I'm from Rigby, Idaho.
Congratulations DO-IT Scholars, Pals, Ambassadors, and Mentors! Your efforts in supporting one another resulted in DO-IT winning The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. In fall of 1997, I accepted it on your behalf at the White House.
Scholars are high school students with disabilities who are preparing for college. They have interests in challenging fields that include science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. They travel from across the nation to attend Summer Study programs at the University of Washington in Seattle and communicate via the Internet year-round. More high school students with disabilities, the DO-IT Pals, join this electronic community. DO-IT Scholars who graduate from high school and move on to college or work become DO-IT Ambassadors, sharing their experiences with younger Pals and Scholars. This electronic community is also supported by DO-IT Mentors. Most DO-IT Mentors have disabilities themselves and are pursuing post-secondary studies or are employed.
Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Director, DO-IT
College of Engineering/Computing & Communications
© 1998, University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for non- commercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.
Two groups of Phase I Scholars attended their first DO-IT Summer Study sessions at the University of Washington in July and August of 1998. They learned about college life and participated in college and work preparation activities. Throughout the year, they communicate with each other and other DO-IT participants. They use the Internet to support their academic studies, and they complete projects in exciting fields including science, engineering, mathematics, and technology.
I'm from Rigby, Idaho.
I go to the Secondary Alternative School in Bothell, WA. I'll be a junior this fall. My disability is a traumatic brain injury. My interests include art, history, and science.
I am from Orlando, Florida. I am sixteen and I'll be a junior. My disability is Cerebral Palsy and I get around in my power wheelchair. I use Power Secretary and a laptop computer at school. My favorite class in school is English. Some of my hobbies include reading mythology and science fiction, surfing the Net, and e-mailing friends.
I live in Gilbert, Arizona. My interests include biology and education. I love science. I love animals and doing labs. I love math. I am in the 11th grade. I am active in lots of clubs and sports. In the Continental Drift Club, we exchange students from around the world. In Anytown we help other students and discuss multicultural-related topics. I am a manager of Highland High School track team and I know CPR. I have mild Cerebral Palsy and I KNOW THAT WON'T STOP ME FROM DOING ANYTHING THAT IS HARD FOR ME.
I am 16 years old and a high school junior in Spokane, Washington. I am on the golf team and president of the chess team at school. I am also involved in Future Homemakers of America (FHA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
I am seventeen years old. This fall I will be a senior in high school. I live in New Orleans, Louisiana where I have been diagnosed with glaucoma, which is an eye disorder. For fun I like writing poetry, reading books and acting.
Hi everyone. I live in the Central Adirondacks in New York state. I am 17 years old and am a junior in high school. My disability is Cerebral Palsy. My interest in science is the field of ecology. My hobbies are hiking and mountain climbing. The Internet and Web access have been very valuable to me.
I'm in 10th grade in Washington state. I have four brothers (all half), a step dad (who is really cool), my mom, and biological dad (I like him, but don't talk to him much). I like doing high school Knowledge Bowl. My disability is a mobility impairment. I like all kinds of science and math. I like reading and playing on computers. Having a computer and Internet access has been really great because I write really slow, but I can type really fast. DO-IT will show me better ways to do things as opposed to my usual habits.
I'm 17 years old and I live in Minnesota. I'll be a senior this fall. My disability is Cerebral Palsy. I'm involved in drama at my school. In my spare time I enjoy basketball, swimming, and going to movies.
I am 15 and live in Redmond, WA. I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Dyslexsia, and Dysgraphia. I enjoy chatting, hanging out with friends, playing pool, and cracking jokes.
I live in Neenah, WI and I am a high school senior. My disability is Cerebral Palsy. Some of my interests are writing short works and poems and performing modern and ballet dance. I received four different writing awards on short pieces that I have composed. In June, I was given a dance scholarship to go to the Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels adult workshop held in Ohio. DO-IT is a wonderful program for students, like myself, who have disabilities and are seriously considering higher education. My plans are to attend a homestate university, major in Pyschology, and minor in English.
