Bring your karma
Join the waitlist today
HUMBLECAT.ORG

Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2017 - 01 - 16 - ID#5oenib
9
Hey everyone! I was wondering about what career options I have as a blind person. What do you guys do for a living? (self.Blind)
submitted by KeelHaul-Kovers
KillerLag 2 points 6y ago
I've encounted a lot of people with vision loss, both blind and low vision, because I am an instructor for them. There is quite a variety. A short list of professions with blind workers....

Lawyer
Independent Living Skills Specialist
Massage Therapist
High Tech Assessor
Piano Tuner
Teacher
Judo Instructor
Writer
Researcher
Telemarketer
CEO (there are a few things you need to do before that point, though)
Student
Musician
Chef


People I don't know personally but have heard about

Governor of a State
Military Officer
Orientation and Mobility Instructor (I would REALLY want to see him in action)
Prostitute (During my job interview, I was seriously asked how I would teach O&M to a blind prostitute... Because that issue actually came up).
dmazzoni 3 points 6y ago
To add to that list, I know a lot of blind people in high tech!

Software engineer

Systems administrator

Product Manager

Test engineer

Also:

Genetic counselor

Social worker
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks!
pmmeyourtatertots 1 points 6y ago
Adding to the list as well for a few that I know:

Rehabilitation Counselor

Professor

Academic Advisor

Public Speaker
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 2 points 6y ago
I guess there's quite a wealth of things I could do.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I've actually concidered some of those. Thank you that was very helpful. Oh, why couldn't I have been born in the good old days with real pianos and no questions about blind prostitutes on your job interview!? Lol that is just sad! It appears I have my work cut out for me.
KillerLag 1 points 6y ago
There is a lot that you can do, you just need to figure out how to adapt what you need! Good luck!
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thx!
Amstourist 1 points 6y ago
Sniper
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Isn'ar that someone who lies in wait to harm you in a video game?
Amstourist 1 points 6y ago
BOOO
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I'm sorry. It's just that I am so afraid of being without a fulfilling career when I grow up.
Amstourist 1 points 6y ago
I'm not blind, even though I use glasses and my right eye vision keeps on insisting to get blurrier and blurrier, so I cannot begin to imagine what you experience daily. But, I do know what you're afraid of. I finished college a few months ago and I'm now on the first year of my masters degree and I've one year and a half before I need to find a job, which scares me beyond my wildest dreams.

But you? You're here searching, making an effort to get a career. I read the rest of the comments and I'm happy to see people gave you information, but I'm even happier to see the way you act towards others and towards life itself, that's half the way to have something fulfilling all together.

I really, really hope you find what you're looking for.
Vaelian 1 points 6y ago
As a partially sighted yet legally blind person I used to be a computer programmer. As a fully blind individual I'm a parasite of society, earning money through SSI and living with my father. I don't even bother to look for a job because I can't be fulfilled doing anything blind. The lack of sight complicates things way too much and I'm lazy as hell. I'll never adapt to living blind.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Don't sell yourself short, honey. I already know of a few things you could do. But I wanted input from others. You sound sad. Would you like me to write you some psychological drills? I love writing. And I'm already writing some for a friend.
Second of all, I'm sure you didn't mean it, but you kind of just called me and almost everyone else here a parasite to society. I've seen people get in fights for less at FSDB. I hope to fulfill my ambitions and make a name for myself. Lots of blind people have done it. Look at Tommy Edison, and Molly Burke, and my stepmom's friend Scary Mary.
Your life will be bearter if you find your niche in life, and I've decided to help you, whether you want my help or not.
Vaelian 1 points 6y ago
I found my niche in life back when I had sight, but now I've passed my breaking point. I used to ignore that I had a disability as a coping strategy by engaging in activities in which I wasn't at a disadvantage to normal people, such as coding and playing video-games, but blindness is a totally different monster as there is nothing I can do that wouldn't be easier if I had sight, so I just can't cope with this.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 2 points 6y ago
It can be hard to hear, I know, but you're a new person now. You have to look for a new niche in life. I hope I'm not annoying or offending you. But I have a a special job, which I gave myself a few years ago. But let's start from the beginning.


