Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman Coding while Blind with Dominic St Pierre
Oct 17, 2024
Dominic St Pierre, a blind developer and entrepreneur, shares his inspiring journey in tech. He dives into the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in both coding and daily life. From adapting assistive technologies to navigating screen readers on smartphones, he emphasizes the importance of accessible tech. Dominic also discusses his entrepreneurial projects, including a homeschooling planner, shedding light on the need for inclusivity in programming. His stories blend personal experiences with humor, showcasing the resilience and innovation within the blind community.
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Constant Accessibility Battles
- Dominic describes a 20-minute setup struggle joining a podcast due to mic/camera and accessibility tool issues.
- He explains accessibility problems crop up constantly and he prefers stable, familiar environments to avoid wasted time.
Predictability Reduces Cognitive Load
- Dominic compares stable environments to comfort food because predictability reduces daily cognitive load.
- He says controlling as many variables as possible prevents exhausting fights with changing tools and places.
Gradual Vision Loss And Transition
- Dominic has been legally blind since birth and recently lost central vision due to a degenerative disease.
- He transitioned from relying on residual central vision to using a screen reader over the last three years.