IT careers for a person with a physical motor disability

Bradd78

Hello everyone,

I have spent the last 10 years working at a major insurance company in their IT support department. First as a first level analyst for the first year and the last eight as a tier 2 support specialist, most recently I am in a Business Process Consultant role. The company has been very generous in funding many of my certifications I have about 15. My problem is I want a more technical role and I wonder if not being able to move or lift equipment is holding me back. I have the knowledge and understanding of the technology and I understand how to connect the dots but I just can't physically move or install equipment. I'm looking for honesty here, in your opinion does that limit my options? FYI I do have a bachelors degree but not in IT. Thanks for any and all feedback!

stryder144

Honestly, I don't see not being able to move or install equipment as a huge hindrance. Granted, if you are applying to a field technician job, then yes. Other than that, I haven't seen too many IT jobs that absolutely needed every team member to be able to lift 70lbs over their heads.

pinkydapimp

should have zero impact. I honestly dont think i have been in a role that required lifting heavy equipment even in a field technician role. IT is huge and there are a wealth of options out there for you. Good luck.

anhtran35

Should be ZERO impact. If the equipment is already set up then all you do is administer and manage the servers. You can do it remotely. Depending on how large your company or contract, you might just end up working remotely at home.

hiddenknight821

Coming from a person with hearing loss, I believe you stand a better chance establishing a career in IT. Personally, I believe you have it a lot easier than I do. Oftentimes, I'd see job posting asking for the dreading requirement, "strong verbal and written communication skills," but I'd give it a shot anyway. However, at the interview, it's hard for me not to disclose my disability as I wear hearing aid, and I enunciate differently. It's quite challenging. So I figured the only way I can get my foot in the doors is to network with bright-minded and open-minded people and continue to advance my skills and knowledge, even with no relevant experience to back it up. Then hopefully someday someone will be impressed enough to give me a chance. We just have to work harder than our counterpart to get what we want.

Bradd78

Great to see all the feedback, and hidden I understand. It's hard for me to hide my wheelchair too. I also have the experience issue too, as I have lab/cert knowledge but lack otj experience because IT in my company is so segmented that unless you're in the role you get no access/exposure to the tools.

pinkydapimp

Bradd78 wrote: »

Great to see all the feedback, and hidden I understand. It's hard for me to hide my wheelchair too. I also have the experience issue too, as I have lab/cert knowledge but lack otj experience because IT in my company is so segmented that unless you're in the role you get no access/exposure to the tools.

get that experience on your own. setup a home lab and play with stuff. Get good enough with it and put it on your resume!

Bradd78

I have been told lab experience isn't good enough... how do you get experience without a chance?

NiteOwl

From my personal work experience being desktop support, and working with sys admins and network engineers everyday. You must be be able to install items, tear apart servers and plug in networking cables. Do jobs exist where you would not have to touch any equipment, yes but those jobs are disappearing. Pre-recession I would of said yes it would be no problem, but with everyone downsizing, they need people to do everything.

That being said, I do hope you get a job, some places will work with you and it won't be an issue. Best of luck to you!

Skelly

The answer is... it depends.

I've worked in IT probably longer than most people on this board have been alive, so I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of different companies. In smaller companies where you're expected to be a jack of all trades, yes a wheelchair would be a problem. However, in the mid-size to larger companies, most system/network admins may never see any of the servers they're working with. They might be in a different building or a different state.

Also, most of the larger companies and the federal government have better accommodations. I've see cubicles with desks designed for wheelchair access, special monitors for people with vision issues and other stuff.

So, exactly what do you want to be when you grow up? Programmer jobs, DBAs, some system admin jobs, network monitoring stuff, don't require physical skills, just knowledge. Jobs for you are out there, it's always tough to get the first one, but after that, it gets easier.