[DellFan]

Hi!

I just joined the forum. I do not have a spinal cord injury but I an a paraplegic. I have been all my life. I am at a point in my life right now where I am trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I really want to be a computer support technician and possibly specialize in assstive technology. Are there any of you out ther who are doing this job right now? Is it feesible for me to go to IT school? I am by no means trying to be negative, just realistic so that if this is not feesible (I really hope it is) I can have a backup plan.

Some insight would be much appreciated

[Wheelsonfire]

DellFan, on Jan 15 2010, 01:00 AM, said:

Hi!

I just joined the forum. I do not have a spinal cord injury but I an a paraplegic. I have been all my life. I am at a point in my life right now where I am trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I really want to be a computer support technician and possibly specialize in assstive technology. Are there any of you out ther who are doing this job right now? Is it feesible for me to go to IT school? I am by no means trying to be negative, just realistic so that if this is not feesible (I really hope it is) I can have a backup plan.

Some insight would be much appreciated

Why not? Upstairs for thinking,downstairs for dancing.( I was never much of a dancer)

I do everything from build,repair,networking,I am a CIW webmaster but concentrate towards the technical side of things due to hating web design.
I worked for Sony as a tech support(one that knew what he was doing) with all the vaio desktops,laptops,handhelds and aibo as well and worked my way up the ladder. Remember this, Degree's are for thermostats and pressure is for tyres.
Not to mention that I am self thought, best way if you ask me as you can stay away from the Microsoft way of doing things.
You just got to put your time in.

PS; I bought a dell once, first thing I done was to take it asunder and rebuild it again and wiped that piece of crap from it and put a proper operating system on it

This post has been edited by Wheelsonfire: 15 January 2010 - 01:02 PM

[Denny]

I am in tech support field, I no longer support Desktop's only handles Server ranges (mainly UNIX). 99% of the work are done remotely, and when there are physical tasks my colleagues helps me out as server room,s are not accessible. My job is to ensure the availability of the servers and application at all time, this involves working with Hardware, software, and networking,

Tech support have different levels, Desktop and laptops, Servers support, Network support (not ideal as it involves more physical activities unless level 3 support), or pure Software / product / application support. In server range there many more specialization, Operating system (windows/ UNIX/Linux), and Server Hardware, storage management, backup management, to name few.

Software support can range from telephone support to end users to supporting platforms like Weblogic, oracle, etc.

Which area do you like to work on?

IT is real good field for a person with physical disability as most of the job are done at desk. You never stop learning in IT, every day there is new challenge (well if you want that is) and some thing to learn.

[ADP-10-08-63]

APPROCH A COLLEGE AND ASK DO THEY REQUIRE COMPUTER MAINTENANCE LECTURER
GOOD LUCK

[TjTheQuad]

Isnt every dude in a chair good at PC's? i know i am. go for it mate

[Texaswheelz]

I actually have a job interview over skype in 20 minutes for a at home computer tech support job. I've been building/repairing/supporting computers on my own for over 10 years.

[DellFan]

Tahnk you so much for all the replies! I am interested in end-user tech support, repairing and any other type of work I would be capable of.

Thanks Again Everyone!

[The Black Sheep]

I think you're completely capable of being a computer technician. I am a para with full use of my arms, but bad balance in my torso, and I was recommended to go into the computer/technology field because I could be just as good at it as anyone else. My husband and I started our own computer repair store, and we've been doing pretty darn good for the last 4 months. We're both techs, and I handle most of the paperwork-peoples, but it's a good job that I can be good at. And it's fun =)

[Quad65]

I went through a six month Computer Programming and Operations training course in the latter half 1979. I then held jobs as a Computer Programmer/Analyst from 1980 - 1995 as a mainframe programmer doing business applications and data base programming. With my daughter's help, I built my own PC from scratch and maintain it and upgrade as needed. Some work I did from home, but mostly at the office.

So, yes you can do it; even more so if you have full hand and arm use. Go for it. Computers ain't going away any time soon.

[wiggy]

I was a server admin until my accident, they claimed i couldn't do the job any more cuz i couldn't climb ladders...i know, i've already contacted a lawyer

however, i am now a Help Desk tech at the same college. I can almost anything, cept for crawling under desks, but my co-workers help me with that sort of thing.

i too am looking for a work at home tech job working for one of the big three...just need an interview

[StillFingers]

I started out tinkering with computers (using, building, programming, etc.) in the mid 70s (yes we had electricity back then). As with the above posters, I've done my share of tech support, and highly advise self-study (continued) as well as either college or a tech school; every bit of knowledge and experience will help...even teacher's assistant type work.

IT is a huge business, there is hardware, software support but also analysis (solving business problems), project management, network/database administration and/or design, etc. Other than actually building computers, most can be done from a chair, even us non-finger-moving quads can manage quite well.

Your greatest asset is your brain. Use it, flex it, grow it!

Jerry

This post has been edited by StillFingers: 17 November 2010 - 06:46 PM

[Zammo]

I'm a software developer working for a Software company in the UK. I was lucky that this was my job before I became a para, and after I had recovered from my illness I just went back to work.

I don't visit customer sites so much anymore, though it does happen occasionally. I've just delivered a Business Intelligence solution for Bank of America, and looking to deliver to Fifth Third bank soon too.