DO-IT News December 2008: All Articles

Phase I Scholars with DO-IT director Sheryl Burgstahler.

DO-IT Phase I Scholars participate in a two-week, live-in Summer Study session on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. They learn about college life; explore the Internet; interact with peers, staff, and mentors; and have fun. The DO-IT Scholars program started in 1993 as an experimental project for teens with disabilities nationwide. It is open to Washington State teens and is supported by the State of Washington, the Boeing Company, and the Microsoft Corporation.

• University Village Outing
• Tour de UW
• Microsoft Past, Present, and Future
• Wild Things: Our Trip to the Zoo
• Spaced Out
• The IMAX Experience

Phase I Scholar Jeremy bikes during the Tour de UW.

Tour de UW was a great experience for everybody during Summer Study. During the tour, we explored the UW campus on different kinds of bikes designed for people with physical disabilities. The bikes introduced us to new ways of biking that we had never experienced before. It was interesting seeing the different kinds of steering mechanisms that the bikes had, and, because of this, how some were harder to steer than others. During the bike ride we took a few interesting detours. We flew past the cone that designated the turn-around point and pedalled what seemed like halfway to Woodinville, WA! Also, a bike broke down, and emergency bicycle surgery had to be performed.

Riding a hand crank bike was fun but was also exhausting. It is amazing how much the view changes when riding lower to the ground. Since the steering on the modified bike was completely different than a regular bike, navigating on the hills was a real challenge.

Everybody had a great time biking and socializing. By the end of the night many of us were tired and ready for a break. At the beginning of the night several people ran down to the bikes, but afterwards, nobody ran back up the hill to the dorms!

Phase I Scholar Nejowa tours with fellow Scholars.

On the Sunday of our first week at Summer Study, the DO-IT Scholars went to the Woodland Park Zoo. It was a blast! Our first reaction when we saw the zoo was, "This looks like fun!" We were right. We were split into groups and set off to explore. Our group leader made the experience a lot of fun. For most of us, memories of visiting the zoo in childhood flooded back, but this experience seemed even better. A favorite part of the zoo for many Scholars was the gift shop where we got stuffed animals, a frog named Rainbow, a leopard named Billy Bob, and a fish scale that is used as a natural nail file and callus remover. All the animals at the zoo were amazing. Among the most exciting was what looked like one huge snake. What we did not know was that there were two snakes in the cage. We have many great memories from our visit to the zoo.

The IMAX Theater production of Batman the Dark Knight was stunning. It was projected on a huge floor-to-ceiling screen and the sound came from a 12,000 watt digital sound system. We all agree that Batman the Dark Knight was one of the greatest movies that we had ever seen, and the IMAX was the greatest way to watch it. The big screen and the sound system made all the difference.

The IMAX theater in Seattle was very disability friendly. The theater had a ramp that made it very easy to access with a wheelchair. Also the restrooms were very large and easy to access with a wheelchair. The staff members at the IMAX were very understanding and they were able, for the most part, to accommodate our needs. An area for improvement is offering better accommodations for people who are deaf.

Held at a local all-ages jazz club in Seattle, the Hit the Note! workshop was taught by researchers Suzanne and Peter from the UW's Human Interface Technology department, also known as the HIT Lab. The goal of HIT the Note! was to generate a "mixed reality graphic interactive performance piece."

To participate in the workshop, DO-IT Scholars and a DO-IT Intern traveled off campus each day at 8:30 a.m. to Egan's Ballard Jam House and returned at noon. The team used a variety of software programs and equipment to create the video. 3DMeNow allowed the team to animate pictures of themselves. Spore Creature Creator, a downloadable demo from the manufacturer of Sims, was used to customize animated creatures. Animation was created with a program called Line-Rider, which creates roller coaster-like paths. The final iMovie we created was set to the song from the Average White Band titled, "Pick up the Pieces."

Phase II Scholar Lukas plays The Game of Life as Ambassador Chris offers tips for success.

After having ventured across campus to the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering, descending to the basement, and entering a windowless classroom, Phase II Scholars Lukas and Luke knew right away this was the right workshop for them. This was their introduction to The Game of Life. The game was developed by mathematician John Horton Conway. As explained by Interns Taylor and Nate, the game is important because it represents real-life cellular patterns, and it can be used to explain natural phenomena, such as the stripes of a zebra.

The game is a simple computer solitaire game played on a grid of squares called cells. The cells are either alive or dead. If a cell is alive it is colored; if a cell is dead it is black. Certain rules determine whether the cell is alive or dead, and these rules are programmed into the computer. The rules can vary, but the standard set of rules for The Game of Life are as follows:

• Cells that are alive and have two or three neighboring live cells continue to live; otherwise they die because of either overcrowding or loneliness.
• Cells that are dead must have exactly three neighboring cells in order to become alive again.

Each Scholar used these rules to create different results, which they demonstrated and explained during their final presentation.

