Our Paths to Computing-Rich Careers
IT students from the University of California, Los Angeles and a faculty member from New Mexico State University shared their experiences and insights into pursuing a computer science career as a person with a disability. Some panelist comments follow.
- An education takes hard work and effort; use all of the resources at your disposal to help you succeed and keep your academic goals in sight.
- Enlist the support of family and friends in your educational pursuits.
- Choose your career based on your interests as well as career opportunities.
- Don't focus on what you can't do, focus on what you can do.
- When you are choosing a school, be sure to look at the physical accessibility of classrooms and the campus.
- When looking at campuses, be sure to meet with the disability services office to see how helpful they are with accommodating students.
- Note takers and one-on-one assistants can be helpful for people with certain disabilities.
- Ask if the disability services office provides exam proctoring, which may provide extra time for test taking.
- On your campus visit, check out the computer labs and ask if they provide assistive technology, such as one-handed keyboards, voice dictation software, scanners, and other tools for student use.
- Research other local organizations, such as rehabilitation offices, to see if they can provide assistance.
- Talk to your advisor to ensure you are taking the correct courses to graduate on time.
- Make it a priority to initiate and maintain direct contact between yourself and faculty members; consider this type of initiative crucial for students with disabilities.
- Don't let your disability get you down; everybody has some form of disability.
- Anything is possible; think of the possibilities. Have a vision of success.