• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

"Disabilities" is the first word, but there is a whole lot more in the University of Washington's DO-IT Program.

The entire title is "Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology." Those words all fit well together, insist those who run the project, those who volunteer and especially those who benefit.

Shortages of math and science teachers and students who specialize in these areas, exist nationwide. This is especially true among pupils who have a disability. They may lack access to facilities, curriculum materials and electronic resources. They also may lack confidence in these difficult fields of study.

The result is that people with a disability are not fully represented in such careers as science, engineering, business and technology. DO-IT relies on the use of computer and networking technologies to increase independence, productivity and participation in education and employment.

DO-IT's focus extends beyond students who have a disability. Resources are available for educators, librarians, employers, parents and mentors to better understand the roles they can play to promote inclusion.

Here's how the teamwork is created:

• DO-IT Scholars and Pals are high school students who have a disability but are aiming for college. They receive loans if needed of computers, software and adaptive technology for home use. They attend live-in summer camps with peers at the university's Seattle campus. Then they keep in touch via the Internet to share thoughts on academic programs, career assistance and personal life. They also participate in work-based education experiences.
• DO-IT Ambassadors are DO-IT Scholars and Pals who have moved on to college but continue to support the program, mostly through Internet contacts.
• DO-IT Mentors are volunteers among college students, faculty, and professionals. Many have disabilities themselves.

Program administrators say more than 90 percent of DO-IT participants complete college. One graduate with a blindness disability became a Rhodes Scholar, and another with paralysis from the neck down landed at Harvard.

Sponsors are the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington and the U.S. Department of Education. The address is DO-IT, University of Washington, P.O. Box 355670, Seattle, WA 98195-5670. The toll-free number is 1-888-972-DOIT (3648), and the e-mail address is doit@u.washington.edu.

Sources:
www.washington.edu/doit/
http://mailman.u.washington.edu

See Michael Thompson's Profile on Disaboom
See Michael Thompson's Profile on Associated Content

Read more:
For more about how schools are adapting their programs to include students with disabilities, see Education and Disability Acts Yield Positive Impact.

For more about mentoring programs for people with disabilities, see Disability Mentoring Day.

For more about distance learning and online education for people with disabilities, see Education and the Online Generation.