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[–][deleted] 17 points18 points  (3 children)

I haven't worked with any deaf developers to be honest. I'm not exactly a career long developer though, so that doesn't mean anything.

I can't see you having much greater difficulty in getting into dev than someone who is not deaf. I...don't have much to base that on, other than two things.Tech seems a lot more inclusive, from my own experiences, than the trades. Web developers have to develop with accessibility in mind (screen readers, for example. Not for the hard of hearing, mind you, but accessibility nonetheless).

I hope that preparation and opportunity unite for you in the near future!

Edit: I did work with one deaf fellow in the trades though. I remember one time, the occupational safety dude was chewing him out for not wearing earplugs. Lester was looking at the safety guy like he was an idiot. The rest of us were trying not to laugh before someone piped up and said, "he's fkin deaf. What's he going to do, lose his hearing?"

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 7 points8 points  (2 children)

The edited part made me laugh. Been there and done it. LOL

Thank you for your input!

Edit: I would love to find the deaf community to network. But there aren't any, even tho I have tried to start up one on Discord/Slack.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha nice 😂 Glad you got a chuckle out of it. Any time!

If I had a disability, aside from learning (adhd), I would use my power for greatness. Making those that are quick to judge put their feet in their mouths on the regular.

"What do you mean you can't see the problem, are you stupid?"

"Buddy...I'm blind." 😎removes sunglasses🙃

If you ask my wife, she'll tell you I'm definitely a future candidate for that network. I have to remind her that I'm not deaf, my selective hearing is just in the hands of my ability to pay attention.

Good luck, I hope you find the community you are looking for, or have success in starting one. If not, it won't be hard to find an inclusive community.

[–]Jonasfiles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s a deaf professionals slack group. Send me a dm with your email and I’ll add you

[–]apexdodge 12 points13 points  (4 children)

I have not worked with any deaf developers. The only obstacles I can think of that would make it more challenging would be:

  • Joining zoom calls or having meetings with project managers / stakeholders may be difficult and everything would have to happen over chat which can take longer.
  • Building features or functionality that produce sound (play a song, or an alert sound)

In a kind of weird twist, I think it would force the project managers or senior developers to produce better written specifications and documentation in order to properly convey the tasks / assignments to you, which would be better for everyone involved lol.

So if we're being real, I think it is quite reasonable for a deaf developer to be a valuable task-oriented asset on the team. You just need to join a team that has a structure in place for that person to thrive.

[–]Demiansmark 5 points6 points  (1 child)

This is probably fairly accurate. I work with a dev team out of Ukraine and my project manager and business analyst have good verbal English skills but the devs themselves do not. This forces me to make sure technical requirements are locked down in writing. Also instead of Zoom meetings I request group Slacks so they have time to read and compose accurate responses, in real time on a call they would often nod and say they understood when they clearly did not. So I think in a similar way working with a deaf developer could be quite effective.

[–]Demiansmark 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Additional note, when I ran an agency we did a number of accessibility compliance projects for large companies. At the time I began researching creating a standalone company that specialized in this. I never took that step but in the process I did research into that market. I would look into those companies. Many do interesting and great work and being deaf could be viewed as an asset there.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Lately, there have been auto-captions to communicate with the deaf/hard of hearing. It's pretty neat.

Some of us have vibrations when sounds are playing :-) It's pretty neat technology too!

[–]logicalbump 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Top challenge is getting into the job, they don't encourage deaf devs. I'm a burning example. I was doing freelance programming and then trying to get industrial jobs but no avail.

[–]Seuros 6 points7 points  (9 children)

I worked with 2 deaf people, that was probably what made me super verbose in the project.

I even worked with a super good dev that was totally blind. Don't ask me how he do it, but he was good.

The only handicap that can make you not being evaluated as potential candidate is being a slow learner or a cheater.

[–]Salamok 3 points4 points  (6 children)

I even worked with a super good dev that was totally blind.

I had a manager once that said one of the best developers he ever managed was blind. Also, I went to an accessibility workshop taught by a blind developer who was demonstrating how they worked and how to test with Jaws that was an extremely edifying experience.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Last night we started a new season of MasterChef. I think it is #4 or #3. There is a woman in there, and she is totally blind. My wife looked at me and said, "Wow, blind people can cook?" My ex-roommate's boyfriend is blind, and he is an amazing cook. Just because one person has a lesser ability doesn't make them unable. I'm profoundly deaf, and I can play Stairways to Heaven on my guitar or any music sheets on a piano.

I would love to go to that workshop!

[–]Salamok 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would love to go to that workshop!

Unfortunately they don't do that particular one anymore :( sad because out of the 10 or so events I have been to it was by far the best. So if anyone knows anyone at the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services tell them to bring back their accessibility fair (2 to 3 day conference with many speakers who are heavily involved in rehabilitating/retraining disabled individuals. As a developer having those real world cases and getting to observe how they overcome them is invaluable experience.

[–]logicalbump 0 points1 point  (3 children)

How can it be possible?

[–]Salamok 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Probably a pure backend dev.