My name is Margarete, but I go by Maggie. I live in Florida. I will be a junior this school year ('98-99). I am in my high school's flag corps and participate in Winterguard. I am also involved in High School/High Tech. Through this program I am able to have a summer internship at NASA. The nature of my disability is reading comprehension which includes spelling and reading. My interests include space, chemistry, aerospace, chemical and nuclear engineering, and algebra. Working on the computer has helped me in school and in everyday activities. DO-IT lets me see what a college is like and what is expected of me.
I live in San Diego, California. I am 16 years old and I'm in 11th grade. My disability is Cerebral Palsy. I'll be taking AP Calculus and AP Physics next year. I am a manager of the varsity football and baseball teams at my school. I have participated in many sports. For example, when I was young, I played little league, karate, and track and field. My favorite sport is baseball. My motto is "Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something."
I'm 17 years old and attend high school in Des Moines, Washington (not Iowa). I have Cerebral Palsy. I intend to attend college after graduation - community, then university - with interests in computer science, specifically computer programming, and creative writing. In my spare time, I write poetry.
I live in Washington. I will be in eleventh grade this fall. I have Methamalonic Acidemia which makes me not able to walk. I would like to become an accountant. I have been keeping track of my own stocks. I like computers, coin collecting, cards, legos, and Nintendo.
I'm in the 11th grade in New Mexico. My disability is Dyslexia. I enjoy drama. My hobbies are playing on the computer and hanging out with my family and friends.
I am 16 years old. I live in Portland, Oregon. I am visually impaired. I am a junior in high school. I enjoy being around my friends in my free time but I don't get much of that. I love football, movies, and music. I plan to become a child counselor or a teacher once I graduate from college. Maybe I'll do both.
I am 17 years old and I go to school in Indiana. In the fall I will be starting my senior year. I enjoy math, science, and computers. My hobbies run kind of thin but I do enjoy watching Sports Center and hanging out with my friends. I participate in track, wrestling, and swimming teams. I am a huge sports fan and I love a good football game (Go 49ers). I hope to attend college and have a productive career.
I am a 10th grader from Portland, OR. I have one younger sister. I am an active member of my local Unitarian Youth Group and the MAC Club teen committee. I have congenital stationary night blindness as well as some motor deficiencies. I have interests in physics and chemistry. My hobbies include watching sports and surfing around on the Internet. I use a laptop at school to type all my work because I have poor handwriting. I couldn't survive without it. I hope that DO-IT will ease my transition to college.
I live in Kansas. In 1985 I was diagnosed with Ataxia Telangiectasia, a rare neurological condition in which the motor movement center of the brain deteriorates. I am entering my senior year in high school where I am Co-President of the Science Olympiad Club and a member of the Math and Spanish Clubs. During the past year I was accepted into the National Honor Society. I am interested in all aspects of science, especially geology, earth science (plate tectonics) and paleontology. I also enjoy all sports. In fact, I played seven seasons of soccer while I was still mobile. I have been taking Karate lessons since 1986 and continue this activity from my wheelchair. Through DO-IT and the Internet I hope I will gain access to new sources of information and knowledge to help me at school and make new friends.
My name is David (Buddy). I'm from Alaska and I will be a senior in high school. My disability is quadriplegia. I like baseball, and hanging out with my friends, and I think "TV rocks." I have strong interests in computers and science.
I live on a farm between the towns of Wolbach and Cedar Rapids in Central Nebraska. I am a totally blind seventeen-year-old student who will be a junior in high school in the fall. I am interested in physical science and algebra. I feel that computers and the Internet will enhance the quality of my life, and give me greater ease in finding information that I need. Some of my extracurricular activities include playing trumpet in our school's band, being on the speech team, and taking part in the Youth Leadership Team at our school. I feel that DO-IT will have a great impact on my future. I hope to make new friends and learn exciting things.
I have Attention Deficit Disorder. ADD makes it hard for me to pay attention and stay focused on whatever I am doing. I am seventeen years old and I live in Albany, Georgia. I like to talk to girls, swim, play soccer, be in the band, and, most of all, make people laugh. There's nothing better than a well placed joke. After high school I plan to go to college and study to become a physical or occupational therapist.
