Could really use some outside advice please

afterglow

Hi all

This is not really a problem as such, but just something I've been thinking about over the last few days and would really like some outside opinions/prospectives on.
I went to an exhibition the other day in a branch of Limerick IT. It was all to do with creative digital media, I was invited by one of the lecturers in the course who has followed not only me but other members of the visually impaired comunity on audioboo. He has been really interested in how we do things as visually impaired people, and so when he said he would be interested in how I perceived the exhibition, and after a very kind offer from a student to stay with her, I decided to go.
when I was there, I met the aforementioned lecturer and we had a really interesting conversation. He told me that he really liked what I was doing on audioboo, and that he had seen writing that `id done on a blog and liked that two. He said with both of these things combined that he thinks I could be a producer and that he would be up for trying to get me into the college where he teaches. He said he would possibly be able to make it so that I wouldn't have to do any modules that were not accessible, and that he could have me at the level I'd need to be at to work in production within 2 years.
However the things that are bothering me are the following.
I have a possibility of a job here in dublin where I live currently. It would be in either training VIP people with technology or making businesses aware of tech for VIP/blind people, in terms of making stuff more accessible and also possibly employment.
Now, I'd like to do this job, and have done the train the trainer course from FETAC so that I might get a job like this. I would just worry though that eventually everyone will be trained and then what would I do? Also, not that I would not be greatful for any job as someone with a disability because of course I would, but I would prefer, if possible, to not do the stereotypical thing and work in an organisation for the blind/with blind people as a lot of VIP/blind people who work work in areas like this. Again, not saying I woudln't do it or be greatful for the opportunity just if possible I would love to have a mainstream job where my disability didn't come into it/wasn't a factor. I never thought anyone would think that anything I was doing simply as a hobbie and because I enjoy it was so good that I could make a career out of it, and to be honest it has given me a real confidence boost. I would also just be a bit nervous of such a big move, away from dublin and not even to another city.
I am used to beeing able to just hop on a bus and go for a coffee/something to eat/whatever and I don't know how I would cope where the college is as it's quite rural and small so this is also something to think about.
I am really sorry for the length of the post, and hope it made sense, at least in some way.
Any advice at all that people could offer would be really really appreciated.
I have to think about it and let the lecturer I was talking about before know in the next 30 days if I'm seriously interested or not. also another option is just a course in sound of some sort.
Thanks and again sorry for the length of the post.

thefeatheredcat

OP, realistically is the opportunity going to be offered to you again? There is a lecturer that has an interest in how you perceive things, has been following your work and sees potential in you and possibly can, to a degree, offer you support. A lot hinges on whether or not he can get you in the course, though, but it does sound like he is creating an interesting opportunity and get you involved in something.

I think before you make up your mind, you should have a few more talks with the lecturer and see how realistic an opportunity it is, if this is something that is just an idea on behalf of them or something that is concrete and an actual offer. The risk is that it just might not happen, and even so, that should not discourage you from pursuing producing as a hobby or professionally. The lecturer anyway could be a valuable contact since he gets what you're doing and sees merit in it.

Can you go back to what you are doing with the training and get lined up for the job in what you previously intended if this doesn't work out? Would you lose out in that perhaps availability of a job won't likely to be there for you if you did take this chance and it didn't work out?

We all have our comfort zones and familiarity. Maybe going to Limerick a few more times and getting familiar with the buses and how to get to Limerick IT and how easy/challenging it would be for you get around. Change from the familiarity is scary, but like anything you probably would be able to adjust if you give yourself a chance and find out what options you do have.

afterglow

thefeatheredcat wrote: »

OP, realistically is the opportunity going to be offered to you again? There is a lecturer that has an interest in how you perceive things, has been following your work and sees potential in you and possibly can, to a degree, offer you support. A lot hinges on whether or not he can get you in the course, though, but it does sound like he is creating an interesting opportunity and get you involved in something.

I think before you make up your mind, you should have a few more talks with the lecturer and see how realistic an opportunity it is, if this is something that is just an idea on behalf of them or something that is concrete and an actual offer. The risk is that it just might not happen, and even so, that should not discourage you from pursuing producing as a hobby or professionally. The lecturer anyway could be a valuable contact since he gets what you're doing and sees merit in it.

Can you go back to what you are doing with the training and get lined up for the job in what you previously intended if this doesn't work out? Would you lose out in that perhaps availability of a job won't likely to be there for you if you did take this chance and it didn't work out?

We all have our comfort zones and familiarity. Maybe going to Limerick a few more times and getting familiar with the buses and how to get to Limerick IT and how easy/challenging it would be for you get around. Change from the familiarity is scary, but like anything you probably would be able to adjust if you give yourself a chance and find out what options you do have.

Thanks for your reply

The likelyhood is unfortunately that if I do decide to pursue study that no, the job would not be waiting for me when I got back, like I could ever be that fortunate

The college isn't even in limerick, it's in clonmel, so you can see my problem...
I looked online and I've found some sound engineering degrees in the UK which seem to be really good, so I'm going to look into that a bit further. UK is generally much better with disability support than we are here anyway
Thanks again for the reply