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View the video Part of Me, Not All of Me!A goal of the University of Washington is to increase the diversity of its student body to include more underrepresented groups such as women, minorities, and people with disabilities in academic programs and careers. While demand for workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields continues to be high, individuals with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in both postsecondary academic programs and careers in these areas. The Accessible Technology team has made significant progress in addressing this issue over the years and exemplifies the UW values of Diversity, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Accessible Technology is a division of UW Technology Services that includes the Access Technology Lab (ATL) and the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center. Accessible Technology is a collaboration of College of Engineering and the College of Education and partners with many other UW departments and institutions worldwide. The Accessible Technology team reaches out through services, consulting, training, conferences, curriculum development, research, publications, and videos. Team members are innovators, collaborators, and champions of diversity who empower youth to be self-advocates and change the way the community views people with disabilities.
DO-IT's mission is to increase the academic and career success of people with disabilities, using technology as an empowering tool. DO-IT has promoted over 300 young adults through its cornerstone program, DO-IT Scholars, a technology-rich college preparation program. Many DO-IT Scholars are still attending high school. Of the Scholars who have graduated from high school, over 90% are currently attending or have attended college to study challenging fields, often in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. This data is in sharp contrast to recent findings in a study of the postsecondary status of students with disabilities where only 53% of students with disabilities attained a degree or certificate or remained in school five years following high school.
The ATL serves UW students, faculty, and staff with disabilities through its main facility in the Mary Gates Hall computer lab, as well as satellite workstations in computer labs across campus. ATL staff consult with campus members about universal design and how to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
Much of the success of the Scholars program is owed to the enthusiasm and creativity of the Accessible Technology team, who every year put together top-notch campus summer camps for high school students with disabilities. Staff members connect with campus faculty and community partners to create challenging and stimulating learning experiences for the students. They have an amazing ability to team together, self-direct, share ideas, and come up with top quality programs that offer life-changing experiences for these students. The work with the Scholars doesn't end at the end of the summer. The Accessible Technology team continues to maintain relationships over the years by providing counseling, guidance, and support as these young adults transition into higher education and careers. The results of their efforts are evident in the continuous, positive feedback we receive from the participants, as well as their parents.
In addition to working with students involved in the Scholars program, the Accessible Technology team has facilitated college preparation and career development skills programs to hundreds of teens and young adults with disabilities though community outreach events and academic/career transition workshops.
In addition to the impact that the Accessible Technology team has made on the UW, the team is making a significant impact nationally. They have developed partners at other institutions who carry out programs to increase the success of students with disabilities in STEM fields, they coordinate communities of practice where groups work together to address broadening participation issues, they coordinate internships between companies and college students with disabilities, and they maintain a significant searchable Knowledge Base to include answers to common questions, case studies, and promising practices regarding accessibility of technology, college, graduate school, and careers for individuals with disabilities.
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