Careers for the Blind

Anthony lost his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa over roughly a 20 year period.  it wasn't until he was in his 20's that a truck accident and eye injury, caused him to get an eye exam and be diagnosed.  A career change was in order and he found his passion of helping others as a mental health counselor.

Sherlock lost his sight gradually from a young age due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.  He found a passion for computers and received a Computer Science degree from Ryder University.  He struggled to find work at first, but ultimately excelled so much in the positions he held that he started his own company.  He can be found at www. SWUnlimited.com 

Evelyn lost her sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa over several years starting in her late teens.  She struggled with not knowing what was happening to her sight at first, but ultimately attended the Louisiana Center for the Blind, and became a Logistics Management Specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Follow up discussion with John Bailey.  How he became a computer programmer. 

John lost his sight gradually to Juvenile Macular Degeneration.  Even though he didn't go to school for computer programming, his passion for computers motivated him to pursue a career with computers that evolved into computer programming.  John shares with us that accepting reality and no longer pretending to be something your not, will enable you to start succeeding in all aspects of l...

Ameenah lost her sight at a very early age, but her mother motivated her to never give up and pursue a fulfilling life that included gainful employment.  Ameenah has held various jobs working with accessible technologies, and ultimately found her passion helping other blind people at the Department of Defense utilize those technologies to continue their careers.

Jean quickly rose through the ranks to become President of his company at the age of 39.  He started losing his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 45.  He shares his story of struggle and success of trying to maintain his CEO status, support a family, and doing it while losing his sight.  

George Wurtzel is a woodworker and craftsman specializing in custom furniture, store displays, porch pillar restoration, architectural millwork replication, and art.  He lost his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa at an early age, but it hasn't slowed him down.  

Ryan lost his sight at an early age and by the time he was finished with college had no useable sight.  He has been a teacher, accessibility manager, and does improv and Crossfit in his free time.  He’s also the Minnesota Chapter President for the National Federation of the Blind.

Scott is a High School History teacher who lost his sight to RP.  He shares his experience of how he lost his sight over a 20 year period.  After coming to grips with his situation, he found the motivation to go back to school and get his Masters degree to ultimately become a History teacher.