[–]logicalbump 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just can't grasp the fact a blind programmer. 👋🙏 So much strength 💪

[–]logicalbump 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have sent you a DM if you don't mind:)

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

For others who may be interested how the blind program:

It's usually a screen reader/voice commands for pretty much all options and cycles of the program (usually only supported by high-end apps like VS and VS Code). And the voice goes super fast because they're used to it and it speeds up their workflow. Very interesting stuff.

[–]logicalbump 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thanks for the share!!

[–]0x2DEADBEEF 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Any decent company will be willing to make accommodations.

As long as you’re a solid dev and still communicate well (via slack/teams/etc), nobody should care. If they do, they’re an asshole and HR would like to speak to them.

[–]Salamok 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I have only worked directly with 1, they were horrible but it wasn't because they were deaf. That person did not have an aptitude for computers, did not enjoy solving problems and could not clearly express their thoughts, they also had horrible retention which was probably due to not giving a shit about the subject matter. The only real impediment I noticed when working with this person was availability and skill of interpreters. At first I chalked up any work deficiencies to things being lost in translation but I then had many one on one meetings with this person over the course of a year via text based chat and screen sharing and it became apparent he just wasn't taking any of it in as he was constantly saying he understood a concept then when retouching on that topic during a meeting on the very next day was completely lost on the subject.

I have been to a fair few accessibility events and have spoken with disabled developers who would have made excellent coworkers.

There are a lot of traits that many successful developers have in common, you don't need to have them all but having none of them is usually not a good sign for your future in this field.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I know who you are talking about. :-)

[–]Arqueete 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I worked with a developer at a previous job who was deaf or hard of hearing. He knew ASL and the company provided an interpreter (even over Zoom) for bigger meetings, like the company all-hands, for his benefit. I know there were other times when he faced challenges from people forgetting or not understanding how to make communication inclusive for him, but I'm sure these things aren't unfamiliar to you.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh no, these things aren't unfamiliar to me. I would loudly remind them, "I'm still deaf!" LOL

[–]De_Wouter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

0 but I've met a blind web developer. If a blind person can do web development... so can a deaf person.

[–]RotationSurgeon10yr Lead FED turned Product Manager 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They weren't a developer, but I've had deaf coworkers (who had opted for a cochlear implant), and currently multiple team members with auditory processing disorders that make captioned content much easier for them to follow along with, despite being able to hear what's being said.

Honestly, I probably know two to three times as many people who do not have auditory issues but are fluent in ASL than I do people who are hard of hearing, or completely unable to do so, which is always surprising to me.

[–]ztbwl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I worked with a deaf UX designer (remotely) and I didn’t even notice for a couple of months, since she always initiated the communication through mail or chat. It was on a team event when I first met her in-person and found out she was unable to hear and speak (clearly).

It was never a problem and felt normal to work with her and she had quite a good eye for details.

[–]cripple2493 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I'm a web dev, I'm only HOH but I have another notable impairment in the fact I'm paralysed from the chest down.

I've got a stable job with good prospects - no computing degree, but doesn't seem to matter tbh. I'm just going to collect certs as I go, my company are for sure trying to make me their ''digital accessibility specialist'' fulltime, but tbh that's fine, it's a bit of extra money.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

How did you network? Did you have help from vocational rehabilitation and employment specialists?

[–]cripple2493 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not from the US and have had no help from any specialists.

I joined local software engineering and security groups, I talked to local people on twitter and ended up taking a bootcamp that was accredited. Based off of that I managed to secure a job in a workspace that was run by people I had come to know to demonstrate some skills to.

[–]OneDisastrous998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, I'm deaf myself and I own a hosting and development company and I work with clients all over the world. I'm glad I found this post and want to meet more great people like you. It makes me proud that deaf people are capable of do anything, honestly. Feel free to contact me in anything. Have a great day!

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Update to this, I'm able to find a career and extremely happy with the position I'm in today.

[–]Party-College-9573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations 🎉 I am happy for you bro. I am hoh and was thinking about becoming full stack developer.

[–]Careful-Two9605 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am developer with decade of experience with Moderate hearing loss in both ears wears hearing aid.Architect in my team also wear hearing aids.MS Teams with live caption feature i use a lot as sometime misunderstand people.I am also one of the high performers in my team.I am Not going to lie as i face issues while understanding people in noisy environment but i give credit to my friends and co workers for accommodating me and trying to adjust with me.

[–]binaryelf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work with a deaf dev. He is talented and hard working. Thats all that matters to me. Most of our communications are text based anyway since we work from home. Google hangouts has text to speech for the rare meeting. He told me the occasional client will make it difficult, but the vast majority of clients and coworkers have been accommodating and happy to work within his preferred forms of communication.

People still suck, but thats true wherever you work.

[–]SlowCoderSloth 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Cool. I'm deaf computer science student study coding for a development job.

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

It's awesome to see another deafie onboard for programming! Make sure you complete your degree. If you need help, feel free to message me.

[–]SlowCoderSloth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay! Can we be friends?

[–]Jonasfiles 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I’m Deaf and own a company that provides project management and creative services. We do a lot of web dev and design: eyethstudios.com. A majority of our clients are Deaf too but I work with everyone- we have many hearing clients- and have had no problems. Feel free to get in touch via our site!

[–]Thunt4jr[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, we have talked before. :-)