Hi, I live in Spokane, Washington and I am 17 years old. I'll be a senior in high school this fall. My disability is Dyslexia. I have four brothers and two sisters. I work at Shopko as a sales woman. I enjoy playing softball, volleyball, basketball, and football.
I live in Montana. I am in 11th grade and 16 years of age. I like to do a lot of outdoor sports like skiing, hiking, biking, and mountain climbing. I'm deaf. I lost my hearing when I was 11 from a sickness. I'm a nice guy. I get along well with others. I'm also funny. Math and science are not my only interests. I like English and history, but foreign language classes are kind of hard. What I mostly like to do is outdoor stuff, but I want to be a dentist after college.
I am seventeen and will be a junior in high school. I have Cerebral Palsy and, as a result, use a wheelchair to get around. In my free time, I enjoy Tae Kwon Do and traveling. Academically, I like math, science, and working with computer graphics. The Internet has allowed me to seek out and use reference materials via the computer. It has also allowed me to meet new people and keep in touch through e-mail. DO-IT continues to assist me in achieving my goals.
I am a Canadian high school student and I'll be a senior this fall. I am 16 years old. My disabilities are Learning Disability (LD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), neuromotor deficits, and Dysgraphia. My interests include Macintosh computers, multimedia, computer graphics, political and intellectual humor, disability issues & advocacy, assistive technology, behavioral sciences, public speaking, debate, and choral singing with the Edmonton Youth Choir. I firmly believe in taking on new challenges and broadening my horizons. My career plan is to become a pediatric psychiatrist.
I am 15 years old and will be a high school sophomore in Washington state. My disability is a visual impairment. In my spare time I enjoy playing video games. In the future I would like to program or design computer games.
I am 15 years old. I am going to be in the tenth grade in high school in Seattle, Washington. I have Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). My Dyslexia slows my reading speed way down so I have to allow almost double the amount of time on school work. To help overcome my ADD I use Ritalin. I am interested in foreign languages and medicine. I like dancing ballet, track, and cross country. I try not to get down about my disablility and instead focus on ways to compensate in other areas.
I live in Timonium, Maryland. I'll be a senior this fall. My disabilities are Cerbral Palsy and a learning disability. I have interests in biology, chemistry, and physics. I am involved in the Mock Trial, Latin and Key clubs. In my spare time I enjoy watching baseball and listening to music.
I will be a junior in Bothell, WA this fall. My disability is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). My hobbies are playing games such as video games and Magic the Gathering (card game). I am currently involved in football, wrestling, and track.
I'm from Spokane, Washington and I will be a senior next year. My disability is blindness. The DO-IT program is helping me prepare for college. Having the computer helps me get research information for school work as well as have fun and learn what's out there on the Internet. Some of my hobbies are listening to old-time radio shows and making my own radio shows for my 250-foot radio station.
Hi. I'll be a senior this fall in Washington state. My disability is Attention Deficit Hyperacivity Disorder (ADHD), and that I don't remember things that well. The computer and the Internet help me to do school work. I enjoy math. In my spare time I like listening to Prince's music. I enjoy doing stunts on my bike.
I'm in 11th grade. I live in Sumner, Washington and I have a brother, mom, and dad. I love playing tennis, swimming, painting, and talking. I am in an electric wheelchair, but yet I can walk. I have Dwarfism, Scoliosis & Kyphosis, and Metatrophic Displasia. I also have no cartilage in any of my joints, so yes it's very painful. I love math. This year I'm going into trigonometry and pre-calc. I love astronomy and marine biology. I have the Internet at home and my own PC, so it's nice to be able to talk to people from different states and countries. The DO-IT program will help to give me physical independence and college experience.
I will be a senior in Seattle, Washington this year. My extracurricular activities include football, peer mediation, auto club, tech club, fish and roses club (this is a special program, combining biology with construction, aquaculture, and horticulture), and being the Cleveland Web master. Whew! My disabilities are Tourette's Syndrome, panic disorder, and epilepsy. The epilepsy causes me to lose consciousness and information stored in my head. Tourette's and anxiety problems have caused a number of social difficulties. My scientific interests are chemical engineering, biology, botany, and theoretical physics. The single most important benefit of my computer usage is that it allows my teachers to read my assignments - my handwirting and spelling are atrocious. Other benefits are being able to maintain organization (one of my biggest problems) and keeping me entertained (Believe it or not, I actually LIKE doing system setup). I made my computer swear at my dad too!
