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AccessSTEM

The AccessSTEM website is a space where K-12 teachers, postsecondary educators, and employers learn to make classroom and employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) accessible to individuals with disabilities, and share promising practices. Their efforts can help all students succeed in STEM courses and, those with aptitude and interest, reach critical junctures on a path toward college studies and careers in STEM fields; consult the AccessSTEM/AccessComputing/DO-IT Longitudinal Transition Study for data and analysis from a study that tracks the progress of students with disabilities through junctures that lead to STEM degrees and careers.

Universal Design
Strategies for creating academic environments that maximize the learning of students with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.

Accommodation Strategies
How educators and employers can assure access to academic and employment opportunities in STEM for individuals with disabilities.

Rights and Responsibilities
The rights and responsibilities of educators, student support staff, and students with disabilities.

Resources
Resources to help instructors, programs, and employers more fully include students with disabilities in activities and to help students with disabilities achieve success in STEM fields.

Presentations
Streaming video presentations with accompanying publications that share strategies for working with students with disabilities in mathematics and science classes.

Searchable Knowledge Base
A searchable database of frequently asked questions, case studies, and promising practices related to how educators and employers can fully include students with disabilities in STEM activities.

For high school, college, and graduate students with disabilities who would like to engage in stimulating conversations with each other and mentors and learn about internships and other opportunities in STEM fields, see the AccessSTEM Team Application and AccessComputing Team Application.

Much of the content on this website is duplicated in other publications, training materials, and web pages published by DO-IT. The AccessSTEM website is hosted by The Alliance for Students with Disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (AccessSTEM, Research in Disabilities Education award # HRD-0227995 and HRD-0833504). The purpose of AccessSTEM is to increase the participation of people with disabilities in STEM careers. AccessSTEM joins five other National Science Foundation Regional Alliances for Persons with Disabilities in STEM, RASEM2, EAST, MIDWEST, MIND Alliance for Minority Students with Disabilities in STEM, and Ohio's STEM Ability Alliance to develop resources and share promising practices. For more information about the project, see the AccessSTEM project description and AccessSTEM Application Forms.