Phase II DO-IT Scholar, Jen, Stirring a bowl of what will become chocolate ice cream

The BioToy Factory workshop was led by UW bioengineering graduate students. DO-IT Scholars had the opportunity to sneak a peek into the department's fantastical factory, where science and engineering combine to make exciting things happen. Ultrasounds, DNA condensation, vision restoration through stem cell research, sound wave surgery, cybernetic implant interactions, and high-tech ice cream creation were included in the week. In the neurobiotics lab, students viewed robots, machines, and different "toys" that could assist individuals with disabilities.

DO-IT director Sheryl Burgstahler, program manager Michael, and technology specialist Terry with 2008 Trailblazer Award recipient Daman Wandke at the keynote celebration evening.

DO-IT Trailblazer Awards highlight DO-IT community members who, through their work and accomplishments, have changed the way the world views people with disabilities and their potential to succeed in college, careers, and community life. Congratulations to this year's honorees!

Daman Wandke, DO-IT Ambassador and '05 Scholar, was recognized for his leadership in organizing disability awareness activities on a postsecondary campus and in the community. As a freshman, Daman founded the Students for Disability Awareness group at Western Washington University and is the program coordinator of the DAMAN Project (Disability Awareness Moving Across the Nation).

Al Souma, coordinator of Disability Support Services at Seattle Central Community College and DO-IT Advisory Board member, promotes awareness of mental health issues, accessibility, and the complex needs of veterans with disabilities in postsecondary education nationwide.

Dr. Mamoru Iwabuchi, associate professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, has promoted DO-IT practices internationally. He is the director of DO-IT Japan. This past summer marked the second year Dr. Iwabuchi and his staff provided a Summer Study program to Japanese high school students with disabilities.

Program manager Michael Richardson with 2008 Trailblazer Award recipient Al Souma.

Surrounded by electronic brain-imaging devices, real human brains, and spinal cords that could be touched and examined, more than 700 students, teachers, and parents explored the mysteries of the brain and the many exciting fields of study in health sciences at Brain Awareness Day at the UW Seattle campus.

The DO-IT booth provided visitors with the opportunity to use a Perkins Braille machine to type their names, as well as a wealth of information about the many resources for students with disabilities in education and careers, particularly in science, math, engineering, and technology. Students, teachers, parents, and staff alike all walked away with a bit more knowledge tucked away in and about their gray matter. Put a note on your calendar to join us next spring for this educational event!

Phase I Scholars Mack and Nejowa enjoy each other's company at DO-IT's spring pizza party.

Since DO-IT Scholars, Ambassadors, Pals, Mentors, Parents, and Staff are all a part of the DO-IT family, it's not surprising that we have a good old fashioned family reunion at least twice a year. The 2008 spring DO-IT family reunion, also known as the DO-IT pizza party, was held in Ellensburg, Spokane, and Seattle.

The pizza party is the first opportunity for everyone to meet some of the new Phase I Scholars. This year, new Scholars Emily, Nejowa, Mack, Erik, Yomara, Sam, Brianna, Russell, Aaron, Chris, and Marco attended. Noah, a DO-IT Ambassador currently attending the UW, gave new Scholars a tour of the campus to help them prepare for their return two months later for Summer Study.

In Seattle, the weather was so nice that some of us ate our pizza outside on the patio. Others opted to stay inside for games and a live video feed to the Spokane and Ellensburg parties.

The Scholars are not the only ones who have fun at DO-IT pizza parties. More than thirty parents of Scholars and Ambassadors attended the Seattle party. Their network of support is sustained throughout the year on an online discussion list.

A highlight of summer 2008 was the second Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Computing held on the UW Seattle campus.

Nine bright deaf and hard-of-hearing students from all over the U.S. attended the nine-week academy, where they took classes in computer programming and animation, and met deaf and hard-of-hearing role models already working in the fields of computer science and engineering, information science, information systems, and information technology. The students also participated in corporate site visits to Microsoft, Google, Valve, and Adobe. More information on this program is available at www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/dhh/academy.

The Academy was sponsored by the AccessComputing project and was co-directed by DO-IT Director Sheryl Burgstahler and Dr. Richard Ladner, a professor of Computer Science, and is funded by the Directorate of Computer and Information Science and Engineering (grant #CNS-0540615 and #CNS-0837508) of the National Science Foundation. Rob Roth coordinated the academy.

DO-IT Ambassador, Annemarie

Recently I attended the first dorm wing meeting of the school year at the University of Portland (UP). As we went around the room introducing ourselves and what we did over the summer, I couldn't help but note that not only was I excited to be a senior, but I had the coolest summer job of any of the other resident assistants. Over the summer of 2007, DO-IT set up an internship for me with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, a line office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). After a great experience in 2007, I was thrilled to be invited back this summer by Julie Peddy, an administrator at the center and a DO-IT Trailblazer Award recipient.

I worked with the administrative staff, the educational outreach program, and the web content design team. In the smorgasbord of my duties, I improved my skills in Excel, learned the basics of editing professional documents, and honed my business writing and communication skills. Furthermore, I learned to analyze websites for the ease with which a user can find essential content. In 2007, I was given the opportunity to represent the center in Washington, DC. Between job shadowing other Department of Commerce employees, attending a job fair, and exploring the city, I decided that DC is definitely a part of the country I will consider when choosing a graduate school.

