WEBVTT 00:00:01.210 --> 00:00:01.835 align:center [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:00:01.835 --> 00:00:03.745 align:center DO-IT Scholar Profile: Dustine. 00:00:06.590 --> 00:00:09.260 align:center For more than 30 years, the University 00:00:09.260 --> 00:00:12.980 align:center of Washington's Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:15.960 align:center and Technology Center, also known as DO-IT, 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:18.740 align:center has hosted programs to promote equal access 00:00:18.740 --> 00:00:21.110 align:center within challenging post-secondary programs 00:00:21.110 --> 00:00:22.350 align:center and careers. 00:00:22.350 --> 00:00:24.840 align:center Some projects work directly with students, 00:00:24.840 --> 00:00:26.720 align:center such as DO-IT Scholars. 00:00:26.720 --> 00:00:29.815 align:center This video features a DO-IT Scholar named Dustine. 00:00:33.860 --> 00:00:36.110 align:center My name is Dustine, and I'm a student here 00:00:36.110 --> 00:00:38.390 align:center at the University of Washington School of Law. 00:00:38.390 --> 00:00:42.260 align:center I'm pursuing a Juris Doctor degree. 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:46.010 align:center I'm hoping to graduate in June 2024. 00:00:46.010 --> 00:00:49.650 align:center From the classes, what I've learned is learning how to-- 00:00:49.650 --> 00:00:51.990 align:center well, one of the big things is to be a self-advocate. 00:00:51.990 --> 00:00:53.490 align:center You've got to advocate for yourself. 00:00:53.490 --> 00:00:56.640 align:center I joined DO-IT when I was a junior in high school, 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.070 align:center so that was around spring time, 2013. 00:00:59.070 --> 00:01:01.680 align:center I went back to DO-IT the following summer. 00:01:01.680 --> 00:01:03.930 align:center It became somewhat of a summer tradition for me, 00:01:03.930 --> 00:01:07.150 align:center at least, because I went back to Summer Study, helped out 00:01:07.150 --> 00:01:10.220 align:center as a member of the staff for through, 00:01:10.220 --> 00:01:13.390 align:center I think, summer of 2018, which was right around the time 00:01:13.390 --> 00:01:16.370 align:center that I graduated undergrad here at the University of Washington. 00:01:16.370 --> 00:01:20.680 align:center One thing that has me coming back to DO-IT all these years 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:23.380 align:center is just knowing that it's kind of where my roots are. 00:01:23.380 --> 00:01:25.720 align:center Especially as a person with a disability, 00:01:25.720 --> 00:01:28.810 align:center Asperger's syndrome or autism spectrum disorder as it's 00:01:28.810 --> 00:01:30.340 align:center now known. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:33.028 align:center But also just knowing that with DO-IT, 00:01:33.028 --> 00:01:35.320 align:center it's also where I first learned about disability rights 00:01:35.320 --> 00:01:36.500 align:center and history. 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:40.302 align:center And so in undergrad, I took up disability studies as my minor, 00:01:40.302 --> 00:01:42.760 align:center along with law, society, and justice, and political science 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:43.730 align:center as my majors. 00:01:43.730 --> 00:01:45.700 align:center But with disability studies, I was 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:48.460 align:center able to get more and more involved with knowing 00:01:48.460 --> 00:01:51.170 align:center about that type of history. 00:01:51.170 --> 00:01:54.250 align:center And so it actually influenced the type of law 00:01:54.250 --> 00:01:58.550 align:center that I want to practice today, which is disability rights. 00:01:58.550 --> 00:02:01.330 align:center [PEPPY MUSIC] 00:02:01.330 --> 00:02:02.770 align:center Several activities that I've done 00:02:02.770 --> 00:02:06.730 align:center over the years of me being an undergrad at least, 00:02:06.730 --> 00:02:08.580 align:center first and foremost, the Husky marching band. 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:11.163 align:center I was actually in the marching band as a member of the Piccolo 00:02:11.163 --> 00:02:12.240 align:center section all four years. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:12.823 align:center Tequila! 00:02:15.260 --> 00:02:18.470 align:center I worked at the Commuter and Transfer Commons 00:02:18.470 --> 00:02:21.360 align:center in the HUB during my junior and senior years, 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:27.180 align:center being there for anyone who has any questions or inquiries. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:31.200 align:center It's a huge honor to be selected for the Husky 100. 00:02:31.200 --> 00:02:32.490 align:center I looked at my phone. 00:02:32.490 --> 00:02:33.570 align:center I saw an email. 