DO-IT Program - UW 360

This video discusses the DO-IT Center at the University of Washington. It was produced by UW 360, an Emmy Award-winning show that profiles the fascinating people, programs and community connections that define the University of Washington. Since 1992, students with all sorts of disabilities have been empowered through DO-IT programs.

Also available with audio description: https://youtu.be/jHvCCTwFH_o

[music]

>> Anita: Hi guys!

>> Group: Hey!

>> Anita: How's it going?

>> Group: Good!

>> Narrator: For more than twenty years

the University of Washington's
DO-IT Center

has been an advocate for
students with disabilities

empowering them and
providing a supportive community

as they enter college.

Sheryl Burgstahler is the founder
and director of DO-IT,

which stands for Disabilities, Opportunities,
Internetworking, and Technology.

>> Sheryl: I felt there was a real need.

We have special ed programs, we have
services for people with disabilities

but I thought there was a need

to actually connect with teenagers
who have disabilities

and help them transition from one phase
of their life to another.

And there isn't a safety net there.

So my idea was to connect with
teenagers with disabilities

and have them become
part of a community.

>> Erika: My name is Erika
and I'm deaf.

And I'm planning on majoring in English
with interest in business.

>> Kayla: Hi my name is Kayla

and I am a sophomore here at
the University of Washington

where I am double majoring in law,
society and justice; and disability studies.

I want to take that and eventually become
a disability rights lawyer.

And I was born a congenital amputee,
missing three of my limbs.

>> Sheryl: I also thought there was a
need to have more leaders

in the disabled community

and students don't become leaders
if they don't have leadership experiences

and so within the DO-IT program

we provide them with experiences
to become leaders

like mentoring younger students.

>> Narrator: That happens every summer
at DO-IT summer camp held at UW.

Students from all over the state
who have disabilities

learn about college, technology,
and each other.

>> Sheryl: What they find out

when we bring together other students
with disabilities with them is that

there other students that are facing some
of the same challenges that they are.

But they also learn about
different kinds of disabilities.

So a student who has dyslexia,
for instance,

will learn about challenges faced by
a student who's blind.

>> Narrator: At the camp, Anita,
who uses a wheelchair,

talked with Eric about
macular degeneration.

>> Anita: How do you cope
with your disability, Eric?

>> Eric: I mostly just ask for help a lot.

Like I need larger print papers
for all of my tests

and I need extra time because
my eyes get tired really easily.

>> Narrator: DO-IT's goal is to prepare
the students for successful careers.

And in order to get there,
they need to succeed in college.

>> Sheryl: It's important that
people with disabilities

are able to access
programs and resources

just simply as a matter of social justice.

>> Scott Bellman: The amazing thing
about being here such a long time

is seeing some of the students who just
kind of grow up right in front of me.

When I started 15 years ago
the students I met were 15 years old

and now they're 30.

And it's really fun to see them all,
you know, find their way

and create a life
for themselves.

>> Narrator: DO-IT has taught them
they can do anything.