Emanuel
My name is Emanuel. I am a graduate student in computer science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I am also an intern at IBM Research doing mobile development.
Five Years of Summer Academy
The Summer Academy is an academically challenging program designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students with skills in math and/or science who may be considering computing as a career. Admission is extremely competitive, based on an assessment of ability in computing, and enthusiasm to participate in an intensive experience in all things computing.
Youth Slam
Youth Slam has been hosted by the National Federation of the Blind since 2004. This five-day academy engages and inspires high school students who are blind to consider careers falsely believed to be inaccessible to them and bring a unified voice to the next generation of blind professionals. At the 2011 Youth Slam event held in July, Dr. Jeffrey Bigham led a track designed to introduce students to computer science through a project based around navigation with the iPhone.
Saturday Computing Experience
Eleven deaf and hard-of-hearing students from Seattle-area high schools participated in the Saturday Computing Experience for eight weeks in spring 2012. Richard Ladner, PI of AccessComputing, led the class along with nine volunteers, including graduate students from the Computer Science and Engineering Department and staff from Google, Isilon and Microsoft. Three graduates of the Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Computing and AccessComputing team members, Jordan Atwood, Josiah Cheslik and Travis Smith, served as teaching assistants.
Diana
My name is Diana. I graduated six months ago from Georgia State University (GSU) where I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in computer information systems and a certificate of international business. The IT field is always changing, and I excel in dynamic environments so computing was a great fit for me.
Daniel
“Is it working?” It sounded as though Minnie Mouse was talking, but I could see clearly that the person across from me was my mother, not an over-sized rodent in polka dots. The phrase was not as dramatic as Alexander Graham Bell’s, “Mr. Watson—come in here,” but for me, it was just as momentous. I was thirteen. As my cochlear implant was activated, those three words were the first I had ever heard clearly. I had just entered high school and this was the crossroads in my journey towards independence in the world and a critical impetus toward pursuing a career in a STEM field.
Cheryl
My name is Cheryl. I recently graduated from the University of Washington where I double majored in political science and informatics. The study of informatics explores ways of thinking about information and technology and the ways people interact with them. It incorporates theory and hands-on technical projects to develop skills to recognize information needs and use appropriate and innovative technologies to design solutions. The goal of informatics is to present intended users with the most transparent, yet useful information or computing experience possible.
Contribute to the Knowledge Base
AccessComputing maintains a Knowledge Base of hundreds of articles that address disability-related issues. This Knowledge Base is continually growing to include answers to common questions (Q&A), Case Studies, and Promising Practices regarding accessibility of technology, college, graduate school, and computing careers for individuals with disabilities.
AccessComputing: From Research to Practice
Burgstahler, S., & Ladner, R. (2006). Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in computing fields: From research to practice. Seattle: University of Washington.
By Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph. D.
Richard Ladner, Ph. D.
University of Washington
Making Computing More Accessible and Welcoming
AccessComputing partners are considering and implementing a variety of interventions in order to make their computing or IT programs more welcoming and accessible to students, including veterans, with disabilities. Listed below are some ideas generated by AccessComputing project staff and partners.
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