IDEALS attendees

The 2023 Grad Cohort Workshop for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Leadership Skills () was held March 23 鈥 25 in Hawaii. 2023 marks the third year that the Computing Research Association鈥檚 Widening Participation () initiative has hosted IDEALS, and the third year that AccessComputing has provided Bronze sponsorship for the event. The two-day workshop convened over 100 graduate students and 30 professional mentors in computing for sessions spanning practical advice for early, middle, and later years of graduate studies, with topics ranging from 鈥淢aster鈥檚 vs. Ph.D.鈥 to 鈥淣avigating Microaggressions and Finding Your Voice.鈥 Organizers鈥 commitment to disability inclusion was demonstrated by self-reported 40% disability representation among attendees and continuation of robust measures.

AccessComputing leadership, partners, student members, and alumni were present throughout the schedule. (co-PI) presented 鈥淏uilding Resiliency and Overcoming Failure,鈥 (alum) presented 鈥淪ummer Internships,鈥 (co-PI) presented 鈥淧resentation and Other Verbal Communication Skills,鈥 and several members (including ) participated in the career advising and resume advising post-workshop sessions.

Empowerment of People with Disabilities panelists

, a Ph.D. candidate at the 糖心原创 and an AccessComputing Team Member, hosted a highly engaging plenary panel entitled 鈥淓mpowerment of People with Disabilities.鈥 In framing the panel conversation, Sharif explored the meaning of 鈥渆mpowerment鈥 as a quality that originates from individuals with disabilities when their social and physical environments lack barriers. Dr. Kane expressed the nuances of intersecting identities; whereas disability can be a source of oppression, being a white male can be a source of privilege. Dr. Rodger shared her experience of diagnosing her non-apparent disability later in life. Dr. Kushalnagar impressed the audience of computing students with a call to include people with disabilities by introducing the popular refrain 鈥渘othing without us.鈥

AccessComputing Community Meetup participants

Drs. Stacy Branham, Sheryl Burgstahler, and Raja Kushalnagar hosted the AccessComputing Community Meetup immediately after the workshop鈥檚 conclusion. Two dozen attendees joined to discuss 础肠肠别蝉蝉颁辞尘辫耻迟颈苍驳鈥檚 mission, resources, and ways to get involved. Participants took turns asking questions about the experiences of AccessComputing members and alumni, and they requested help filling out the application to join.