I live just north of Indianapolis, Indiana. I am a high school senior. I am Dyslexic and have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). I hope to attend Savannah State College, in Georgia, or Ball State University, in Indiana, and study marine biology. I run varsity cross-country and track. I enjoy all sports and like to stay active.
Hi. I am 18 years old and I will be a junior next year. My disability is a visual impairment. I live in Edmonds, Washington with my parents, sister, and brother. I like reading, lifting weights, biking, playing the drums, and listening to music and books on tape.
I am 18 and I am a high school senior in Oregon. My disability is Spinocerebellar Degeneration. My hobbies include travel, writing and reading.
Phase II Scholars attended their second Summer Study at the University of Washington in August of 1998. During that session they worked closely with University faculty; in small groups they studied genetics, computer science, and technical communication. Throughout the year they continue to communicate via the Internet and participate in DO-IT activities, projects, and internships.
I have a mobility impairment. I have a weakness and lack of control on my left side, especially my left hand. I am 17 and live in State College, Pennsylvania. I will be a senior for the '98-9 term. I enjoy programming and music, and plan to do research in physics.
I am a paraplegic. I live in Montana and I will be a senior in the 98-9 school year. I enjoy algebra, English, biology, chemistry, and journalism. I like to read, write, and go on the Internet. I also like animals.
My disability is blindness. I graduated in 1998 from a high school in North Dakota. I will attend the University of North Dakota in fall of 1998. My favorite things to do in school are to sing and visit with friends. My favorite things to do for fun are to read, talk on the phone and hang out with friends. My goal is to get a degree in counseling.
I am a high school senior in Seattle. My disability is Achondroplasia (Little People or Short). Even though I'm 18 years old, my height is only 4'. My hobbies are traveling, watching movies, email, searching the Web for educational information and for personal interest. I also like to chat *smile*. My major interest is medicine.
Hi. I graduated from high school in Washington in 1998. I'm going to North Seattle Community College in the fall. I enjoy watching and playing sports. I also enjoy video games a lot. I won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1998 which recognizes Seattle area youth for their services, courage, creativity, and enterprise. My disability is seizures.
I graduated from high school in 1998. I will attend college this fall. I want to be an engineer. One of my hobbies is chess. I use a wheelchair because I broke my neck almost 4 years ago. I still do a lot of things for myself though. I even drive!
I am a quadriplegic. I live in Washington and graduated from high school in 1998. My hobbies are watching sports, working out, and listening to reggae and classic rock music. I hope to pursue architecture in college.
Hello, I'm from Florida. I'm blind but it doesn't stop me from taking on new challenges. I will be a senior this fall and will consider attending the University of Washington when I graduate. I love to sing country music using the guitar or keyboards. I hope to find a career that involves both music and computers. Recently, I took on the challenge of presenting DO-IT out in the world. I attended the 1998 Intel Conference in Fort Worth, Texas and presented DO-IT to an international audience.
I hail from Colorado. I have Spina Bifida and Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction (a fancy way of saying Cerebral Palsy, not from birth). When I'm not found on my computer (either playing or doing homework), I'm eating, sleeping, playing with my black Labrador Retriever, Rosie, studying Spanish, watching TV, or listening to music.
Hello, I will be a high school senior in Connecticut in the fall of '98. I am profoundly deaf and, to compensate for this extreme hearing loss, I have used a surgically implanted cochlear hearing device since September of '93. My interests are computer games, billiards, basketball, baseball, and any other recreational sports or games.
I am 18 years old and recently graduated from high school in Washington. My learning disability is Dyslexia. My interests are roller blading, playing computer games, talking on chat rooms, playing soccer and basketball. I collect giraffes. I have several hundred of them.
