by Kaili Kameoka
I’ve always loved playing video games, and one day I found myself wondering how they were made. That curiosity led me to a simple conclusion: I needed to learn how to code. At 15, I started teaching myself, building basic websites with the help of online documentation. But reading through endless technical manuals quickly grew tedious. That’s when I discovered YouTube tutorials. These videos taught me how to build real-world projects, and I was hooked.
It wasn’t easy — many tutorials relied heavily on visuals, and I often struggled to follow along with my limited vision. Still, I persevered, learning the basics of coding through sheer determination.
This passion for coding stayed with me as I pursued an associate’s degree in computer science and later a bachelor’s degree in creative media. Many of my classes, especially in creative media, relied on video instruction. Some professors created their own tutorials, while others pointed us to resources on YouTube. The challenges I faced with visual content in high school multiplied — there were countless places for an instructor to click, drag, or type, making it hard to follow. What should have been a quick 15-minute tutorial could take me an hour to complete.
As I began using the skills I learned to assist my local ACB affiliate, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, I noticed that hands-on projects like building websites and editing videos weren’t areas of shared interest for many of my peers. While the technology committee provided valuable discussions about the latest assistive technology, I often found myself wanting to dive deeper into the technical side — exploring how these tools were built, troubleshooting code, or analyzing accessibility features. I realized there weren’t many opportunities to have detailed conversations about coding, which inspired me to think about how we could make these topics more accessible and engaging for everyone.
While some creative media tasks, like graphic design, might be challenging for someone who is completely blind, I realized that many IT and software engineering skills are well within reach for everyone. In creative media, much of the pre-production and research — like writing scripts, organizing projects, and planning content — is also highly accessible with the right tools and guidance.
These experiences shaped my vision for Adaptive Learning for the Blind. My goal is to create accessible online content for people who are blind or have low vision, covering topics in technology like software engineering, IT, and cybersecurity, as well as creative media fields like game design, video production, and social media management. I want to make learning these skills fun, easier, and more inclusive for our community.
I’m excited to take the next step, but I can’t do it alone. I’d love to hear from you about the topics that matter most and what skills you’re eager to learn. I also understand that everyone’s accessibility needs and preferences are unique, so your input is essential to creating courses that are truly effective and inclusive.
By completing my survey, you’ll help shape a future where accessible learning opens doors for everyone in our community. Your input will directly guide the creation of courses that reflect your interests and meet your accessibility needs.
Please take a moment to complete my survey and share your thoughts. Together, we can shape a future where blind and visually impaired individuals can thrive in technology and creative media fields. Survey link: bit.ly/3DR5ucT