00:02:33.570 --> 00:02:35.330 align:center And it says, congratulations, you just 00:02:35.330 --> 00:02:36.750 align:center got selected for the Husky 100. 00:02:36.750 --> 00:02:37.700 align:center And I was just like-- 00:02:37.700 --> 00:02:39.510 align:center I was like-- I was like this. 00:02:39.510 --> 00:02:41.190 align:center I was like, I can't even believe it. 00:02:41.190 --> 00:02:43.200 align:center I can't even believe I got nominated for-- 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:44.970 align:center I got selected for the Husky 100. 00:02:44.970 --> 00:02:47.360 align:center This past summer, I interned at Washington Civil 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:48.810 align:center and Disability Advocate. 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:50.340 align:center The first year law school students, 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:53.880 align:center they have a class called Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing, 00:02:53.880 --> 00:02:55.740 align:center or LARW for short. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:03:00.560 align:center And so I was able to take what I've learned from that class 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.410 align:center during my first year here at law school 00:03:03.410 --> 00:03:06.660 align:center and to apply it towards drafting motions, 00:03:06.660 --> 00:03:09.650 align:center basically asking the court to do something 00:03:09.650 --> 00:03:12.030 align:center in favor of your clients. 00:03:12.030 --> 00:03:21.610 align:center The DO-IT community has been incredibly supportive of me. 00:03:21.610 --> 00:03:24.370 align:center They've been there whenever I needed help 00:03:24.370 --> 00:03:27.140 align:center with getting accommodations in undergrad. 00:03:27.140 --> 00:03:29.140 align:center They've been there for me whenever I needed help 00:03:29.140 --> 00:03:32.050 align:center with personal statements, and even if I just 00:03:32.050 --> 00:03:33.590 align:center needed to talk to someone. 00:03:33.590 --> 00:03:35.450 align:center So I want to give back. 00:03:35.450 --> 00:03:39.760 align:center And being a disability rights attorney 00:03:39.760 --> 00:03:46.120 align:center and hopefully causing societal change for the good 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:50.178 align:center would allow me to give back to the disability community. 00:03:50.178 --> 00:03:51.970 align:center One of my first friends that I met at DO-IT 00:03:51.970 --> 00:03:57.042 align:center is someone who has a vision-related disability, 00:03:57.042 --> 00:03:58.750 align:center and so, over time, I've gotten the chance 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:03.800 align:center to get to know her and have conversations with her. 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:08.800 align:center Having that type of connection does bring, I guess, 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:12.640 align:center really increased my motivation to become more aware 00:04:12.640 --> 00:04:14.570 align:center and to educate myself around those things. 00:04:14.570 --> 00:04:18.510 align:center And that has also been impactful. 00:04:18.510 --> 00:04:20.459 align:center I just wanted to express a moment of gratitude 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:24.000 align:center for all of my mentors, my friends, family 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.420 align:center members, and my parents for helping me 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:28.770 align:center get to where I'm at right now. 00:04:28.770 --> 00:04:30.520 align:center Thank you for all that you've done for me. 00:04:30.520 --> 00:04:33.180 align:center DO-IT, you are an inspiration. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:34.630 align:center You are an inspiration. 00:04:38.490 --> 00:04:42.450 align:center And I'm very fortunate to be a part of that, 00:04:42.450 --> 00:04:43.570 align:center be a part of that group. 00:04:43.570 --> 00:04:47.620 align:center And I hope I'm making you all proud. 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:48.120 align:center I really do. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.640 align:center [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:04:50.640 --> 00:04:53.730 align:center To learn about how you can get involved or for more 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:56.740 align:center resources about supporting students with disabilities, 00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:02.820 align:center consult uw.edu/doit. 00:05:02.820 --> 00:05:08.370 align:center Copyright 2025, University of Washington. 00:05:08.370 --> 00:05:10.950 align:center Permission is granted to use this material 00:05:10.950 --> 00:05:13.320 align:center for non-commercial purposes provided 00:05:13.320 --> 00:05:16.160 align:center the source is acknowledged.