A Look at Programming Languages and Concepts for Blind and Low Vision Coders

Date: Tuesdays in April; 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 
Time (stated in Eastern Time): 1:00 - 2:30 PM 
Amount of Time: 90 minutes  
 Description: An introduction to HTML5, ARIA, and Python. In the final session of this second course, we will discuss strategies to either join a development team or take a software development-related study, including things like pair programming, keeping up with whiteboard coding, and profiling yourself as a blind or low vision software developer.
Instructor: Florian Beijers 
Instructor’s Title: Developer 
Instructor’s Affiliation: Freelancer, acting under the name Dexxit 
Instructor’s Email: [e-mail]
Target Audience: Adults and young adults 
Pre-requisite knowledge:
• At least intermediate familiarity with a screen reader with speech and/or braille, or intermediate familiarity with a screen magnification program
• Ability to use the internet to accomplish tasks such as searching for and reading information, completing forms, and using keyboard shortcuts to navigate,
read, and edit
• Ability to follow written instructions to independently download and install programs and extensions
• Willingness to participate in the entire course consisting of 4 weekly sessions; each session will last 90 minutes
• Willingness to spend at least two hours per week on review and homework    
Lesson Plan Goal: Introduce students to multiple coding modalities and how to navigate barriers encountered.   
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify three reasons to use ARIA and when not to use it.
2. Explain at least three requirements for web accessibility using ARIA.
3. Successfully apply Python basics to at least three coding tasks.
4. Describe use of Python in web application, data science, and automation
5. Identify at least two obstacles present in the development field for blind and low vision coders, and two strategies to either join a development team or take a software development-related study.
Materials Needed: Computer with Internet access; screenreader with speech output or Braille display and/or screen magnification program.

[@Jsull1988]

I lost most of my vision when I worked as a software engineer at Google. I love this subject.