I'm an employement specialist at a vocational rehabilitation type agency. Is you live in the US and have SSI or SSDI, you're most likely eligible for the Ticket to Work program. If you get vocational rehabilitation services through that contact, your employment network will not get paid for working with you until you get a job, so you wouldn't have to worry about them being more concerned about getting funding for working with you than actually getting you a job.
Here's a link with some more information: https://choosework.ssa.gov/contact/index.html

More jobs will be available to you with a degree.

What skillset do you have/what do you want to do?

There are tons of remote jobs that can be done online, which can make both getting the job and accommodating your needs easier; sales, marketing, research, customer support, programming, writing, teaching, audio engineering, voiceover work, medical coding, etc.

I'm a software engineer. One of my blind friends is a writer and does pieces for various tech/geek lifestyle blogs. I have another who does tech support. I did some writing for Mashable and some audio editing for a podcast in my spare time to earn some extra cash for a while.

I switched jobs about two months ago and my eyesight didn't even come up until earlier this week when they were talking about planning an in-person dev retreat and I mentioned that I'd need a large monitor to plug my laptop into.

Mainly, don't be too hard on yourself. Finding your first job is hard, eyesight or not and it's probably even harder now than it used to be. All the "starter" jobs get snatched up super fast, especially if you happen to live near a university. Anything more advanced than that, companies want to hire people with experience. It's not just you or just because of your vision. It's hard for anyone trying to find their first job. My teen is going through the same struggle right now.

You just have to keep putting yourself out there and trying. Eventually something will stick.

Having the degree will help and if you have opportunities for internships or work studies while you're doing your degree, take advantage of them. That experience can make landing a job after graduation easier.

Honestly, I am in a similar boat. I've been unemployed for YEARS because when I mention my vision in interviews so that we can discuss accessibility, but the second it is mentioned they end the interview and I never hear back.

In regards to college, I ended up quitting it because I wasn't getting proper accommodations and couldn't read any of the course material. Plus the math courses are now all on the computer, and the program they use also didbt have accessibility settings. Literally couldn't read anything, so I failed everything.

I've kinda given up on college and a job at this point, and it's a really sucky feeling because I feel like a burden on the people around me, especially my fiance. He doesnt mind, and we are able to live off of what he makes alone, but we could be in a much better place if I could just get a job.

I live in Louisiana, if that helps.

This advice is less practical, but more inspiring. When I found out I’d lose my vision years ago ~ my fully blind friend gave me some advice. Simple. What do you want to do? Really? Obviously race car driver is off the table (darn!) but he emphasized I’ll be happier if I’m following my heart first.

It was great advice. He’s almost done with his law degree, and I’m signing up for an entrepreneur program to get my art off the ground. We still meet for coffee all the time :) find some friends, and try out a future! If you don’t like it, then change directions! Give yourself permission to fail

First of all, blind or sighted, getting a BA will really improve things, but I'm sure you already know this.

Networking with other blind or disabled people was really helpful for me. I would look into organizations like Lime Connect or Disability:In, both of which have funding and networking opportunities for job candidates with disabilities. I believe there are also some from governmental agencies (assuming you're in the US) but to be honest I never looked too seriously at those.

Also, have a sighted person take a look at your resume--for me, all of the content was great, but the formatting was off. A sighted person was able to help me fix this in under ten minutes; it would've taken me much longer. This is one of those situations where, at least for me, borrowing someone's eyes was much more effective. I believe Aira can also help with this, but honestly, you'll have better luck with someone you trust who isn't afraid to be honest.

Voc rehab's efficacy really varies depending on where you live/who your counselor is/if the stars are aligned/whatever. Use them if they're useful, but if they're not, don't feel obligated to.

I have a wonderful vocational rehabilitation counselor who was always trying to set me up in my own business, operating my own shop, selling everything from cold drinks, to snacks, to pretty much was a convenience store might sell, in the huge foyer of our local courthouse. I was too young, only 18, and too sheltered and scared to even THINK about having a job, much less owning my own store in a freaking courthouse. Looking back, I could have been so successful, if only I'd been ready. Maybe try Voc Rehab again?


OR-- contact your local Division of the Blind, or any blind organizations in your area. Contact the NFB-- the National Federation of the Blind and make inquiries on how you can gain successful employment.

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Maybe even go as far as posting a notice on FB--- in your city's local FB pages. I am sure there are many, because I live in a VERY SMALL rural town, population of only a few thousand, a truly one red-light town, (think Mayberry from Andy Griffith!), and we have about 7 local pages. Post you are looking for employment, and your situation. Post about your abilities and strengths, and how you can contribute to a business.

And, sigh, and I don't enjoy posting this one because I am an atheist, but maybe ask your local churches if anyone there has any leads you can grab. I truly despise the institutions of religion, but even so, there ARE a lot of really good honest, truthful, and credible people who go to church, who are wholesome, and honest, and not after your dollar, not out to ridicule and mock you, not wanting you to fail, but to succeed, and those people might be able to point you in a good direction. I mean no disrespect to anyone, I just do not like organized religion, and I'm not afraid to say I'm a proud atheist. It doesn't make me a bad person to be one. I'm in the same category as one of those good people who want to help you.


Good luck! You can do this!

Remember that it's illegal for them to discriminate against you because of a disablility.

I got a job with a big company that was very proactive about making it possible. But in the end, I went self employed. It was terrifying, for exactly the same reason that leaving a full time job and going self employed would be terrifying for anyone, but it was so worthwhile in the end. You live from job to job and it is scary, and it is all on you, and you do not get some of the things that full time employees get. In the end it is so worthwhile.

What are you into?

Some suggestions: What field are you seeking a degree in? Folks in this thread have mentioned that a degree will help with your earning potential, but you should be extremely choosey when it comes to the field you decide to get a degree in. Some degrees are, at least for employment purposes, almost useless.

In addition, I would strongly suggest, in the most respectful way possible, that you work on your writing skills. I don't know if English is your first language or not, but it really doesn't matter. Being able to speak and write well will give you a serious advantage when it comes to employment. Fortunately, this is absolutely something you can improve with some hard work and time. If you don't know braille, I would suggest learning it. I know folks who have been successful without it, but I believe that it really makes improving your spelling and diction much easier. If you do know braille, challenge yourself to read more than you currently do, and to read books which will force you to stretch a little. Figure out which words you are often spelling incorrectly, and make yourself some flashcards to practice them.

As for coding, a great way to learn to write good code is to read good code. Go find some projects on Github, and read their code. Figure out what the author is doing, and see if you can figure out why they are doing it like they are. Also, you might consider giving yourself practice interview problems. There are websites full of these.

Best of luck!