WEBVTT 00:00:07.676 --> 00:00:10.315 The DO-IT program at the University of Washington 00:00:10.316 --> 00:00:14.805 has a simple goal -- success for students with disabilities, 00:00:14.806 --> 00:00:19.525 through summer camp at the UW and on-line mentoring throughout the school year. 00:00:19.526 --> 00:00:22.075 DO-IT helps high school students learn to turn 00:00:22.076 --> 00:00:25.625 their dreams of college and careers into reality. 00:00:25.626 --> 00:00:31.625 For many of these young people it's the first time they haven't felt different or alone. 00:00:36.736 --> 00:00:39.325 These are really, really, really valuable prizes -- you will 00:00:39.326 --> 00:00:41.105 want these prizes. 00:00:41.106 --> 00:00:42.855 Shout out for me or Sheryl. 00:00:42.856 --> 00:00:45.705 Oh wow, okay, you guys are fast! 00:00:45.706 --> 00:00:51.275 DO-IT stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology. 00:00:51.276 --> 00:00:52.405 And what DO-IT's about is 00:00:52.406 --> 00:00:54.995 helping young people with disabilities make a successful 00:00:54.996 --> 00:00:57.655 transition to college and ultimately to careers. 00:00:57.656 --> 00:01:00.615 I'm loving every minute of it, it's really great. 00:01:00.616 --> 00:01:01.065 The heart surgery 00:01:01.066 --> 00:01:02.385 was the funnest, I think. 00:01:02.386 --> 00:01:05.895 It was like, on a sheep; it was really nice. 00:01:05.896 --> 00:01:08.325 Ooh, we've got a double bypass in progress here, eh? 00:01:08.326 --> 00:01:09.525 Time to do brain surgery. 00:01:09.526 --> 00:01:10.745 Alright. 00:01:10.746 --> 00:01:13.865 This could be our lunch for today. 00:01:13.866 --> 00:01:14.135 Ewww. 00:01:14.136 --> 00:01:17.545 In the DO-IT Scholars Program, we take twenty students 00:01:17.546 --> 00:01:18.005 per year. 00:01:18.006 --> 00:01:20.625 These are kids that have disabilities that are in high 00:01:20.626 --> 00:01:24.275 school that have the aptitude to complete a college education, but 00:01:24.276 --> 00:01:27.355 are facing significant challenges because of their disability. 00:01:27.356 --> 00:01:34.295 I really enjoy all the college preparation and being able to live on 00:01:34.296 --> 00:01:37.695 the college campus and in the dorms is a nice experience. 00:01:37.696 --> 00:01:40.645 My particular injury is fairly severe. 00:01:40.646 --> 00:01:42.415 I can't use my hands at 00:01:42.416 --> 00:01:48.025 all, and being independent is something that's really important 00:01:48.026 --> 00:01:48.265 to me. 00:01:48.266 --> 00:01:53.505 And staying in the dorm it really helps with, you know, 00:01:53.506 --> 00:01:55.795 getting the mindset of being more independent. 00:01:55.796 --> 00:01:59.755 There are a lot of areas in information technology where 00:01:59.756 --> 00:02:03.785 you might be able to apply your artistic skills or your writing skills. 00:02:03.786 --> 00:02:06.265 We provide them with a computer, in their home, and 00:02:06.266 --> 00:02:07.725 access to the internet. 00:02:07.726 --> 00:02:09.755 They communicate with their peers 00:02:09.756 --> 00:02:12.635 they also communicate with mentors, who are individuals with 00:02:12.636 --> 00:02:16.045 disabilities who have been successful in college and careers, 00:02:16.046 --> 00:02:17.775 and communicate over the internet. 00:02:17.776 --> 00:02:19.735 Making friends is really big. 00:02:19.736 --> 00:02:21.085 And e-mailing them and 00:02:21.086 --> 00:02:23.685 keeping in touch with them, that's great, I like that, a lot. 00:02:23.686 --> 00:02:29.175 And having my computer for schoolwork, that's good, very good. 00:02:29.176 --> 00:02:32.925 Peddle it like this, but be careful about pulling back too hard. 00:02:32.926 --> 00:02:35.565 It's a good experience because you get to meet people 00:02:35.566 --> 00:02:41.415 with other disabilities and you really realize that no matter what 00:02:41.416 --> 00:02:45.945 your disability, you're all created equal in some aspect of it. 00:02:45.946 --> 00:02:50.425 And you don't feel alone like you would in other situations. 00:02:50.426 --> 00:02:52.915 Everybody just wants to be friends with everybody and 00:02:52.916 --> 00:02:54.145 I really like that. 00:02:54.146 --> 00:02:56.635 Supposing we want to study starts. 00:02:56.636 --> 00:02:57.065 Can we send 00:02:57.066 --> 00:02:58.545 a spacecraft to the stars? 00:02:58.546 --> 00:03:00.715 By working with these young people, and helping them 00:03:00.716 --> 00:03:04.915 reach higher levels of success than they might achieve otherwise, 00:03:04.916 --> 00:03:07.845 they become role models in their school and in their community. 00:03:07.846 --> 00:03:11.035 and many, many people are touched by the DO-IT program 00:03:11.036 --> 00:03:14.245 just by seeing the success of these kids with disabilities. 00:03:15.516 --> 00:03:18.785 00:03:18.786 --> 00:03:24.085 Wow, I am once again reminded that I have the very 00:03:24.086 --> 00:03:27.725 best job in the state of Washington, and perhaps in the 00:03:27.726 --> 00:03:28.755 United States. 00:03:28.756 --> 00:03:33.305 On behalf of the DO-IT staff and the volunteers 00:03:33.306 --> 00:03:37.885 and the mentors and the participants in our program and 00:03:37.886 --> 00:03:42.645 the advocates, I am truly honored to accept this award. 00:03:42.646 --> 00:03:49.325 Our shared vision is of a world where everyone has opportunities 00:03:49.326 --> 00:03:55.145 to participate and to contribute and to succeed, regardless of 00:03:55.146 --> 00:03:58.125 their abilities and disabilities. 00:03:58.126 --> 00:04:00.824 The success of our participants, 00:04:00.826 --> 00:04:04.735 as they move on to college and they pursue careers and 00:04:04.736 --> 00:04:08.825 they contribute to their communities, is the measure of 00:04:08.826 --> 00:04:11.775 success of the DO-IT program. 00:04:11.776 --> 00:04:14.435 The DO-IT participants are truly 00:04:14.436 --> 00:04:18.235 changing this world and they're making it a better place for all 00:04:18.236 --> 00:04:20.235 of us, so thank you, very much.