Bonjour! I am seventeen years old and going into the twelfth grade. I go to a high school in Mississippi. I am a paraplegic from a gunshot wound and use a wheelchair. Some of the things I like to do in my spare time are watching television, talking on the phone, going to the movies, playing with my computer and listening to music. After I graduate I would like to go to college and major in law or accounting! I am also a major Ken Griffey Jr. fan thanks to Sheryl!
Hello. I am going to be a senior this year in Connecticut. I have a severe hearing loss. I play soccer for my school. This year I am thinking of trying out for track and field. I love to play all sorts of sports, particularly soccer, basketball, and flag football. I like to listen to music, read some scary books, and play games on computers or boards. I like strategic games. My favorite game is Command and Conquer Red Alert.
I live near Cleveland, Ohio and I will be a senior for the '98-9 school year. My disability is an ischemic spinal cord injury. My interests include astronomy and biology, and my hobbies include reading, writing and music.
I'm from Alaska and I'm blind. I like anything scientific. It's like candy to me. I eat it up and I can't stop. I am attending Southern Utah University. My hobbies include collecting key chains, listening to music, and talking to people.
I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I want to go to college to study biology, specializing in genetic engineering or microbiology. My other interests include singing opera, Spanish, and Jazz.
Hello. I have Retnitis Pigmentosa which is a low vision problem. I live in Pendleton, Oregon. I am 18 years old and I'm going to graduate from high school this year. I will attend Blue Mountain Community College. I also enjoy my guide dogs and other animals, football, basketball, gymnastics, bike riding, and just spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy spending time on the Internet looking up things about sports and animals.
Phase III Scholars continue their involvement in DO-IT electronic communications as they prepare to go to college. They communicate with Scholars, Ambassadors, and Mentors via the Internet and participate in DO-IT activities, projects, and internships.
I am 18 years old and I graduated from high school in Washington in 1998. I have Attention Deficit Disorder. I am going to college at Eastern Washington University. I would like to get a degree in Microbiology and eventually a masters in Virology. I am also a Trekie. Throughout the year I have helped with DO-IT exhibits and panels. This summer I'm working at a computer camp for kids which is operated by American Computer Experience. I also won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1998.
Hey there. I am from Iowa. I am a paraplegic as a result of a farm accident when I was one. I am very active in wheelchair track and I plan to attend the University of Arizona in the fall to race and major in molecular and cellular biology. My goals are to someday be a psychiatrist and to race in the Paralympics.
I'm 18 years old. I live in Connecticut. In 1990, I was in a bicycle accident in which I hit my head. After an operation to remove a brain tumor, I could do absolutely nothing. Now I can do anything that a normal kid can do except my balance is a little bit off. I love computers. I taught myself programming and I like making programs in Visual Basic. I attend Eastern Connecticut State University. Someday I hope to get a job doing computer programming. This summer I am an Intern at DO-IT in addition to my summer job entering data into the computers at SARAH Inc., Shoreline Employment Service.
I am hard of hearing. I was born in Oregon and have lived there all my life. My dad is a police officer and my mom is a librarian. I have a younger sister who is 13. We have a miniature schnauzer named Satie. I'm 18 years old. Sports are a big part of my life. My favorite is baseball. Others I enjoy are football, basketball, golf, hunting, and tennis. I am an Intern at DO-IT this summer.
I'm from Maine, born in 1980. I am deaf, profoundly deaf. I graduated from a deaf school known as Model School for the Deaf. I like to play softball and volleyball and to read Harlequin romance books and mysteries. My interests are in mathematics and science and I want to be a veterinarian, doctor, or marine biologist. Even though I am deaf, I must believe that I can do it and try it.
I am 18 and live in Maine. I'll be a senior this fall. I love computers, music, sports, and anything else fun! I have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), which can result in problems in school. Most of my teachers are understanding enough for me to still do well. However, if it weren't for computers, I would not be half as far along as I am now. I appeared in a DO-IT video on designing accessible Web sites. I am an Intern this summer with the DO-IT program.
