Hello, i want to be a civil engineer but I am legally blind. I have trouble differentiating between red/orange and blue/green. I look at things very closely and cannot drive. Would I be able to have a career in civil engineering?
Looking at the CivE roles in the workplace
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Duties
Civil engineers typically do the following:
Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data in order to plan projects
Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors in planning the stages of, and risk analysis for, a project
Compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, verifying that projects comply with various regulations
Perform or oversee soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations
Test building materials, such as concrete, asphalt, or steel, for use in particular projects
Provide cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project’s economic feasibility
Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards
Perform or oversee surveying operations in order to establish reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction
Present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals, environmental impact statements, or descriptions of property
Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure
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http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mobile/civil-engineers.htm
I don’t see a reason why you can’t (with some accommodations) fulfilat at least some subset of these roles. After all, if a completely blind man can become a licensed physician…
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm10/bm1010/bm101008.htm
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7318398/ns/health-health_care/t/blind-medical-student-earns-md/
By the way I’m a visually impaired Engineering major (not CivE) so if you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.
@nawfal here is a link to a story of a recent Swarthmore Engineering grad who is blind:
He is now in the UK on a Marshall Scholarship getting a Masters in sustainable energy.
As @saif235 notes, you may need some accommodations to help, but it can be done. If you search the Swarthmore site, there are stories about what the school did to assist him. The amazing thing about his story, is how much he impacted those around him.
One of the best video editors my school ever graduated was legally blind. I hope you have the same success!