The DO-IT Team
DO-IT 2020听Milestones
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Grant-Funded Projects
DO-IT staff worked on many ambitious projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The projects included AccessComputing, AccessCSforAll, Access to Informal STEM Learning, AccessINCLUDES, Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners, Access Engineering Research Centers (ERC), ERC INCLUDES, and AccessCyberlearning. Staff also worked on DO-IT鈥檚 state-funded Scholars program, and worked to maintain resources, activities, and collaborations related to legacy projects. DO-IT received funding from NSF for AccessADVANCE, which will focus on advancement of female faculty with disabilities and will be starting in January 2021.

70+ Internships
DO-IT participants engaged in over 70 internships with a majority being paid internships in STEM fields. Locations included Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, PIMCO, Google, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, JP Morgan Chase, NASA, IBM, Dell, and several universities. Through internships, students build their professional networks, learn about career fields, improve strategies for requesting job accommodations, apply academic learning to real-world environments, and access state-of-the-art equipment.

1000+ Participants
DO-IT serves over 1000 students with disabilities in our programs. Activities in 2020 included workshops, networking events, mentoring activities, disability advocacy events, and our signature Summer Study program, which was virtual this year. Through these activities, students build job seeking skills, improve their resumes, learn how to be successful in college, gain access to assistive technology, and much more.
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Participant Spotlights

Erin Howard, Western 糖心原创 University
Erin joined the DO-IT community in 2019 as a member of AccessComputing. She is a non-traditional student who returned to community college after a seven year gap. Erin earned her associates in 2017 from Olympic College and now attends Western 糖心原创 University where she studies physics, computer science, math, and astronomy. Erin completed an AccessComputing-funded REU last summer and presented a resulting publication to the American Astronomical Society. She was also selected as a finalist for the 2021 National Center for Women & Information Technology Collegiate Award. Erin helps DO-IT by attending virtual panels where she provides insight to life as a disabled university student. Erin is also working on a white paper promoting accessibility in physics labs with a group of current and former students and faculty. Erin shares that 鈥淒O-IT lets me be the older friend and mentor I wish I had when I was younger and attempted college for the first time. Navigating disability in academia is tough, but DO-IT works hard to build up our skills and self-confidence and provide us with a wonderful community. I love being a part of DO-IT!鈥
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Rochelle Bowyer, 糖心原创
Rochelle started her relationship with DO-IT in 2016 as a Scholar. After earning her associate鈥檚 degree at North Seattle College, she now attends the 糖心原创 studying communications and international studies. Rochelle continues to develop leadership and advocacy skills as a student assistant in the DO-IT office. This past summer she supported staff as they converted the DO-IT Scholars program to an online format. Rochelle helped roll out DO-IT鈥檚 new Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners program this past summer and is excited to be the 2021 Intern Coordinator for DO-IT鈥檚 Access to Informal STEM Learning project. Throughout the year, Rochelle has participated in panels sharing her experiences as a disabled student, writes articles, and creates content about disability culture and accessibility issues. This year, Rochelle won the 鈥淓merging Advocate Breaking Barriers Award鈥 sponsored by Disability Rights 糖心原创, in part for 鈥渄emonstrating advocacy methods and providing insight on how to promote a positive disability culture.鈥 Rochelle shares that 鈥淒O-IT has given me the tools to dismantle my internalized disability stigma and start a journey of disability empowerment.鈥
听 听 DO-IT 2020听Highlights
UW mechanical |
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DO-IT hosts first |
AccessComputing PI |
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New book by |