Opportunities! News for University of Washington Students with Disabilities Fall 2021

Richard signs with a group of students surrounded by computers.

Are You a Student with a Disability Attending the University of Washington?

This page promotes resources for students with disabilities on University of Washington campuses.

This newsletter highlights the Career & Internship Center, STEM- and student-focused groups, accessible technology, campus centers, scholarship opportunities, and other resources.

We sincerely wish you a successful and enjoyable college experience.


Two students use a computer.

Join Projects for Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fields

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the AccessSTEM and AccessComputing projects are recruiting students in STEM fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, math, computing, engineering, aerospace, astronomy, geology, anthropology, horticulture, conservation, forensics, and many other social science disciplines. AccessSTEM and AccessComputing team members join an online community to receive a variety of resources and opportunities:

  • Internships: Receive assistance finding and applying for great internships.
  • Career Building: Learn about careers, resumes, job fairs, and networking.
  • Mentoring: Get support from other students, faculty, staff, and professionals.

For more information about AccessSTEM and AccessComputing, contact Scott Bellman at 206-685-3648 (voice/TTY) or swb3@uw.edu.

Fill out the AccessSTEM student application here.

Find the AccessComputing student application here.


A student giving an oral presentation.

UW Career Resources

The UW Career & Internship Center

The Career & Internship Centers on each UW campus help students learn about majors, careers, and the labor market. Career counselors are available to help with resume development and improving interview skills.

UW Career & Internship Centers utilize the web-based system Handshake to manage job and internship listings. Find out more about featured jobs and internships at careers.washington.edu/jobs.

The Career & Internship Center website has a resources section with information specific to people with disabilities. It can be accessed by visiting their careers site and utilizing the “Students With Disabilities” filter.

Virtual Offerings

Check the UW Career & Internship Center website to find a variety of resources, including the options below:


A student in a wheelchair using a laptop.

Accessible Technology Resources on Campus

There are many services at the University of Washington to help students with disabilities obtain access to accessible technology.

The Access Technology Center

The Access Technology Center (ATC) on the Seattle campus provides resources to improve access to computing resources for University of Washington students, faculty, and staff. The computers, software, and special equipment in the center and at other locations on UW campuses provide

  • access for blind users via speech output or braille;
  • screen magnification for people with low vision;
  • alternatives to the standard keyboard and mouse;
  • speech recognition software as a writing tool;
  • tools to make reading and writing easier;
  • accessories for comfortable computer use; and
  • the capability to produce documents in alternative formats such as e-text, braille, and large print.

For information about assistive technology on your campus, ask your disability services representative. Visit the ATC at the UW Seattle campus in Mary Gates Hall, room 064, or consult their website.

Need an alternative, accessible document? Also check out Disability Resource Services’s document conversion tool.

Center for Technology and Disability Studies

The Center for Technology and Disability Studies (CTDS) is an interdisciplinary program within the Center for Human Development and Disability and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the School of Medicine. For a list of CTDS projects and activities, visit uwctds.washington.edu/.

Accessible Technology at the UW

The Accessible Technology website provides resources and tips related to IT accessibility, as well as opportunities for community involvement.


Students show off their glowing creations at the DO-IT Dance 2020.

Student Resource Centers

D Center

The UW Disability and d/Deaf Culture Center fosters a climate of social justice and pride, centered on universal design, access, and diversity. It cultivates disability and d/Deaf pride by promoting social justice through an inclusive environment, sharing resources for self-advocacy, developing educational programming, engaging stakeholders with principles of universal design, and promoting a transforming socio-cultural understanding of disability. For more information, email dcenter@uw.edu or visit their website.

The D Center is currently virtual and offering online resources and events. Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on Facebook.

UW Veterans Center

The UW Veterans Center is a place for veterans to connect with other veterans, gain access to university resources specifically designed for veterans, and find and build their community within the university. Find out more on their website.

Q Center

The Q Center builds and facilitates queer academic and social communities through education, advocacy, and support services. Services and resources include a lending library, discussion forums, meet-ups, social space, brief crisis intervention, and referrals.


Student Groups

Students having a discussion

ASL Club

For more information on the American Sign Language Club, check out their Facebook group.

Mad Campus

Mad Campus is a peer group for students identifying with or experiencing madness, mental illness, and/or neurodiversity. Mad Campus meets throughout the school year on a semi-weekly basis. Check the D Center website for updated times.

ASUW Student Disability Commission

The Associated Students of the University of Washington Student Disability Commission was established to create communities for individuals with disabilities and their allies by providing programming, resources, and a safe accessible space. For more information, send an email to asuwswdc@uw.edu.

Find More Connections Online

There are over 900 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at UW. Take a look at all the clubs campus has to offer by browsing the RSO Directory.


Explore the UW’s Disability Studies Program

Disability studies (DS) at the UW involves a multi-campus interdisciplinary group of faculty, staff, students, and community members, who share an interest in questions relating to society’s understanding of disability. The undergraduate disability studies minor and the individualized studies major in disability studies provide opportunities for students to develop a strong interdisciplinary foundation in the social, legal, and political framing of disability. For more information, visit their website


Learn About Projects at the Center for Neurotechnology

The Center for Neurotechnology (CNT), located in the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering, collaborates with partner universities to facilitate advances in neural engineering. The CNT is recruiting UW students with disabilities who are interested in this complex field and brain-computer interface to participate in activities.

For more information, contact Scott Bellman, CNT associate director of diversity, at swb3@uw.edu or visit the CNT website.


Students share a touchscreen device

Scholarships and College Funding

Check Out DO-IT's Scholarships Website

Learn about scholarships for students with all types of disabilities and interests. Each scholarship includes eligibility, a deadline, and a link to apply. For more information or help applying to scholarships, contact DO-IT to receive editing and support. Learn more by visiting our Scholarships Page.

Explore College Funding for Students with Disabilities

Common forms of financial aid include grants, loans, work study, and scholarships. Many students use a combination of these financial aid resources. To learn more about strategies for funding your education, check out College Funding Strategies for Students with Disabilities.


Resource for Online Learning Strategies for Students with Disabilities

Classes continue to be held online and in hybrid formats. This has caused many students to need to adapt their preferred learning styles to new formats. Last year we reached out to the DO-IT community to let our participants share their experiences and recommendations for other students with disabilities who are taking online courses.

Read Online Learning Strategies for Students with Disabilities on the DO-IT website.


Student looks at bones encased in a glass box.

About DO-IT

Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology

DO-IT serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers. It promotes the use of computing and networking technologies to increase independence, productivity, and participation in education and employment. Based at the UW Seattle campus, DO-IT works with students preparing for college or currently attending any two- or four-year university.

DO-IT, University of Washington
Sheryl Burgstahler, Director
Scott Bellman, Program Manager
4545 15th Avenue NE, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98105
206-685-DOIT (voice/TTY)
doit@uw.edu
www.uw.edu/doit/

Follow DO-IT on Facebook and Twitter!

Join our DO-IT Friends Facebook group, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter to stay in touch!