I was born in 1980 in San Diego, California. I've had Cerebral Palsy since birth, affecting my limb motion, hearing, and eyesight. My hobbies include hanging out with my friends, listening to music, writing lyrics, and reading. I think had a better time at the DO-IT summer program than I've had in two years!
I'm an 18-year-old high school graduate and live in California. I will be attending the University of California at Berkeley. My favorite sport is basketball, and my favorite players are Michael Jordan and Anferee Hardaway. My hobby is collecting magic and basketball cards. I have Larsen Syndrome, which affects the joints in my body. I use an electric wheelchair. Recently, I took the challenge of presenting DO-IT out in the world. I attended the 1998 Intel Conference in Fort Worth, Texas and presented DO-IT to an international audience.
I am blind. I am 18 years old and live on a farm in Nebraska. When I am at home, I usually help on the farm with feeding our hogs or helping with the irrigation of our corn. I am excited about the Internet and happy that I am getting some experience with it. I am an Intern this summer with DO-IT. In the fall of this year (1998), I will be starting as a freshman at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I will major in computer science and possibly minor in accounting or finance.
I'm twenty-one years old. My disability is Cerebral Palsy, which was caused by a medical accident when I was two months old. I have a sister, Tiffani, and a brother, Aaron. I graduated from Poquoson High School. I am considering attending the University of Pittsburgh. I hope to open a business, like a restaurant. My interests are football, television, and mathematics.
I am from Massachusetts. I like to cruise the 'Net, play soccer, swim, play volleyball, and play my bass. I have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and LD (Learning Disability) which makes it hard for me to write and understand certain things. My best subjects are science, math, and history. My worst subject is English.
I use a wheelchair. I am 17 years old and I live in Iowa. I graduated from high school in 1998. My family and I live on a farm. My dad farms and milks cows. My mom helps milk the cows, makes and sells crafts, and substitute teaches at my school. My mom and I have a small nursery business at our home. I have a brother, Jacob, who is 9 and a sister, Jackie, who is 17. They also use wheelchairs. We have Muscular Dystrophy. In my free time I work in my raised garden and my garden pond that I can get up to and feed the fish. I also like to explore the Net and chat. I am going to attend Hawkeye Community College to study horticulture/landscape design. I would like to be a landscape designer or do something with computers.
DO-IT Ambassadors are pursuing post-secondary studies and careers. They share their experiences with the younger DO-IT Scholars and Pals, encouraging them to pursue their goals in college and careers.
I live in North Dakota. I am a sophomore at the University of North Dakota. Some of my interests are computer graphic and sound design, and the Internet. Some fun stuff I like are biking, cross-country skiing, listening to and playing rock with my guitar, and playing computer games like Doom. I was an Intern in Summer Study '97.
Hi. I'm 19 years old. I have a learning disability and attend North Idaho Community College. I heard about the DO-IT program through my math and science teachers. It sounded like a lot of fun and it is a lot of fun. I like all sports.
I am from Washington state. I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) with some learning disabilities in English and spelling. I enjoy math, astronomy, playing my guitar, exploring music on the computer, bike riding, swimming, and roller skating. I love working on computers. Internet access gives me the tools to explore my interests in computer music and the sciences. I worked in the DO-IT camps last summer and as an Intern at Summer Study. This year I am working at DO-IT summer camps, the UW Adaptive Technology Lab, and DO-IT Summer Study as a paid staff member.
I graduated from high school in Oregon. I attend Eastern Oregon State College. My particular disability is what most call "full" Albinism, which includes lack of pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes. Consequently, I am extremely sensitive to light and burn easily in the sun. I also have a vision loss which came in the Albinism packet; I have the approximate acuity of 20/200, which can make life interesting at times. For hobbies, I like computers, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and playing video games.
I live in Washington. I have Psoriatic Arthritis; it affects both my skin and joints. I have very limited range of motion and strength, and I'm sensitive to both extreme hot and cold weather. My interests are science, math, and computers. Since I was a kid, I've always been curious to find out how things work. When not academically engaged, I love playing video games and collecting stuff that catches my interest. Having a computer is great!! It assists me in my education and provides fun at the same time. I love it! I'm planning to go to Shoreline Community College. I won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996.
