0:00:03.240,0:00:04.800 [Music] 0:00:04.880,0:00:06.900 >> Sheryl Burgstahler: What we're[br]trying to do in the DO-IT Center 0:00:06.900,0:00:09.260 is to help students[br]with disabilities 0:00:09.260,0:00:12.360 be successful in[br]college and careers, 0:00:12.360,0:00:15.050 but also using technology[br]as an empowering tool. 0:00:15.050,0:00:17.680 I founded the DO-IT[br]program in 1992 0:00:17.680,0:00:20.280 with a grant from the[br]National Science Foundation. 0:00:20.280,0:00:23.330 Many of our projects are funded by[br]the National Science Foundation, 0:00:23.330,0:00:24.670 for example, AccessComputing. 0:00:24.670,0:00:27.509 We work with computing[br]faculty nationwide 0:00:27.509,0:00:30.560 to help them include students[br]with disabilities in their programs. 0:00:30.560,0:00:33.160 We have a similar project[br]called AccessEngineering 0:00:33.160,0:00:35.290 where we work with[br]engineering faculty. 0:00:35.290,0:00:39.770 Another project that we have is called[br]AccessISL, Informal Science Learning, 0:00:39.770,0:00:43.410 and there we're working with people[br]that develop museum exhibits, 0:00:43.410,0:00:47.080 helping them make them more accessible[br]to people with disabilities. 0:00:47.080,0:00:48.660 The DO-IT Scholars program 0:00:48.660,0:00:52.350 is where we work with teens with disabilities,[br]get them ready for college and careers. 0:00:52.350,0:00:56.170 >> Scott Bellman: For the DO-IT Scholars program,[br]we'd like to start engaging students and families 0:00:56.170,0:00:58.240 when they're sophomores in high school. 0:00:58.240,0:01:01.710 And that’s very intentional because[br]we invite them to come and live with us 0:01:01.710,0:01:04.140 on the university campus[br]for three summers 0:01:04.140,0:01:06.570 and we like to have[br]after those experiences occur 0:01:06.570,0:01:09.050 after their sophomore year,[br]after their junior year 0:01:09.050,0:01:11.100 and then as they're[br]graduating high school. 0:01:11.100,0:01:13.280 When the DO-IT Scholars[br]are at summer camp, 0:01:13.280,0:01:15.920 they take a lot of classes[br]and courses with us. 0:01:15.920,0:01:19.750 And so some of those are related[br]to leadership and advocacy. 0:01:19.750,0:01:21.690 Some of those are related to[br]different career fields 0:01:21.690,0:01:23.070 that they might[br]want to learn about 0:01:23.070,0:01:25.890 and some of it is related[br]to college access 0:01:25.890,0:01:30.940 and how to advocate for what you[br]might need in a college environment. 0:01:30.940,0:01:33.979 For their third summer[br]as high school graduates, 0:01:33.979,0:01:35.960 many of whom have been[br]accepted into college, 0:01:35.960,0:01:38.549 they work as leaders and mentors[br]to the younger students. 0:01:38.549,0:01:42.950 >> Randy: I was one of the[br]first DO-IT Scholars. 0:01:42.950,0:01:46.780 The mentorship that I had[br]early on from DO-IT 0:01:46.780,0:01:52.750 was sufficient to show me[br]how to actually mentor people. 0:01:52.750,0:01:58.020 And that has specifically influenced my career[br]because I manage people now. 0:01:58.020,0:02:02.490 >> Anita: The DO-IT Scholars program[br]taught me that I really need to be 0:02:02.490,0:02:04.170 willing to advocate for myself. 0:02:04.170,0:02:08.670 >> Kayla Brown: I got into the program[br]when I was a junior in high school 0:02:08.670,0:02:14.409 and that was the first time that I met[br]other people with disabilities who 0:02:14.409,0:02:19.049 wanted to go to college, and were[br]thinking about a career even beyond. 0:02:19.049,0:02:21.239 >> Sheryl: I've hired[br]a lot of people in my life 0:02:21.239,0:02:24.620 and I've never hired them[br]because of what they can't do. 0:02:24.620,0:02:25.800 It's always because of[br]what they can do 0:02:25.800,0:02:30.599 and the DO-IT program, these kids[br]have an opportunity to meet adults 0:02:30.599,0:02:33.659 that see their opportunities before them 0:02:33.659,0:02:36.420 and figure out how they can[br]maximize the use of those skills 0:02:36.420,0:02:38.700 and interests they have[br]to be successful.