ah Lora. Thanks for pointing out my ignoring the partially sighted to me. It was not intentional, but it should have been avoided. Cheers! ----- Original Message ----- From: tribble To: bprogramming Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 1:47 PM Subject: Re: need input on faq don't forget partial sighted subscribers -- i learned programming in college with sighted students but had enough vision to read print with a cctv and in the case of the computer screen, with a powerful magnifier. your survey assumes a blind person using screen reader and/or human readers. Back in 1984 when I got my masters and started interviewing for jobs, I received very little skepticism on the part of job interviewers. (And that was before the ADA.) I approached interviews fully prepared to discuss upfront any questions about how I would do the job with my vision loss. After I started working, I tried to minimize any problems by buying a spare cctv and also keeping up on screen reader and screen enlargement solutions for the computer. Back then that stuff was just coming out. I consider myself a success story as far as getting the education and working and contributing to a variety of great projects. As my vision disappeared and windows invaded the workplace, however, I ran into a transition period. I left my job after 12 years for medical reasons (not just vision) but have tried keeping abreast of technology since using good old jaws and the internet. I know your survey probably targets blind persons entering the field now and not 2 decades ago, but thought this might assist. Since I have not taken a plunge to get back into the job fray (not for money anyway) I can't consider myself a current success, but I did work a long time with a severe visual impairment, which I do count as a great success. Now I'll do your survey -- see answers below: ----- Original Message ----- From: jaffar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 6:54 AM Subject: need input on faq Hi All. I am in the process of gathering answers and questions relating to the FAQ that potential blind or visually handicapped programmers might have before he/she takes the plunge. I have Managed to gather quite a lot, but in an effort to be more informative, I'd also need your personal testimonies as a beginner programmer, particularly in a setting where you have to relate to your sighted boss and colleagues, or even with sighted teachers and co students. I will then compile these into a kind of a guide so that a new programmer, or a potential student in programming who suddenly finds himself having to work, study and relate with those sighted folks around him won't find himself/herself too much in the deep end without a string to cling on too. This is a voluntary effort, so as many of you who are willing are encouraged to participate. I'm sure your experiences will go a long way in helping and supporting those who want to take up programming and I T as a stepping stone to a more challenging and rewarding career. Perhaps i might gthrow you some questions as pointers. 1. how did you learn programming. a. on your own? b. at computer school? c, in a classroom setting with a sighted teacher and sighted co-students? ***> at the university 2. How did you take your exams? a. using braille? b. using the computer with the aid of a screen reader? c. have the examiner read the questions to you and you verbally relaying the answers? ***> read in separate room on a cctv 3. did you find a job after you passed your exams, and in what setting did you work in? a. from home, freelance and alone? b. with a sighted boss and with sighted colleagues in a formal office setting? ***> b: formal office setting in large corporation 4. how would you describe your relationship with your boss and colleagues? a. they regarded your ability to use and work on the computer with incredulity and disbelief at first? b. they were friendly and went out of their way to be helpful from the first? c. they left you very much to your own devices? d. they didn't know how to relate to you and hence didn't know how to take you as part of the team? ***> b -- very helpful and supportive, at least for most of my experience 5. How did you overcome any obstacle which prevented you from working with everyone in your office as a team? a. You were patient and tried to explain that your condition was not, or presented very little obstacle to your success? b. your were quietly aggressive and refused any covert help to prove your independence and ability? c. You continually argued your case? d. did any of the step you take above help you in the long run? ***> a: always prepared to soothe any apprehension on the part of interviewers or employers by answering any questions they had (see below), also didn't expect my employer to pay for all the visual aids I used, except maybe for repair bills on the cctvs ***> d: this certainly did help in the long run 6. can you, with confidence, consider yourself a success story? ***> very much a success If you have anymaore hints, you are free to spell them out. Cheers and thanks for your output. ***>It is important to maintain a good sense of humor when confronting a situation such as a skeptical interviewer For example, I got 2 job offers from my various interviews after graduation. One of them was the result of an interview with a group of employees and supervisors. In the last interview with one supervisor, the interviewer paused and asked, "Doesn't your lack of vision cause you to read slower that a sighted person? and wouldn't that affect your work?" Actually, I did read slowly, but I replied with a joke: "Everyone reads Knuth the same speed." (For those who don't know Knuth authored a series of now famous textbooks on algorithms and computer science.) I hope this is what you wanted. --le __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3548 (20081023) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com