[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
SHERYL BURGSTAHLER: Hello, I'm Sheryl Burgstahler,
and I direct the DO-IT Center--
Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology.
And in that center, we have numerous programs
funded by different agencies, and the sole purpose
is to increase the success of people
with disabilities, particularly in college
onto careers but everything else.
In DO-IT's Scholars program, we've kind of
become like an extended family.
One of our DO-IT Scholars, Dustine,
started the program in 2013.
DUSTINE: My name is Dustine, and I'm a student here
at the University of Washington School of Law,
pursuing a Juris Doctor degree,
hoping to graduate in June 2024.
From the classes, what I've learned is learning how to--
well, one of the big things is to be a self-advocate.
You've got to advocate for yourself.
I joined DO-IT when I was a junior in high school.
So that was around spring time, 2013.
I went back to DO-IT the following summer.
It became somewhat of a summer tradition for me
at least because I went back to summer study,
helped out as a member of the staff for--
through, I think, summer 2018,
which was right around the time I graduated undergraduate
at the University of Washington.
One thing that has me coming back to DO-IT all these years
is just knowing that it's kind of where my roots are,
especially as a person with a disability, Asperger syndrome,
or autism spectrum disorder as it's now known.
But also just knowing that with DO-IT,
it's also where I first learned about disability rights
and history.
And so in undergrad I took up disability studies as my minor
along with Law, Societies and Justice,
and Political Science as my majors.
But with disability studies, I was able to get
more and more involved with knowing
about those types--
that type of history.
And so it actually influenced the type of law
that I want to practice today, which is disability rights.
[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]
Several activities that I've done over the years
of me being undergrad at least--
first and foremost, the Husky Marching Band.
I was actually in the marching band as a member of the piccolo section
all four years.
["TEQUILA" SUNG IN UNISON]
I worked at the Commuter and Transfer Commons in the HUB
during my junior and senior years,
being there for anyone who has any questions or inquiries.
It's a huge honor to be selected for the Husky 100.
I looked at my phone.
I saw an email and it says, "Congratulations, you just
got selected for the Husky 100."
And I was just like--
I was like-- I was like this.
I was like, I can't even believe it.
I can't even believe I got nominated for--
I got selected for the Husky 100.
This past summer, I interned at Washington Civil and Disability Advocate
The first-year law school students, they have a class
called Legal Analysis, Research and Writing,
or LARW for short.
And so I was able to take what I've learned from that class
during my first year here at law school
and to apply it towards drafting motions,
basically asking the court to do something
in favor of your clients.
The DO-IT community has been incredibly supportive of me.
They've been there whenever I needed help
with getting accommodations in undergrad.
They've been there for me whenever I needed help
with personal statements and
even if I just needed to talk to someone.
So I want to give back.
And that's and being able to be a, being a disability rights attorney
and hopefully causing societal change for the good
would allow me to give back to the disability community.
One of my first friends that I met at DO-IT
is someone who has a vision-related disability.
And so over time, I've gotten the chance
to get to know her and have conversations with her.
Having that type of connection does kind of,
I guess, does kind of like bring,
I guess really increase my motivation to become more,
I guess, aware and to educate myself around those things.
And that has also been impactful.
I just wanted to express a moment of gratitude
for all of my mentors, my friends, family members
and my parents for helping me
get to where I'm at right now.
Thank you for all that you've done for me.
DO-IT, you are an inspiration.
You are an inspiration.
And I'm very fortunate to be a part of that, be a part of that group.
And I hope I'm making you all proud.
I really do.
[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]