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Entering College

The folowing is advice that has appeared on various blind/VI programming lists.

  • Hi:
    Not really geared toward the blind for latest versions of software.  That said, the books on Inthanes site are digital, text format you can read with your screen reader.  They cover several languages like Vb.net CSharp and the like.  If you are embarking on Programming as a career and getting ready to start school you will need to be able to do afew things pretty well.
    First, you need to know your screen reader.  Next, you need to contact your school's Accessibility Advisor if they have one to see what help they may offer.  This may be a CC TV if you still have some vision, a new or recent version of one of the popular Screen Readers on a computer in a lab, a place where you might have a textbook either scanned in and edited or the possibility of ordering a digital copy from the publisher, I think they are required to have them available to the blind but don't hold me to that, I really am not sure.
    Now, whatever books you get from Intanes site will be readable and you can check out chapters on whatever subject you are studying in school to have several views of the same information.  Also, get really good Googling.  Most everything you will run up against, except perhaps accessibility issues, has been encountered by others already and usually noted someplace witha a solution of sorts.    Also, while folks are not likely to write your programs for you they will certainly help with logic, technical questions  and accessibility issues on this list.
    I am guessing that the major problem you will face is the first year.  Trying to keep up with the class while scrambling to find accessible resources and how to use them.  That's why I said do the accessibility checking up front with Inthane's site tutorials, at least read through a couple to get a feel how they will read.  Also,  be specific.  What will be the first class you will take?
    Big diference between something like Vb.net or CSharp.net and C++ or Linux based software.  What does your school use Windows or What?
    That's all I have for now.
    Rick Farmington Mich. USA
  • Because other programming sites for the blind might have missing information
    or poorly formatted WebPages, You might want to go directly to the source of
    lots of this programming material and visit Jamal's site at
    www.empowermentzone.com
    This guy's a programming genius as well as providing an immense amount of
    other general information for blind individuals.

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