Hey Trent,

One of the best Network Admins I have ever worked with had Asperger's.  So I know it can be done... But it has some serious challenges.

Most web developers will have more interaction with a wider group of people than the average programmer in my opinion.  Also, good HTML code is far more subjective than other types of programming.  I wonder who diverted you away from coding... IMHO, software coding is a much, much better option.

Coders generally deal with tickets that deal with functional requirements, and when done right, acceptance criteria (need a new method on the xxyyzz controller that takes two parameters and makes the following changes to the customers account)... Web developers generally work from less focused requirements that if feature focused (we need a new page added to the web page to generate a request for our sales department to contact them)

Finally, whoever told you a programmer, especially a 50+ job changer, needs a degree to be a software developer?  I have worked in many different aspects of IT, I program in Ruby, Python, Java, and Node, (plus if you get me drunk enough, I'll admit to Go), I have worked as a Network Admin, and now work supporting developers in a web SaaS company as a DevOps Engineer.  And I have no degree.

I think your advisor needs to focus more on making you successful, and less on filling some companies whole.  If I were helping you, I would take your unique attributes, and try and find you a Jr Developer position, or even better, Q/A and Testing.  Software testing would also play very well to tour autistic nature.

Hope this was of some help.
Kevin Fries

On Oct 16, 2017 11:09 PM, "trent shipley" <trent.shipley@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear plug-discuss,

I currently work as a telephone customer service representative. There are no sales, but I still hate it, it pays poorly, and I'm bad at it.

I have three disabilities, I'm bipolar (well treated with medication), autistic (high functioning), and I have attention deficit disorder. (Also, I'm 50, which is effectively another disability.) Three disabilities is enough to qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation services from the State.

I like programming. I'd like to be in IT, I think. I had a couple years of experience back between 2000 and 2002, mostly writing SQL queries in Oracle. I have a BA with majors in history (3.5 GPA) and math (2.25 GPA), an MA in anthropology, and unsuccessful attempt at a PhD in anthropology, an MS in information management, and a community college Certificate of Completion in computer programming (CIS department, not CS).

There are two major barriers to my getting a job as a programmer. First, it seems to involve way too much interaction with people for an autistic person. Second, it requires a four year degree and internships. Voc Rehab doesn't want to pay for it, and I can't pay for it myself.

So the option of web developer came up. The Labor Department's web site said you could qualify to enter work as a web developer with a post-high school certificate. Unfortunately, I suspect that being a web developer requires even more people contact than being a programmer. 

Nevertheless, my assignment for the week is to talk to two web developers. I'd appreciate any contacts list members could provide that would be willing to provide a 20 minute interview about their work, either web developers or programmers with less than a BS.

Regards and thanks,

Trent Shipley
trent1967.48@outlook.com (junk e-mail account)

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