There are two main types of blind and low vision people. There are the independent, fairly content ones, who ask questions and learn things and are understanding. These are the blind people that most other blind people aspire to be. They work out systems to help them live "normal" lives. The other kind are the depressed, lonely, suicidal, very angry, closed-minded, and/or hateful blind people. These people are not bad, and they are stupid. They are often on the higher end of the low vision spectrum, or lost their sight after birth. They often do not like learning techniques for functioning with their disability, or think that they will never live a successful and pleasant life. I have made it my business to help these people, wherever I can find them. I will help you in this way until I feel I can give you nothing more.
Vaelian 1 points 6y ago
Thanks for your time but you can't help, because as I've mentioned, I've passed my breaking point. I could accept any kind if hardship, but I can't accept having a broken interface to the world, especially when fixing it is beyond my abilities, plus there's the whole unfairness issue: why do I have to go through this when most people never get to experience anything similar? I believe that anyone with a disability should be entitled to euthanasia.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
But you can cope with it. And I will help. Ignoring and/or avoiding your disability isn't a coping skill. It's called denial and it's unhealthy. You have to be strong and accept your differences. After all, you are able to comment here, aren't you? Us blind folks can achieve almost anththing. I hate to make assumptions, but it seems to me that there's something specific you wish you could still do. Maybe I can help if you tell me some things that are harder for you now. And please don't say everything. I get that everything is different, but we have to take it one step at a time. I know I must sound stupidly optimistic, but you are seriously in need of some over-optimism, friend. Message me privately. It'll be easier to communicate that way.
Marconius 1 points 6y ago
I work as the accessibility specialist at Lyft, making the app work for blind people and people with disabilities. I'm also studying to become an accessibility competency expert, looking to become a consultant to help companies make their websites and applications accessible for everyone. Already finished my web accessibility specialist certification, now teaching myself Swift and figuring out the best way to learn iOS development so I can help fix problems rather than just test for them.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Oh, good for you! I know it's a little late, but don't update your apple devices to IOs 10.2 if you are using a braille display.
Marconius 1 points 6y ago
I don't use a braille display with programming yet, I have a Vario ultra 40 and I only do programming on my laptop so it shouldn't be an issue once I start messing with it.
mosselyn 1 points 6y ago
I am sighted, but volunteered as a reader for many years.

I knew visually impaired people who worked in Technical Support, Customer Support, Technical Writing, Accessibility Advocacy, some clerical position at the Social Security Administration, and, yes, the somewhat cliche Piano Tuner. I also knew a guy who had had a very successful business for decades as the vending machine contractor for a large government installation.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 2 points 6y ago
I've got relative pitch, so I've thought about being a piano tuner, but more and more pianos are electric these days. *sigh* and they never quite compare to a real one.
mosselyn 1 points 6y ago
I agree completely. There's nothing like a real, acoustic piano.

Sadly, I think it's a bit like cooking baked potatoes in the oven vs. the microwave. The former is all kinds of better, but the convenience of the latter lures most of us to the dark side. I have an upright and every time I have to move, a little voice in the back of my head goes "Ya know, if this was electric..."
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I wouldn't mind an electric piano if they'd do it right. But all of them either have keys that are too heavy and stick, keys that are too light and make clicking sounds, no pedal, (like mine) sound like a guitar being hit by a truck, (like mine) or are compacted so that there are far fewer octives. (like mine) Are you actively making music? What do you typically like to play?
mosselyn 1 points 6y ago
Sadly, I haven't played much for quite a few years. (One might reasonably ask why I still have a piano, in that case. Self-delusion.) When I played regularly, it was mostly classical, some new age stuff like David Lanz, and some movie scores. I always wanted to learn to play stride and blues, but never did. My playing was never anything to write home about, I fear.
KeelHaul-Kovers [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Lol
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc   •   HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.