How does a blind programmer program?

Around 2004, I worked with a blind programmer, David, who was just amazing as a person, a programmer, and I later discovered he's part of a rock band where he plays a few instruments (including piano and guitar), singer, songwriter, and studio engineer.

Except for having a Braille printer attached to his PC, and text-to-speech software that read stuff out to him when he so chose, here's a few things about David:

• Amazing memory. Shortly after I met him, he and I had to attend a meeting in the Johannesburg CBD (17 KM away from our Randburg office). Johannesburg is a very busy city with many one-way streets. I drove and he guided me thru the most efficient routes (from the passenger seat). He knew Joburg really well so he directed me from Randburg, all the way into the basement parking lot's entrance. Probably not a big deal but I was blown away.
• He knew himself really well: We were late for that meeting so we had to hurry. When we got off the car, I unwittingly wanted to hold his hand and patiently lead the way. He politely asked to rather hold on to MY hand and told me to walk as I normally do. When we got to the security reception (where everyone's required to sign in) I knew what I was gonna do: slip a pen into his right hand and guide it to the dotted line. David politely asked me to place his LEFT thumb on the dotted line and he did the rest.

David was a senior programmer and really wasn't disabled. We worked for a bank and he was allocated to projects as one of the senior developers. You never felt like you needed to treat him with kids' gloves or anything like that - he was a solid programmer. He knew his stuff really well and most importantly (for me), he was a hell of a kind guy who was patient with junior guys, had a great sense of humour, and was totally self-reliant. 

Hell, this guy gave me an impression that he was more able-bodied than most sighted people. Taught me a hell of a lot in a short space of time.