In the fall of 2008, Professor Harry Lang from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology delivered a lecture titled "The Genius of Community: Technology as Friend and Foe in the Lives of Deaf People" to an audience of 150 people at the UW. In his lecture, Lang traced the invention of the teletypewriter (TTY) to a small group of determined deaf people who wanted to access the telephone in the 1960s.
Work-based learning is an important part of both academic and career preparation. In his article "Internships and Students with Disabilities" that appeared in the January 2009 issue of the CTG Journal (see previous article), AccessComputing project staff Scott Bellman discussed the needs of students who participate in internships:
Every October, one of the largest assistive technology conferences in the country occurs in Minnesota. The conference, called Closing the Gap (CTG), focuses on computing tools and education. Each year, DO-IT projects participate by hosting an exhibit and delivering presentations. For the past two years AccessComputing resources and activities have been highlighted.
The Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Computing, an AccessComputing program now entering its third year, has had a profound impact on high school senior Daniel Steed.
I graduated last year from the UW with a degree in computer science. I have muscular dystrophy, which is a genetic disease that weakens muscles, and I now use a power wheelchair. During high school, I became a DO-IT Scholar. This program promotes the use of technology to prepare youth with disabilities for higher education and careers, particularly those in high-tech fields.
I am a student at Bellevue Community College. I have found work-based learning opportunities through academic programs, internships, and community service. Starting in 2005 as a DO-IT Scholar, I learned the fundamentals of a successful educational career. I participated in a series of Summer Study workshops aimed at college and career preparation and independence.
Welcome to AccessComputing News! We invite you to read the stories of several students with disabilities who are successfully pursuing their goals, learn how to make your technology accessible to individuals with disabilities, and discover new ways you can engage in the AccessComputing project as a student or practitioner.
Connect to AccessComputing project information, resources, and materials.
Students with disabilities:Connect to AccessComputing project information, resources, and materials.
