| Washington students
with disabilities just DO-IT Hear how the University of Washington is opening up students' worlds. By Patti Lyon SCR*TEC If I changed in any way after my first Summer Study it was that I felt more competent in dealing with life, especially as a person with a disability. --Laura |
 tudents
with disabilities in the state of Washington have a great opportunity to
access the worlds of science, engineering, math, and technology through
the University of Washington's DO-IT
program. DO-IT stands for disabilities, opportunities, Internetworking,
and technology. We interviewed one such student for Kidspeak. Laura has participated in DO-IT since her sophomore year in high school. She is currently in her third year in the program and is participating as an intern this summer. Our interview with her took place via e-mail since she is currently attending the DO-IT summer program at the University of Washington. |
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| "It
was started because, especially in science, engineering, and math, people
with disabilities are under-represented and often fail to reach their potential." |
What is the DO-IT program about? This is a program for students with disabilities who are interested in science, engineering, and/or math and who plan to go on to college. Part of the program focuses on the science interest, part on preparing for college, and part on coping with disability. How long has it been around, who started it, and why? I am not exactly sure when it started, but I believe the program has been around for at least five years. It was started because, especially in science, engineering, and math, people with disabilities are under-represented and often fail to reach their potential. I read that college students, professors, and other professionals run the program. Can you explain what their role is? These people are generally either mentors, who share insights and experiences with the scholars in the program, or ambassadors, who help to inform the public about DO-IT. |
| When and how did
you get involved in DO-IT? Who can apply and how do you get chosen? I got involved in DO-IT my sophomore year of high school. My mom heard about the program through e-mail. High school sophomores and sometimes juniors who have either a physical disability or a learning disability, may apply. These students should be able to demonstrate an aptitude and interest in science, math, and/or engineering, and must be seen to have college potential. This was formerly a national program, but due to lack of funding the program is now only open to students in Washington state and one student from Oregon. Does the program cost anything to the student? The student is only expected to pay for transportation to and from Summer Study, which is less of an issue for in-state scholars. What is your current role in the program? I am now an unofficial ambassador, so I am actually doing my job even as I type! |
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| What are the three phases
of the program and what is your role in each phase? In phase one and two, participants are DO-IT scholars. The two phases simply denote which year the scholar is in and which activities they will participate in at Summer Study. Phase three is a scholar who has completed the previous two phases but has not yet gone to college. These scholars may apply to become interns. After the DO-IT scholars have left the program, how do they keep in touch with the program and with each other? One of the wonderful things about this program is that it gives everyone an e-mail account at the University of Washington. That way, it is easy to stay in touch. How old are the DO-IT scholars? They are generally between the ages of 16 and 19. |
| What kinds of disabilities
are represented by DO-IT? Everything from deafness and blindness to mobility impairments or learning disabilities. What kinds of adaptive technology do the scholars use? Some use screen readers, others have the computer give them visual rather than auditory cues. There are also modified mouses, on-screen keyboards, and keyboards with black keys and white letters, which are easier to read. Where do the scholars and their mentors come from? Other states? Other countries? Until this year, the scholars came from different states, with perhaps one scholar from Canada. From now on, they will only come from Washington with the exception of one scholar sponsored by Oregon. The mentors participate through e-mail, so they come from different states. I don't know if there are any international mentors or not. |
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| Think back to your first summer
with the DO-IT scholars. What was it like? What kinds of things did you
do during those few weeks? When I first entered the program, I participated through e-mail, which was a new experience for me. I learned what a powerful tool a computer really is. During my first Summer Study, I had about the most fun of my entire life. It was very refreshing to be speaking to other people who had a more balanced outlook on life. During that first Summer Study, we did a lot working with the Internet and we got to see some cool places in Seattle like the Science Center and the Space Needle. What was it like to interact with so many kids from different backgrounds? I really enjoyed it, and I learned a lot from talking to the other scholars. That's part of why I'm so sad that DO-IT is no longer national. |
| What was the high
point of that first experience? Did the experience change you in any way?
How? The high point was probably the evenings, where I could really sit down and talk to the others. Some of the scholars from that year and I are now close friends. If I changed in any way after my first Summer Study it was that I felt more competent in dealing with life, especially as a person with a disability. What was the most useful or exciting thing you personally learned? During that first session, I learned a lot about what was out there on the Net and was able to use it with more skill. I use that a great deal to this day, and I really love what the Internet has to offer. |
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"During my first Summer Study, I had about the most fun of my entire life." said Laura. |
So then what do you do for
the whole next year while you're still in phase one? How do you graduate
to phase two and what do you do as a mentor? During the year between Summer Studies, the scholar is expected to work on a project. It can be anything from researching your disability to computer programming to making a local building more accessible. There is no real graduation to phase two, you just become a phase two scholar when you go to the Summer Study. Mentors converse with scholars and others via e-mail to offer guidance and encouragement. What's the difference between phase two and three? Phase three does not involve active participation or any Summer Study and scholars are not required to work on any project. After phase two, a scholar has basically completed the program. What types of things do the DO-IT scholars do with the skills and knowledge they get from the program? They use these skills to succeed in college and in careers, and they use them to help others down the road. What are the pros and cons of DO-IT? I think the only real con right now is that it is no longer a national program. For pros, I think this program really uses the benefits of "hands-on" type learning and the sharing of ideas, so it is very effective. |
| Why is this program
important for people with disabilities? Is there a way that this program
is important for people without disabilities? This program is important for those with disabilities because it shows them how to open doors and break down barriers. Teachers, school administrators, and others also stand to benefit from educational videos published by DO-IT that offer advice on making the classroom more accessible, and other useful information. There is also an e-mail list called doitsem (also through the University of Washington), which is open to anyone who is interested or wants to learn about how those who have disabilities can succeed in higher education, especially in science, engineering, and math. Why have you enjoyed being in the program? I have enjoyed it in greatest measure because of the other people involved. I could really and truly see that I am by no means the only person interested in science who has lived with a disability. The other scholars and staff are really great, positive people, and they're great to talk to. |
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| Do you think other regions
of the country should start programs like this? Why? I absolutely think that every part of the country should have a program like this. This program is a great experience for all of the participants, and it provides an excellent starting point for outreach and educating those who can help students with disabilities succeed. |
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