Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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My best friend is going blind from Usher syndrome. He works at a big box home improvement store now. What kind of jobs, hopefully rewarding to him, can he still do after he goes completely blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by SailingPatrickSwayze
They'll probably find something for him to do at his current job after he goes completely blind, but he's hoping to find something more rewarding than just answering phones.
No college, just graduated from high school. Going back to college might be an option, but he's not sure if he wants to do that either.
Any and all ideas are welcome.
No college, just graduated from high school. Going back to college might be an option, but he's not sure if he wants to do that either.
Any and all ideas are welcome.
KarebearMom 5 points 4y ago
My son has Retinitis Pigmentosa, which is the eye condition that causes blindness in Usher's Syndrome. Your friend can do almost anything he wants to do, as long as he puts his mind to it. Is his diagnosis new? Is he possibly grieving the diagnosis, thus adding to his current future career uncertainty?
I don't know where you're located, but in the US many states have centers for the blind that help adults diagnosed with eye conditions leading to blindness learn daily living skills as well as learning how to read Braille or job skills that are helpful for the visually impaired. I would suggest researching any such center where you are located, if for nothing else, so he can meet blind peers and get inspired.
Good luck!
I don't know where you're located, but in the US many states have centers for the blind that help adults diagnosed with eye conditions leading to blindness learn daily living skills as well as learning how to read Braille or job skills that are helpful for the visually impaired. I would suggest researching any such center where you are located, if for nothing else, so he can meet blind peers and get inspired.
Good luck!
SailingPatrickSwayze [OP] 1 points 4y ago
It's not new. More like coming to grips with what he has been hoping would never come.
yourmommaisaunicorn 5 points 4y ago
Lots of people work with computers. I have the same disorder and work at a local university as an assistant program coordinator. Prior to that I worked in auditing.
Have him take some computer classes and he can pretty much do anything.
Have him take some computer classes and he can pretty much do anything.
SailingPatrickSwayze [OP] 1 points 4y ago
What's the transition likewhen going from sighted to blind when you are working with computers?
yourmommaisaunicorn 4 points 4y ago
You learn various softwares that translate things to audio for you (so like accounting is great if all you’re dealing with is numbers), if your friend can stay with the big box store there will be a better budget for accommodation. Obviously check with your state’s Vocational Rehabilitation, they can help pay for stuff too.
Terry_Pie 3 points 4y ago
I don't know your friend, so I may be wrong, but I imagine he likes working with his hands (I'm interpretting home improvement as a hardware store, so I might also be misunderstanding you). It's not so much a suggestion, but if that is the case and he dispairs he may not be able to do that in the future: I know two blind guys (working for two seperate companies) that build boats, one of whom is totally blind. So despite what you might think at first, wood and metal work are possible.
AllHarlowsEve 2 points 4y ago
I know people from lawyers to teachers to forklift drivers to massage therapists. Realistically, he needs to figure out what he wants to do and start learning basic use of blind tech before he hits too low of vision to be able to help himself with it, and he needs to figure out more than “Iunno” for what kind of job he wants.
There are so many careers that he can do, and so many places that he could learn at, that it’s impossible to say more than, “He could do just about anything but draw or drive” for him.
There are so many careers that he can do, and so many places that he could learn at, that it’s impossible to say more than, “He could do just about anything but draw or drive” for him.
SailingPatrickSwayze [OP] 1 points 4y ago
You know a blind forklift driver?
AllHarlowsEve 2 points 4y ago
In the jobs where blind folks make stuff like helmet covers, trash bags, etc, I can't think of the term, they have the highest partials driving the forklifts.
B-dub31 1 points 4y ago
Since your friend is employed, he should definately contact vocational rehab in his state. They will provide help with accommodations and training to help him stay employed. Another thing he should do is apply for SSDI benefits once he becomes legally blind. Not only would that provide him with an income while he adjusts to his disability, but they have a program called Ticket to Work which would help with the cost of his education. Plus legally blind individuals can make something like $1920 a month and still receive their SSDI benefit. That should help him transition while also reducing his costs in getting training for a career he can do given his disability.
itisisidneyfeldman 1 points 4y ago
What kind of work is rewarding to him, and what skills does he have?
SailingPatrickSwayze [OP] 1 points 4y ago
He doesn't know, that's why we are looking for any and all ideas with jobs for the blind.
He's just a regular guy with no particular passions or talents.
If he did this would be easier and we wouldn't have to ask.
He likes to drink beer and watch football...
He's just a regular guy with no particular passions or talents.
If he did this would be easier and we wouldn't have to ask.
He likes to drink beer and watch football...
itisisidneyfeldman 5 points 4y ago
Well, "no particular passions or talents" makes it hard to recommend jobs for anyone, sighted or blind. A listing of any and all jobs that a blind person *could* have would be more extensive than you might expect, given the available accommodations in the workplace. $1.
I would strongly recommend your friend pursue higher education if he can. Not just to find work as a blind person, but to expand the richness of his life experience. Perhaps he'll develop some passions and talents he can put to use for employment and/or enjoyment. In this respect the recommendation is not so different whether he's blind or sighted.
Until then it would help to be more specific than beer and football. Does the friend like talking to people or being social generally? He could work at a call center or reception for a company. Is he good with technology? He could do web work or audio editing, or normal office work aided by assistive tech. Does he love science? He can pursue a STEM career. Is he a good braille reader? He could work in the transcription or editing fields. If he's interested in other blindness-specific issues, he could get into disability or accommodation law or advocacy.
I would strongly recommend your friend pursue higher education if he can. Not just to find work as a blind person, but to expand the richness of his life experience. Perhaps he'll develop some passions and talents he can put to use for employment and/or enjoyment. In this respect the recommendation is not so different whether he's blind or sighted.
Until then it would help to be more specific than beer and football. Does the friend like talking to people or being social generally? He could work at a call center or reception for a company. Is he good with technology? He could do web work or audio editing, or normal office work aided by assistive tech. Does he love science? He can pursue a STEM career. Is he a good braille reader? He could work in the transcription or editing fields. If he's interested in other blindness-specific issues, he could get into disability or accommodation law or advocacy.
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