Introduction

The number of individuals with disabilities pursuing postsecondary education and careers is increasing. However, people with disabilities are still underrepresented in many academic and career areas, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Recent advancements in assistive technology, greater reliance on computers in these fields, and increased job specialization have resulted in career opportunities that were once unattainable for individuals who have disabilities. Many of these careers require knowledge and skills obtained through postsecondary education. Federal legislation mandates that, when needed, academic accommodations be made to ensure that students with disabilities have access to educational opportunities.

Negative attitudes are reported as the single most significant barrier faced by individuals with disabilities pursuing STEM careers. Other barriers include lack of access to facilities, inadequate academic preparation, and low expectations on the part of teachers. To reduce these barriers, DO-IT at the University of Washington has created a comprehensive set of programs and resources. DO-IT stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology. DO-IT's alliance to increase the participation of people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields is called AccessSTEM. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (cooperative agreement #HRD-0227995).

Educators who are familiar with accommodation strategies are better prepared to make arrangements that will ensure that students with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in their programs. The purpose of the enclosed video presentations and written materials is to help science, mathematics, technology, and special education teachers become more aware of

the rights, potential contributions, and needs of students with disabilities;
their responsibilities for ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students in their programs;
strategies for accommodating students who have disabilities in science and mathematics classes; and
resources.

The materials in this notebook are complemented with comprehensive online resources at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/. They include a searchable database of videos, questions and answers, case studies, and promising practices.

I hope you find these materials useful in your efforts to ensure that all students in your classes have equal opportunities to learn, explore interests, and express ideas.

Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Director, DO-IT, AccessSTEM, and Accessible Technology Services and Outreach
University of Washington

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