opportunities as you see fit. It is not as if flying a jet is that difficult either really (so I have heard), it is for us, but just because basic computer maintenance revolves around pressing "next" it's still something a lot of people have difficulty with.
So, whether you want to be a doctor, computer programmer, massage therapist or teacher, go ahead, wondering whether you are being too stereotypically blind really should not play a part in your decission whether or not to do something.

## Post 5 by ItsAConspiraZ (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 02-Aug-2008 17:37:40

This year I consciously settled to continue with my compsci major, using jobs as an excuse. I think I knew I was already picking up the fork when I posted that a year ago, but now I think my words are already in my mouth.
P.S.,
Bump

## Post 6 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 03-Sep-2008 10:30:27

if you are doing something that gives you great satisfaction and you can earn money doing it go for it. In high school I knew I could type but as I went on at the Chicago Lighthouse trying to find out what job I would be good at suddenly typing became fulfilling and I was able to use it in medical transcription for 38 and a half years. Earned good money and felt great satisfaction with the career.