Welcome to "normal". These are completely typical questions for someone at your stage of life with or without visual impairment. There are lot of specific questions you ask and these will be answered over time. Don't try to answer them all at once. Focus on the issues that are keeping you from making progress in other areas.

In US? Seek out Vocational Rehab services with your state. Specifically pre-employment services, they should help you since you’re still in high school to make plans for your future. Not in the US? I’m not sure what services they be available.

Whoever told you your visual impairment would mean you couldn't possibly put in the hours of work you'd need to should be very politely stabbed in the eye. If you have a good work ethic, the eyes have little to nothing to actually do with it.

Source: am total, am nearly 8 hours into my second 12-hour day this week, worked 30 hours last week only because I took a sick day, and have another 40 coming starting tomorrow. Also working in IT, which is indeed very doable if your employer gives half a damn. Honestly, the only thing actually stopping you from doing exactly the same thing is you.

I’m sighted, but I met and fell head over heels for a man that does all of those things you mentioned, and is completely blind. He’s a software engineer and a dad, he teaches and volunteers, and does almost everything I can do. We recently broke up but his blindness didn’t deter me from wanting to date him one bit. You’ll find your people, that’s part of growing and stretching into an adult. Don’t put limits on yourself. Especially ones based on the archaic thoughts on what blindness or low-vision “means” for one’s life. You can do it. I’m excited for you. You’re about to start a great adventure.

Is there a disability counselor in your school? Not sure if counselor is the right term.
You should also contact the state blind and low vision agency.

I am VI as well 35 married employed, also cannot drive a car and have to take "eye breaks" the best advice I can give is try to settle down in a place with good public transit or right next to a grocery store (you future wife will want some very weird pickles at random intervals after the bra has been retired for the night)

C.S. is a good path for VI its what i do now, and once you know even a little bit about code and structure there are tons of tools you can use to keep working with out using your eyes all that much.

Don't loose sleep over this. Even completely blind you are still you, are things harder? Yes, But you've got this, you can handle it, you have made it this far, you will make it farther.

P.S. dont get a degree in lasers if you cant see.

P.P.S. I feel like somebody should have warned me about laser thing at some point.

P.P.P.S. you cannot get a degree in lasers and make a lightsaber they apparently defy the laws of "Physics" or some such nonsense.

I would suggest seeing what the National Federation for the Blind has to offer when it comes to school and work.

Consider to a city where you can walk everywhere and then look into getting a guide dog (if possible).

Hey congrats on entering the stage of life that is going to college! You and everyone else will be figuring things out together. As far as living a “normal” life...well I’m married to a blind guy who works a 40 hour week and supports our family (we have a kid and a baby on the way). I wasn’t his first girlfriend either, he had ladies hanging off him all through college. We know a lot of other blind folks in the area who have jobs, homes, partners and families. High school can be really lonely but you are about to enter a phase of life where you can get out and meet people and it’s going to be awesome!

I am someone who became blind in college (though i am no longer considered legally blind since i have full vision in one of my eyes). I did 5 years of college, and 2.5 of those years I was blind. You will live a normal life. It’s an adjustment period, and it may take you longer to get stuff done, but you will get it done. I now have a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Trust me, that was not easy.

Since I became blind in college, I already had friends. I did grow apart from a few friends with my disability, but I don’t think you will be lonely. The best way to socialize is to get involved. Maybe you could join a group, or get to know some students in your major that you could potentially become friends with.

As for the dating thing, my boyfriend and I actually started dating while I was blind. We were friends first, and he was used to helping me around while I was adjusting to a new life, but it didn’t deter him from dating me. What you should realize is that not everyone sees a disability as who you are. There are people out there who recognize a person behind a disability, so I feel that though it may be a more difficult start, you definitely could get yourself out there for dating.

My boyfriend actually got his degree in CS. As for transportation, again, it is a routine you will have to get used to. At first, it may seem exhausting to be working , but as you get used to the job, it should seem a bit easier. Just remember to believe in yourself and STAY POSITIVE. That is the best thing you could do for yourself.

Im 23, visually impaired, and am also going into CS. A lot of your concerns will be mitigated by moving to a major city with adequate public transit. I really can't stress that enough. Other than that, don't let it hold you back. You're probably capable of doing anything that a sighted person can. Feel free to PM if you need guidance.

OK, now it’s time for a life for flexion post.

I’ve been completely blind since birth, attended public schools here in the United States all of my life, throughout the state of Oregon, and attended college at Western Oregon University, University of Alaska, and finally graduated from the University of Phoenix. Online.

I’m 30 years old right now, so over the past 12 years I’ve been married twice, had a kid, my mother has died, I’ve been the assistive technology instructor in Alaska, ran my own blog and podcast, started a YouTube channel, Drop the ball on a hell of a lot of shit, worked in a call center taking calls for Bank of America, and sprint wireless, took live chat for a daycare center looking to connect parents with childcare, became involved with the process of starting a nonprofit, still haven’t figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life, and I am a major pothead.

Maybe that has something to do with my not knowing what I want to do the rest of my life…

Anyways, my point behind this post is to tell you that no matter what what you want to do you can do.

A couple of things I wish I would have known were:

-it’s OK to get involved in any sort of transition summer work program that the state might want to involve you in, and your girlfriend in high school isn’t going to matter to you in 10 years so don’t miss out on this opportunity for her sake.
- College is an experience that will allow me to see that I’ll be able to independently live on my own, so find a college with decent public transportation.(Again, don’t let your girlfriend dictate where you guys should go)
- get to know the vocational rehabilitation counselors that handled the area where you’re going to school, and leverage the resources that they have available to them that you might not.
- and dammit, just get a job to get to know other people.

That’s a few things I wish I would have known 12 years ago.

Good luck with your life, don’t let your blindness define you, and make amazing things happen.

It’s OK to feel the way you feel, that’s part of growing up.

By the way, if you want, search for “your own pay” on Google, and you’ll find my website.

Don’t know if you’re interested in building a website but I just launched a 5000 Word article talking about building a website with assistive technology, I walk people through the process of building their website while using voiceover on the Mac.

The built-in screen reader available to all Apple users.

There’s a couple of videos on that page where you can actually hear me doing the steps I walk you through as well.

Figure out what you’re passionate about, because that I help you with overcoming the hurdles that you’re going to face him.

Hi. I am in my first semester of college. I understand what you are going through. There are a lot of things that I am trying to figure out still. One thing that I am trying to improveon is being more extroverted with others. Be open if people ask questions about your visual impairment. Make jokes about it. During your first semester of college, try to get into some sort of self improvement course where there is a lot of discussion. I just finished taking a college success course in which we studied the 7 Habits. I learned many things from the course, but I left the class feeling more confident along with some incredible new friends. I would also try to actively participate in your classes as much as possible. Of course, this is great academically speaking, but is socially beneficial as well. Several people will see you as just another student over time. Of course, there will always be those few who see you as your disability. I think that it is important to be mindful, but not overly worried about how people see you and how you present yourself.