This blind Apple engineer is transforming the tech world at only 22

Via Mashable

“I realized then I could code on the computer to have it fulfill the tasks I wanted it to,” says Castor, whose current work focuses on enhancing features like VoiceOver for blind Apple users. “I came to realize that with my knowledge of computers and technology, I could help change the world for people with disabilities.

Towards a truly man-computer symbiosis for all

Castor says her own success — and her career — hinges on two things: technology and Braille. That may sound strange to many people, even to some who are blind and visually impaired. Braille and new tech are often depicted as at odds with one another, with Braille literacy rates decreasing as the presence of tech increases.

“I use a Braille display every time I write a piece of code,” she says. “Braille allows me to know what the code feels like.”

I’m more and more interested in ways of supporting “Learnable Programming” (taking Bret’s Victor concept). It’s important to us understand how abstract our thoughts and how code and leverage this understanding.