Any Blind/Visually Impaired devs here?

[FTRNLT]

I'd like to know more about your hardware/software setups, accessibility tools, work environment etc.

I've been visually impaired for the last 5 or so years, gradually getting worse. I am a full time dev, working on Windows systems (Web, console, etc). I have a few specific questions.

1) What software based accessibility tools do you use? I use Windows Magnifier, in docked mode at the top of the screen, so whenever I need to see finer text I look up to that section. It works really well for me.

2) What are your working conditions like? What kind of software do you work on? I suspect that as (or if) my condition gets worse, I will be limited to ONLY writing code. What I mean is e.g. looking at Kibana graphs, interpreting SQL query results will become hard when you don't have the "full picture"

3) Do you think being blind/VI makes you slower than the other guys? I find that I can't do things as fast anymore, or for as long a time as I used to, my eyes get sore very quickly.

4) Last one, do you think that it would be hard to earn the same salary as a sighted person? Right now I am earning a decent salary, but I am not sure what I will be able to negotiate in the future.

Thanks!

 

[Steamy Tom]

re your last 2 questions, imo being impaired will definitely make you slower, i think if you are still good i feel like to a point you could offset it. There is also the "bonus" of counting towards a companies rating with your disability if it is confirmed from a doctor for example. lastly there is also some demand for accessibility testing and development which you could angle at.

 

[FTRNLT]

Noted, thanks.