Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Looking into a Career in Web Accessibility but, wondering how it works for those who are blind or Visually Impaired (self.Blind)
submitted by Mister-c2020
I am an upcoming college senior with a sub-major in computer Science. I am visually impaired with very limited vision. I use screen readers on the daily and I consider myself to be proficient with computers.
For these reasons, I was looking into a job as a Assistive Technology Specialist. I love to help people out and I love to talk to people. I have been told I am very helpful when it comes to tech support and assistive tech.
I recently discovered that many visually impaired individuals are finding employment as UX accessibility specialists or web design specialists. I was doing some research into the topic and I found out that I hit many of the requirements.
I just wanted to know if anyone in this subreddit had any experience in this career? What is the best advice or insite you could give me? Did you self teach yourself any concepts or receive any web design training? Helpful comments, feedback or any advice would be much appreciated!
For these reasons, I was looking into a job as a Assistive Technology Specialist. I love to help people out and I love to talk to people. I have been told I am very helpful when it comes to tech support and assistive tech.
I recently discovered that many visually impaired individuals are finding employment as UX accessibility specialists or web design specialists. I was doing some research into the topic and I found out that I hit many of the requirements.
I just wanted to know if anyone in this subreddit had any experience in this career? What is the best advice or insite you could give me? Did you self teach yourself any concepts or receive any web design training? Helpful comments, feedback or any advice would be much appreciated!
zersiax 11 points 2y ago
Knowing how a screenreader works is one half of the equation. One that, ironically, a lot of UX testers actually don't have. So those skills are useful for sure, but you need the other half, which involves knowing WHY a screenreader acts a certain way, or more often than not, why it doesn't.
I'd recommend looking into accessibility standards such as WCAG to learn how web accessibility, for example, is formally tested for. Deque University or the Microsoft Trusted Tester Training Program can give you a really good intro to those :)
I'd recommend looking into accessibility standards such as WCAG to learn how web accessibility, for example, is formally tested for. Deque University or the Microsoft Trusted Tester Training Program can give you a really good intro to those :)
masthews 2 points 2y ago
Deque also has an online accessibility curriculum that you can access for free if you have a disability.
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 2y ago
I just checked that out. You can get a scholarship for a year of access. Very cool.
Mister-c2020 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you! I also understand I need to know HTML, CSS and Java Script. I know a lot of Java right now. Looking to jump to HTML next.
garcialo 1 points 2y ago
Just a note. Some people will give you a hard time for saying Java when you mean JavaScript.
Mister-c2020 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Oh, I get that! I actually ment the programming language Java, not Java Script.
BlindGuyNW 3 points 2y ago
/u/zersiax is absolutely correct, you need a decent understanding of not only the screen reader but the way that interacts with the DOM, HTML, and other languages like Javascript. You might not be a developer, but it's important to understand how the components all fit together and what might be at the root of any particular accessibility problem you experience.
It's worth noting that some issues may be impractical to test for if you are totally blind, but we have certain advantages as well, namely that we use the technologies in our every day lives and are more familiar with them than many sighted people.
It's worth noting that some issues may be impractical to test for if you are totally blind, but we have certain advantages as well, namely that we use the technologies in our every day lives and are more familiar with them than many sighted people.
NiceShinyEspurrs 2 points 2y ago
I am in the tester side currently and trying to get into more marketing/customer service roles. I was a Graphic designer and web designer before I had a stroke and became legally blind. My biggest suggestion would be to go on LinkedIn accessibility technology is a small network of companies and people like you are a great asset for their company. Maybe volunteer at one of the companies as an opening as a tester. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.
garcialo 2 points 2y ago
I'm sighted and have been working as a web accessibility professional for about a decade. u/zersiax's post is generally what I'd suggest.
Since you'd be pretty new to the profession, I think starting at one of the larger consulting companies (Deque or Level Access) would be a great place to quickly learn. I was self taught when I worked at a large University, but I found I learned faster when I was surrounded by other accessibility professionals at a consulting company.
Since you'd be pretty new to the profession, I think starting at one of the larger consulting companies (Deque or Level Access) would be a great place to quickly learn. I was self taught when I worked at a large University, but I found I learned faster when I was surrounded by other accessibility professionals at a consulting company.
Mister-c2020 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it!
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