Student Profile - Cady Stanton
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Research Scholar
Project: Researching the use of robots as a way to help children with autism increase their social skills
Cady spent over a month in rural central Washington, working with children with autism and collecting data for her resarch project. She discusses how she ended up at the UW, got connected to her research project, and what receiving the Mary Gates research scholarship means to her:
Where did you graduate from high school?
I left high school at 16 (in 1994), and got my GED.
Why did you decide to come to the UW?
I was living in Richland, Washington, and attending the WSU Tri-Cities campus as a part-time student. After my divorce, I wanted to return to school full-time in a new location. The UW seemed like a good place to start my life over.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
When I first moved to Seattle, I worked as a living group advisor at a group home for at-risk children. I became quite close to one of the residents, who really had no family or anyone to look after him. I’ve maintained a close mentoring relationship with him since then. We had his birthday party in our lab at the UW, and my advisor bought this young man a bike for Christmas last year. Additionally, I volunteered to write a college resource guide for a local non-profit technology education program, and when I told them about this young man they were able to make room for him in their program.
What are your interests?
I’m 28, so perhaps a little older than your typical UW undergraduate. What I find interesting now are things that add meaning to my life. After Hurricane Katrina, I spent time in Houston helping to coordinate transit for survivors from local shelters to the homes of their family in unaffected areas. Of course, I spend time with the young man I mentioned above. With that and work and school, there’s not a ton of time left for other interests. However, I did start biking again when I moved to Seattle. I hadn’t done that since I was 13. I made a fool of myself a few times, but I love to bike now.
How did you first become involved in your project?
I was working as an RA [Research Assistant] in Peter Kahn’s lab. The lab was a great place to be, but I wasn’t sure how to connect my interests (particularly autism) with the work they were doing (human-robot interaction, among other things). It turned out Peter knew a woman in England doing some work with autism and robots. I had experience with autism, and some connections still on the east side of the mountains to the autism community. Everything just fell together, and I couldn’t pass up such a great opportunity.
Why did you decide to begin/work on your project?
The work was interesting and meaningful to me, and my mentor was incredibly supportive. In a time of dramatic change and transition in my life, the faculty and students in the lab became something of a family to me. To do work you love, with people you respect and admire – it’s hardly work at that point.
What is rewarding about your project?
Being able to interact with the community was probably the most enjoyable part of my project. I spent time with school therapists, occupational therapists, and other local service providers for children with special needs. Students at Yakima Valley Community College signed up to be my RA’s, and did an amazing job video recording the sessions. And, of course, the participants and their families were fabulous.
What is difficult/challenging about your project?
It’s a lot of work. The time commitment, when you’re also working and going to classes – that part of it is tough. It’s expensive to conduct research, even with the scholarship. Constantly managing an incredible amount of work with few resources means a lot of stress. Long hours in the lab can leave you feeling isolated.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be attending Pennsylvania State University as a doctoral student in their Human Development and Family Studies program. They’ve offered me a university graduate fellowship to fund my studies.
Is there anything that you'd like other students to know? Any words of advice or encouragement?
This project is why I’m going to graduate school. It’s what made me know the graduate school is the right choice for me, and it’s what got me admitted into a top program.