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DO-IT Pals

Who can be a DO-IT Pal?

Are you a teenager with a disability?

Do you want to attend college?

Are you interested in pursuing a challenging career?

Would you like to meet other teens with disabilities who have similar goals?

Would you like to get tips for success from college students and other adults with disabilities?

Can you get access to a computer and the Internet?

If you've answered yes to these questions, YOU would make a great DO-IT Pal!

What do DO-IT Pals do?

Mentoring

Frequent electronic mail and personal contacts with Mentors support DO-IT Pals' academic, career, and personal goals. Mentors are college students, faculty, and practicing engineers, scientists, and other professionals. Many DO-IT Mentors have disabilities themselves. Experienced DO-IT Pals also develop and practice communication and leadership skills by acting as peer mentors for incoming DO-IT Pals. They make friends and motivate each other to achieve their goals.

Internetworking

DO-IT Pals use the Internet to explore academic and career interests. The World Wide Web is their door to the information and resources they need for success.

Projects

DO-IT Pals apply their skills and knowledge in projects based on their interests. DO-IT Mentors and staff act as resources and provide assistance. Examples of possible projects include: complete an exhibit or a paper about adaptive technology for people with disabilities for a school assignment; be a "mentor" to younger students with disabilities in the community - become their friend, encourage their interests in school, show them how to use a computer and the Internet; or give a presentation to recruit DO-IT Pals.

What's expected of DO-IT Pals?

DO-IT Pals come from all over the world. Most activities take place on the Internet. DO-IT Pals:

• Send electronic mail messages to the entire doitpals, mentors, or doitsem group at least once every two weeks.
• Send greetings to new DO-IT Pals, children at hospitals, participants in DO-IT camps, and other students with disabilities upon request.
• Use Internet resources in classes at school (for example, use electronic resources to obtain information to use in class papers, projects, or discussions).
• Attend DO-IT events when possible.

What happens when DO-IT Pals graduate from high school?

A DO-IT Pal who graduates from high school can become a DO-IT Mentor. A DO-IT Mentor helps with program activities, participates in electronic communications, and mentors younger DO-IT participants.

What's a DO-IT Mentor?

DO-IT Mentors are valuable resources for DO-IT Pals. As guides, counselors, teachers, and friends, they inspire and facilitate academic, career, and personal achievements. Relationships developed with Mentors become channels for the passage of information, advice, opportunities, challenges, and support with the ultimate goals of achievement and fun. DO-IT Mentors offer:

• Role Modeling - DO-IT Mentors are successful individuals who have collectively accomplished many of the things that DO-IT Pals strive for.
• Information - DO-IT Mentors share their knowledge, experiences, and wisdom.
• Challenges - DO-IT Mentors stimulate curiosity and build confidence by presenting new ideas, opportunities, and challenges.
• Goal Setting - Mentors help DO-IT Pals discover interests, define goals, and outline strategies for success.
• Support - Mentors encourage achievement by offering support to DO-IT Pals who are growing in new areas.
• Mentors provide valuable opportunities by connecting DO-IT Pals with academic, career, and personal contacts.

To get to know Mentors, DO-IT Pals:

• Introduce themselves. They share their personal, academic, and career interests. They describe their future plans.
• Ask Mentors specific questions about disability-related issues, college, careers, and/or transition to adulthood. Ask Mentors about their personal interests, their academic background, and their career experiences.

How do DO-IT Pals access technology and electronic resources?

DO-IT does not provide funding for computers, adaptive technology, or Internet access for DO-IT Pals; however technical assistance for selecting equipment or an Internet service provider is provided by DO-IT staff.

To become part of DO-IT Pals, you'll need to have access to the Internet, probably from your home, library or school. You'll need an electronic mail account.

To contact staff, request publications, ask technical questions, or find out more about the program, send electronic mail to:

DO-IT Pals are automatically members of an electronic discussion list, doitpals. To send a message to all DO-IT Pals or all Mentors, send electronic mail to one of the following addresses:

To discuss issues pertaining to individuals with disabilities and their pursuit of science, engineering, and mathematics (sem) and other challenging academic programs and careers, DO-IT Pals are automatically subscribed to the larger doitsem discussion list. To send a message to the group use the following address:

For more information, access the DO-IT World Wide Web page at
http://www.washington.edu/doit/

What is DO-IT Pal "Netiquette"?

Electronic mail guidelines for DO-IT Pals include:

• Be brief. Keep paragraphs short and use blank spaces between paragraphs.
• Avoid covering several topics in one message. Instead, send several messages so the receiver can respond to each topic separately.
• Use mixed upper and lower case letters. Avoid using control characters or special keys.
• Begin text with the real name of the person addressed and end the text of the message with the author's real name.
• Include all or parts of a mail message that is being replied to.
• Do not use words others might find offensive and avoid personal attacks or name-calling.
• Do not participate in conversations that would not be acceptable to parents and/or DO-IT staff.
• Do not engage in conversations that seem inappropriate. Immediately report offensive or troubling electronic mail messages received to the DO-IT Director.
• Remember that an electronic mail message is easy for recipients to forward to others and, therefore, is not appropriate for very personal messages - it's more like a post card than a sealed letter.
• Take advantage of the spell check feature.
• Review what's written BEFORE sending it.

How do I apply to be a DO-IT Pal?

Teens with disabilities who want to go to college and who have an Internet account are encouraged to apply to become DO-IT Pals. Applications can be obtained via the Internet by sending a message to:

In the message text type:

and send the message. An e-mail application form will automatically be sent. Fill out and return the application via e-mail. Applicants are informed of their acceptance within two weeks of receipt of their application.

Additional Information

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education.

To order free publications or newsletters use the DO-IT Publications Order Form; to order videos and training materials use the Videos, Books and Comprehensive Training Materials Order Form.

For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, or to request materials in an alternate format, contact:

Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.

DO-IT Funding and Partners

Copyright © 1997, 2000, University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, non-commercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.

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Modified: January 11, 2008