I am from North Dakota. I'm 19 years old and I attend the University of North Dakota. My major may be in meteorology. I have had a profound hearing loss since I was born. I enjoy fishing, except for the mosquitoes that are irritating here in North Dakota! I enjoy almost anything outdoors. I have been doing ceramics in college, making bowls, roses, cups, etc. I hope to work with computers. I spend most of my time surfing the Internet. I am an Intern this summer at DO-IT.
I am 21 years old. I would like to pursue computer animation as a career. In my spare time I like to hang out with my friends, draw, listen to music, play video games, and take walks. I am quadriplegic and use a wheelchair. I reside in Washington with my father, stepmother, and five sisters. I will be a junior at Central Washington University this fall.
I attend Highline Community College in Washington state. I have a hidden disability called Dyslexia. I hope to become an architect, carpenter, or go into the Department of Fish and Wildlife. I like basketball, soccer, most all other sports, building, and fishing. The activities that I participated in at school were a club called Earth Corp and the varsity swimming team. I think that the DO-IT program is a wonderful opportunity to communicate with many different people.
I'm a sophomore at Western Michigan University. Later I plan to transfer to Southern Illinios University of Carbondale where my major is recreational therapy. I have Cerebral Palsy and use a wheelchair. My hobbies are rock climbing, waterskiing, and wheelchair basketball. DO-IT has been a really good experience for me. I was an intern at DO-IT Summer Study 1997.
Hello. I am 19 and have a learning disability. I really love getting to know other people. I think e-mail is the most wonderful thing since the low-fat candy bar. I am diabetic. I like to write letters, read just about anything (besides school work), write poetry, sing, and have a social life, even though I don't get to do that a lot. I am currently attending a trade school.
Hi. I am from Washington state. I attend Big Bend Community College. I'm quadriplegic and I use a wheelchair. I hope to become a computer designer. My hobbies include sports, computer, music, and reading. I think the Internet is one of the neatest things the computer industry has made yet. You can learn a whole lot on the World Wide Web. DO-IT is the best thing going. I was an Intern at Summer Study last year.
I live in Washington state. I like computers and working on cars. I like sports. I attend Spokane Falls Community College. I have a brain injury from a bicycle accident.
I am 19 years old and I live in Port Townsend, Washington when I'm not away at school in Illinois. This fall term I'll be traveling in East Asia through my school. I have juvenile diabetes. I have taken ballet all my life and continue dance whenever the chance comes up. DO-IT is a great program. Through it I have met some of the strongest people and made some of the best friends a person could know.
I'll be a sophomore this fall at Whitman College in Washington state. I'm hearing impaired and my interests include genetics, medicine, chemistry, and evolution. I love to swim, travel, and work with animals. DO-IT helped make me aware of how to prepare for college and what kind of disability-related issues to be thinking of. It's a great way to meet people and learn important things.
Hi! I graduated from Filer High School in Idaho. I have eight sisters, two brothers, and two dogs. I have mild Cerebral Palsy which affects my lower extremities. I am so lucky to be a part of the DO-IT program. DO-IT has opened up many opportunities for me. Through DO-IT I have learned so much about myself and others with disabilities. I attend Idaho State University, majoring in pre-medicine. My life-long dream is to become a physician.
I attend the University of Washington and work in the Adaptive Technology Lab. I have a disability called Epidermolysis Bullosa. I don't make enough of a thing called collagen that helps hold skin cells together. I hope to major in computer science because I love working with computers. I hope to design or program software for Nintendo or Microsoft. I like to play video and computer games, listen to music, and hang out with my friends. I was an Intern at Summer Study '97 and worked this summer as paid staff for DO-IT. I won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996. That's basically me.
Hi. I am from Tacoma, Washington. I will be a sophomore at Arizona State University this fall. I am very active in the choir and traveled to the '96 Heritage Festival in San Francisco! We also sang the national anthem at Candlestick Park. That was a blast! Besides singing, I love to go camping with my older sister and parents. In my spare time, I love to make jewelry for my friends and family. The DO-IT program is a ton of fun!
