July 27, 2000
DO-IT summer camp for disabled students to begin at UW
A summer camp of a different stripe will begin next week at the University of Washington.
More than 40 high school students with disabilities from Washington and Oregon will gather at the UW campus in Seattle for the summer study sessions of the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology (DO-IT) Program. DO-IT is an award-winning program intended to show the students how to develop the skills needed to enter a college and succeed in a university setting.
“This program shows students what they can do in college and beyond,” said Sheryl Burgstahler, DO-IT Program director. “It puts them in touch with other students and mentors who can help and encourage them to achieve their goals. By living in a dormitory and participating in activities, the students learn what college is like and how science and other academic activities can be adapted to provide access to them.”
Participants will come in two shifts. First-year DO-IT students will stay for 11 days beginning Aug. 1. Students taking part for the second year will stay for one week, Aug. 5-11. They will participate in a variety of activities, including a virtual reality session at the UW’s Human Interface Technology Lab, workshops covering a wide range of topics, games and a dance. In addition, first year students will test their pedaling prowess on customized bicycles, dissect sheep’s hearts and visit Microsoft Corp, Pacific Science Center, Museum of Flight and Experience Music Project.
DO-IT, founded in 1992, targets high school juniors and seniors with disabilities and seeks to encourage their participation in challenging academic programs and careers. Students selected to be DO-IT scholars are loaned computers, modems, software and adaptive technology to use in their homes as they learn to use the Internet to gather information and communicate with others. Each year, 20 new students enter the program, beginning their experience with the summer camp. The program continues with independent projects and Internet interaction with mentors, teachers and fellow students during the school year. It concludes the following summer with the week-long phase II summer camp. Initially funded by the National Science Foundation, DO-IT is now funded by the state of Washington.
Potential DO-IT photo opportunities
? Experience Music Project, Thursday, Aug. 3, 7-9 p.m.
? Microsoft tour, Friday, Aug. 4, 9:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
? Pacific Science Center, Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
? Museum of Flight, Sunday, Aug. 6, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
? Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Monday, Aug. 7, 11a.m. -12:30 p.m.
? Virtual Reality Lab (Fluke Hall), Monday, Aug.7, 7-9 p.m.
? Mentor/Ambassador Night (HUB 108), Tuesday, Aug. 8, 6:30-8:30p.m.
? Bicycling with Ski-for-All (location to be announced), Wednesday, Aug. 9, 7-9 p.m.
? DO-IT dance, (Gould Hall), Thursday, Aug. 10, 8-10:30 p.m.
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For more information, contact Rosenthal at (206) 221-4162 or nanette@u.washington.edu or Burgstahler at (206) 543-0622 or sherylb@cac.washington.edu.
DO-IT Program participants, 2000
(Who have signed release of information forms)
Tasha Arredondo, Cleveland High School, Seattle
Roy Avery, Hoquiam High School, Hoquiam, Wash.
Jeffrey Benitez, Tyee High School, Auburn, Wash.
Ryan Benson, Sumner High School, Bonney Lake, Wash.
Kathryn Brewer, Curtis High School, University Place, Wash.
Danielle Cloakey, Wenatchee Valley Community College, Cashmere, Wash.
Nora Croucher, Elgin High School, Elgin, Ore.
David Dang, Seattle
Oscar Galindo, Yakima, Wash.
J.W. Herrin, Moses Lake High School, Moses Lake, Wash.
Buffy Hummel, Oregon City High School, Oregon City, Ore.
Kasey Liedtke, Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, Wash.
Stephanie Mellor, Mead High School, Spokane, Wash.
Deke McDonald, Chelan High School, Chelan, Wash.
Ryan Miller, Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, Wash.
Stuart Olsen, Seattle Central Community College, Vashon, Wash.
Nicholas Penchos, Lake Washington High School, Redmond, Wash.
Nohemi Romero, Sunnyside High School, Sunnyside, Wash.
Tynesha Wilson, Ingraham High School, Seattle
Ali Zebari, Mountlake Terrace High School, Lynwood, Wash.
