What Engineering Specialisations are Suitable for the Visually Impaired (Specifically Low Vision) Individuals?
(TL;DR at the bottom) I'm currently a first-year engineering student at the University of Auckland (which mandates a common/general engineering first-year): by the end of the year, I need to pick which specialisation to continue my study in and this is where my condition plays a role.
My condition is a relatively stable eyesight condition causing reduced visual acuity which may not be fixed with glasses. This causes me to have 6/45 vision in my better eye and no mentionable colour blindness. There is no current cure for the condition.
Some areas this has/will affect in my life so far are:
- Unable to see a whiteboard/lecture projection.
- Unable to read small text (needs to be at least 18pt)
- Difficulty reading measurements (rulers, protractors, burettes, pipettes)
- Unable to see things at a far distance (recognise people from afar, see an incoming bus at the bus stop, read fast-food restaurant overhead menu displays)
- Cannot get my driver's license.
Despite this, I am very comfortable getting around on my own. I have no need for a cane and can get about on a macroscopic level relatively well (can get around on campus, navigate in a familiar place as comfortable as any other person). Some solutions to the above problems I found along the years include:
- iPad/phone to take photos and zoom in
- Lab assistant (during CIE A Level exams)
- Digital course material sent online.
- Accommodation for standardised assessments/examinations
- Using the "magnifier" program on Windows (also worth mentioning I thrive behind a screen: used Adobe After Effects and Unity a bit)
Hence, I preface this by including the systems currently in place to support me.
However, I understand that there can be situations in further study and in the workplace that cause me more struggle to work with my condition. Thus choosing a specialisation that plays to my strengths and minimises my weaknesses is crucial.
At my University the 10 specialisations include:
- Biomedical
- Chemical & Materials
- Civil & Environmental
- Computer Systems
- Electrical & Electronic
- Engineering Science
- Mechanical
- Mechatronics
- Software (this is one that I have identified as suitable myself)
- Structural
Although I have had a look myself at the coures for each specialisation and reaching out to University guidance, I want advice into which could be more suitable beyond mere study. Specifically: the tasks and their potential difficulty for me, the amount of field work/on-site work required. the amount of driving, the amount that can be done at a desk/behind a screen.
TL;DR: Need to pick an engineering specialisation as someone with low vision (can't see small/fine detail or see far), what tasks/requirements are in certain specialisation? Which would be easier for me?