Cormack: Can blind people work in coding?

 The Ambassador of the United States of America to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maureen Cormack, has published a new blog, which the Patria News Agency is relaying in its entirety.

- I am a completely blind person and I work for Google, I record changes in the page ranking algorithm.
This is a comment left by a user on the popular Q&A website Quora. Unfortunately, many people do not know that blind people can work in coding or that they can be employed in some of the best technology companies in the world.  

It does not mean that people with vision problems have any issues with analytical skills, system modeling, or bug fixing; their vision problem should not be an obstacle to success.  In essence, blindness can encourage computer programmers to improvise and rely on their own strengths, which are qualities that are rewarded in companies like Google.

Can a child born blind today become a world-class programmer in BiH? I would like people to be convinced that this can happen.

Twenty-five years ago, in July, the United States adopted a comprehensive civil rights law that equated the rights of persons with disabilities with the rights of other groups. The Americans with Disabilities Act, among other things, established that an employer's refusal to hire a person because of their disability is an illegal act. It also qualified the illegal separation of children due to their disability in public institutions, such as schools, as illegal. In addition, theaters, restaurants, libraries, public transport, schools, and government buildings must be accessible to everyone by law.

As a society, we have stereotypical views about people with disabilities that we need to change.  First, we must address our definition of disability.  Not every disability is visible.  A young child with autism needs to be provided with the same amount of care and attention - and needs to be ensured the same basic rights - as a veteran injured in a war conflict. 

Students with hearing impairments must be given the chance to gain a top-quality education, just as their peers or people in wheelchairs have the right to the same space that we use.  These are citizens of your country or mine, and if given the chance, they can contribute equally to its progress. 
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, laws protecting the rights of persons with disabilities have been adopted, but they are rarely enforced and there are often insufficient funds for their implementation.  Some laws are inadequate or vaguely defined.  The reality for parents and children with disabilities  across the country is that schools often refuse to enroll children with disabilities, citing a lack of teachers or assistants, or physical barriers in terms of a lack of access ramps.  Often, the only option is for a parent to accompany the child to class.

All of this is often justified by a lack of funds, which raises the question: “Who advocates for the interests of persons with disabilities in BiH and who represents them?”  Foreign donors and local NGOs can help, but they cannot replace an educational system that must be designed to provide every child with equal opportunities to realize their full potential.
Therefore, a uniform definition of disability, as well as uniform criteria for acquiring the status of a person with a disability, are so important in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Now, authorities in different parts of the country, at different levels, are working on different definitions of disability, thereby protecting the rights of some while neglecting the rights of others. This must change.   

And at the same time, we must change the way we treat people with disabilities. The system of exclusion and institutionalization that dominates today - in which adults with disabilities are discriminated against, and their employment rights are threatened, in which even children with disabilities are marginalized, denied the right to normal education and deprived of assistance - must change. 

Commitment to inclusion is both a sign of leadership and a sign of humanity. Politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina must care for all citizens, including those who belong to the most vulnerable categories, who are currently often neglected. The human cost paid for this is very concrete, both due to the suffering of those who are neglected and due to the untapped potential of those who could be leaders in various fields.

But let's not be discouraged. Every day you have the opportunity to support change.  Supporting is the art of speaking up for yourself and for others. You can act to improve living conditions on numerous fronts by demanding accountability, refusing manipulation, and questioning your own stereotypes. Demand that the most vulnerable population groups have the opportunity to manage your cities, have access to government buildings, and receive the services they need to live and be successful in BiH. 

Last month, a young man suffering from cerebral palsy participated in the Avaz marathon, proving that a person can do anything if they truly want to. For me personally, the inspiration comes from two young women who recently participated in our YES (Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program). Both young women, despite having visual impairments, spent a year in the USA, attended an American high school, and lived with an American family.

One of them, upon her return, initiated an English language learning program at the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth in Sarajevo. She used her experience from the USA to improve the quality of life for other people. Such is the power of an individual when they are committed to positive change.

The individual stories of a blind computer programmer and a student who participated in the exchange program are truly inspiring. There are many more of you, exceptionally talented people, who have gone through the process of overcoming obstacles unimaginable to most of us. Tell us your stories so that we can learn from them and understand how children here can be equally successful.