1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:04,800 [Music] 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:06,900 >> Sheryl Burgstahler: What we're trying to do in the DO-IT Center 3 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:09,260 is to help students with disabilities 4 00:00:09,260 --> 00:00:12,360 be successful in college and careers, 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,050 but also using technology as an empowering tool. 6 00:00:15,050 --> 00:00:17,680 I founded the DO-IT program in 1992 7 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,280 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. 8 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,330 Many of our projects are funded by the National Science Foundation, 9 00:00:23,330 --> 00:00:24,670 for example, AccessComputing. 10 00:00:24,670 --> 00:00:27,509 We work with computing faculty nationwide 11 00:00:27,509 --> 00:00:30,560 to help them include students with disabilities in their programs. 12 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,160 We have a similar project called AccessEngineering 13 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,290 where we work with engineering faculty. 14 00:00:35,290 --> 00:00:39,770 Another project that we have is called AccessISL, Informal Science Learning, 15 00:00:39,770 --> 00:00:43,410 and there we're working with people that develop museum exhibits, 16 00:00:43,410 --> 00:00:47,080 helping them make them more accessible to people with disabilities. 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:48,660 The DO-IT Scholars program 18 00:00:48,660 --> 00:00:52,350 is where we work with teens with disabilities, get them ready for college and careers. 19 00:00:52,350 --> 00:00:56,170 >> Scott Bellman: For the DO-IT Scholars program, we'd like to start engaging students and families 20 00:00:56,170 --> 00:00:58,240 when they're sophomores in high school. 21 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,710 And that’s very intentional because we invite them to come and live with us 22 00:01:01,710 --> 00:01:04,140 on the university campus for three summers 23 00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:06,570 and we like to have after those experiences occur 24 00:01:06,570 --> 00:01:09,050 after their sophomore year, after their junior year 25 00:01:09,050 --> 00:01:11,100 and then as they're graduating high school. 26 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:13,280 When the DO-IT Scholars are at summer camp, 27 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,920 they take a lot of classes and courses with us. 28 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,750 And so some of those are related to leadership and advocacy. 29 00:01:19,750 --> 00:01:21,690 Some of those are related to different career fields 30 00:01:21,690 --> 00:01:23,070 that they might want to learn about 31 00:01:23,070 --> 00:01:25,890 and some of it is related to college access 32 00:01:25,890 --> 00:01:30,940 and how to advocate for what you might need in a college environment. 33 00:01:30,940 --> 00:01:33,979 For their third summer as high school graduates, 34 00:01:33,979 --> 00:01:35,960 many of whom have been accepted into college, 35 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:38,549 they work as leaders and mentors to the younger students. 36 00:01:38,549 --> 00:01:42,950 >> Randy: I was one of the first DO-IT Scholars. 37 00:01:42,950 --> 00:01:46,780 The mentorship that I had early on from DO-IT 38 00:01:46,780 --> 00:01:52,750 was sufficient to show me how to actually mentor people. 39 00:01:52,750 --> 00:01:58,020 And that has specifically influenced my career because I manage people now. 40 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:02,490 >> Anita: The DO-IT Scholars program taught me that I really need to be 41 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:04,170 willing to advocate for myself. 42 00:02:04,170 --> 00:02:08,670 >> Kayla Brown: I got into the program when I was a junior in high school 43 00:02:08,670 --> 00:02:14,409 and that was the first time that I met other people with disabilities who 44 00:02:14,409 --> 00:02:19,049 wanted to go to college, and were thinking about a career even beyond. 45 00:02:19,049 --> 00:02:21,239 >> Sheryl: I've hired a lot of people in my life 46 00:02:21,239 --> 00:02:24,620 and I've never hired them because of what they can't do. 47 00:02:24,620 --> 00:02:25,800 It's always because of what they can do 48 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,599 and the DO-IT program, these kids have an opportunity to meet adults 49 00:02:30,599 --> 00:02:33,659 that see their opportunities before them 50 00:02:33,659 --> 00:02:36,420 and figure out how they can maximize the use of those skills 51 00:02:36,420 --> 00:02:38,700 and interests they have to be successful.