AccessEngineering: Promoting the Success of People with Disabilities in Engineering and Incorporating Universal Design in Engineering Curricula

AccessEngineering works with two national leadership teams: engineering faculty from diverse colleges and universities, and students with disabilities in undergraduate and graduate engineering programs

Activities for Students with Disabilities

AccessEngineering encourages students with disabilities to pursue engineering careers.

Bios of Engineers with Disabilities
Successful engineering students and professionals who have disabilities share their experiences and advice
Online Engagement
Students with disabilities engage in a community of peers and mentors to access resources and prepare for college, graduate school, and engineering careers

Activities for Faculty, Staff, and Employers

AccessEngineering builds the capacity of faculty, staff, engineering departments, employers, and professional organizations to fully include students with disabilities.

Online Community of Practice
Faculty and other professionals discuss strategies and share resources for promoting the participation of people with disabilities in engineering and integrating universal design and accessibility topics into engineering courses
Capacity Building Institutes and Training
Events on campuses and at conferences
Replication Packages
Everything that educators and professionals need to replicate successful practices, including modules on universal design to integrate into their engineering courses

Resources

AccessEngineering shares resources.

Searchable Knowledge Base of questions and answers, case studies, and promising practices
Guidelines for making engineering instruction and departments welcoming and accessible to students with disabilities
Proceedings of capacity building institutes exploring issues related to disability and engineering fields
Videos about accessibility guidelines and students with disabilities pursuing engineering careers

Impact of Our Work

AccessEngineering outcomes benefit society by

Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in education and careers in engineering
Improving engineering fields with their perspectives and expertise

Leaders

University of Washington
Sheryl Burgstahler, DO-IT Center
Maya Cakmak, Computer Science & Engineering
Katherine M. Steele, Mechanical Engineering
Brianna Blaser, DO-IT Center

Partners

AccessEngineering engages with a nationwide faculty leadership team from a diverse set of institutions.

Funding

AccessEngineering is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the Broadening Participation in Engineering program of the Directorate for Engineering (Grant #EEC1444961). The contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the NSF, and you should not assume their endorsement.