The most engaging and rewarding aspect of my job was planning and leading a NOAA Phase II workshop during DO-IT Summer Study 2007 and 2008. In addition to introducing DO-IT Scholars to the field of science and policy creation, I was honored to be given the chance to share some of my experiences setting up accommodations at college and work.

I can't stress enough the importance of taking responsibility for your accommodations and strengthening your self-advocacy skills. In my sophomore year of college, I ran into a medical obstacle (brain surgery), which necessitated a change to my accommodation plan. Because I had already established a strong relationship with the Office for Students with Disabilities and had no qualms about going to my professors to discuss how things had changed, the process of adjusting my accommodation plan was completely painless. I urge all college students with disabilities to develop these relationships. You never know when an unforeseen change will arise, and even if there aren't major problems to deal with, it is best to have these people in your corner.

With my ever-fluid accommodation plan safely in the hands of all my professors, I entered my last year at UP. My schedule includes reading; tutoring; attending plays, basketball games, and midnight barbecues; sometimes avoiding studying by preparing for the LSAT; and looking into financing law school in DC!

Phase I Scholar Erik and Intern Oscar work together to solve a problem during the computer lab at Summer Study.

When your Windows machine starts acting erratically and you need to rescue that important file or hop online to check email, there is a useful stopgap measure available. Using what is called a Live CD, you can boot up and run the Linux operating system from the CD and the computer's memory, bypassing the hard drive altogether. This example will use Knoppix.

You'll download an image file with an .iso extension. Using CD/DVD burning software that usually comes with a computer, double-click on the .iso file and it will make a CD or DVD based on the image file. (This is different from just copying files onto a disk, in that it makes the CD or DVD bootable.)

With the Knoppix Live Linux CD or DVD in hand, make sure your computer is setup to boot from the CD/DVD drive. When the computer first powers up, you'll usually see a text message on the screen that states, "F2 to enter setup." (This statement varies by manufacturer and internal components.) Once you have entered the setup program, navigate through the menu choices until you find Boot Order. Follow the directions in that setup program to move the boot order so that the computer first tries to boot from the CD/DVD drive and then other components like the floppy or hard drive. Save this new setting and exit according to the setup program's instructions.

With the Knoppix Live Linux CD or DVD installed in the drive bay, restart the computer. At some point you'll see the Knoppix text on the screen and a command prompt awaiting your input. Press Enter to load the Knoppix Linux operating system. Once it examines all of your unique hardware you'll see a graphic desktop environment similar to that of Windows or Apple machines with a task bar on the bottom of the screen and icons for hard drives with names like hda1, hda2.

One of these drives is your CD/DVD drive; another is the one (or more) of the hard drives installed in your corrupt Windows machine. Clicking on a drive icon will bring up a window showing the contents of the drive.

To rescue needed data, you can insert a USB memory stick in an available USB port, and drag files from the hard drive to the memory stick. You may need to right-mouse click on the USB drive desktop icon and choose Properties to give write permission on the drive if it is in read-only mode.

Once you've recovered all of your important data files, you can then reinstall Windows on the machine.

In addition to giving access to your otherwise inaccessible files, the Knoppix Live Linux CD/DVD gives you a couple of web browsers that can be used to surf the Internet and check your email. This can be handy when you need online access and don't have the time or resources to fix your machine.

It would be wise to make one of these disks before disaster strikes and take the CD/DVD along with you if you are traveling with a laptop.

• Sign up to receive DO-IT News if this newsletter was not mailed directly to you.
• Volunteer as a Mentor or to help with one of our Summer Study programs.
• Pass this newsletter on to someone you know who can benefit from our programs.
• Donate money to support and extend DO-IT activities including sponsoring Scholars from states outside of Washington, special events, work-based learning experiences, participant attendant or travel costs, refreshments for program participants, and creation and distribution of educational videotapes and publications.

DO-IT today by completing the form below! You may also make a secure online credit card donation at the University of Washington Make a Gift page by selecting the "DO-IT Program Gift Fund" option.

___ Sign me up to receive copies of DO-IT NEWS, a free program newsletter.
___ Send me more information about DO-IT volunteer opportunities.

___ I would like to make a donation (payable to the University of Washington,Federal ID#91-6001537) to support DO-IT operations.
___ I have enclosed a check for $____________
___ Please charge $____________ to my credit card.

    ___ VISA ___ Mastercard

Date _____________

Card Number __________________________ Expiration Date _____________

Card Holder Name ___________________________________________________

     Signature _____________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

City __________________________ State _____________ Zip ____________

Phone: Home __________________________ Business ____________________

E-mail: ____________________________________________________________

Your gift is tax-deductible as specified in IRS regulations. Pursuant to RCW 19.09, the University of Washington is registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of State, State of Washington. For more information, call the Office of the Secretary of State, 1-800-322-4483.

Mail to:
DO-IT
University of Washington
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195-4842

Thank you!