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Question: Is Bioinformatics a Good Job for a Quadriplegic
#1
Hello, I am a vocational rehabilitation counselor who is trying to help a quadriplegic choose an appropriate college major/career. His stated interest to me was to study DNA using the convergence of computers and biology. After a chunk of research on my part it appears the field he is interested in is Bioinformatics [though I've seen genetic engineer, gene sequencer and other job titles].

The young man is wheelchair dependent, but has functioning bicep muscles that let him use his arms and hands to type, but not very quickly [lower arms/hands are fully paralyzed]. I emailed a noted Bioinformatician and he said the field is divided into two job types: Bioinformaticians who require very heavy coding and Annotators who are basically just biologists who do light work part time. He said there's no in-between.

The worst thing that can happen is for him to take out enormous loans and spend years of his life working towards a goal that is unrealistic. If heavy coding is an essential job function, employers will likely not have to reasonably accommodate him under the Americans with Disability Act. It is imperative he choose a career path/major wisely now.

Any information you can provide on the job, or suggestions for a more appropriate alternate career in the field, would be immensely helpful.

Thanks.
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#2
I teach distance courses in bioinformatics, and I have taught students with various disabilities. One former student was a wheelchair user, who found it easier to take the distance route to a qualification. This person graduated to move into work relevant to the qualification.

A slow typing speed could be a problem, so systems biology might be a better option. Your client might like to look at the options that we offer.

http://octette.cs.man.ac.uk/bioinformatics/index.html
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