I live in Oregon with my mom, dad, and a dog named Chester Manly. I have Cerebral Palsy and very limited use of my left hand. Luckily, I can still do many things. I raise pigs, ride horses, go tubing behind the boat, and ride four wheelers at the Oregon Dunes. My biggest interest is in animal science, and I am particularly interested in the great apes and zoo vet science. I also enjoy computers. I will be a sophomore at Rogue Community College. DO-IT has given me the opportunity to have a wonderful computer at home (which helps me tremendously with school work!), and has opened the door to the world through the Internet. My DO-IT summer experiences helped me gain the knowledge I needed to continue my education after high school.
Hi! My disabilities are end-stage renal failure and hearing loss. I'm now recovering from a kidney transplant. I'm in DO-IT because of my interest in biology. Other subjects I enjoy are English, reading, and psychology. I will be a sophomore at Columbia Basin Community College in the Tri-Cities area this fall. I got married this year. Having a computer and access to the Internet helps me research and explore career options. I'm very glad to be a part of DO-IT. It's been an experience I will never forget!
Hello! I attend Eastern Washington University and will be a junior in Fall, 1998. I am studying to become a speech therapist. My disability occurred in 1989, when I was 12. I had an AVM on the left side of my brain which caused me to hemorrhage and, therefore, had a stroke which paralyzed the right half of my body. I now have a limp and my right hand does not work very well. I am interested in the life sciences and anything that has to do with people. I enjoy horseback riding, writing, hanging out with friends, dancing, playing on the computer, and just having a good time! I've worked at Battelle Labs for four summers and I was an intern at the DO-IT Summer Study program in 1995. Being in DO-IT has helped me in school and definitely at work!
I'm from Grand Forks, North Dakota. I was a DO-IT Intern at Camp Courage in 1995. My long-term goal is to become a developer of special technology like speaking devices. I have Cerebral Palsy. I use a wheelchair and a speech synthesizer. I have been helped by technology, and I want to help other people like me use technology. I thank DO-IT for pointing me towards this career. I was an Ambassador for Prentke Romich and I work at the University of North Dakota.
I have Muscular Dystrophy and use a wheelchair. I can access the computer and the Internet using my head. My interests are astronomy, art, and writing. I helped with the DO-IT Summer Study program two summers ago as an intern. I really enjoy DO-IT!
I am a senior at Washington State University. I am 90% deaf, but I don't let that stop me from living a fairly normal life! :) I love to dance, listen to music (at a loud volume of course), rollerblade, and the list can go on forever. I plan to graduate May 1999 with a BS in Biology and then attend graduate school to recieve my masters in physical therapy. I have truly enjoyed my time in college and look forward to attending graduate school.
I live in Washington State. I have Spinal Muscular Dystrophy. I have worked at Battelle Labs for the past three summers. I am currently a junior at the University of Washington. DO-IT has enabled me to meet people and make contacts over the Internet. This program has opened doors for me that normally would have been impossible to open. Now, there are no boundaries as nothing can hold me back.
I live in California. I organized and developed a nonprofit support group for teens with disabilities here in California. I've also been volunteering with local organizations for the blind. I plan to go back to college eventually, but for now I work as a Systems Administrator at an Internet Service Provider which I partially own. I also won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996. My "disability" is an undiagnosed severe neuropathy.
Hi. I am from Washington state. I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). My vision is limited as a result of MS. I use large print and voice output programs on my computer. I'm attending Highline Community College in Seattle. My plans are to get a bachelor's degree in computer science when I transfer to a four-year college. I went to a leadership conference and met Bill Clinton. I am glad to be a participant of DO-IT. It has provided me with great experiences.
Hi, I'm 21 years old. I've finished my two year degree at Bellevue Community College in March of '98. After going to Las Vegas for my twenty-first birthday to celebrate, I'm heading to Australia for a month and a half. I work at Nordstrom's in the boys department. My disabilities are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a learning disability in English. My hobbies involve the outdoors. I love snowboarding and I have been to the Alps in Switzerland and I can say with confidence, "Utah rules!" DO-IT has enabled me to make a lot of great friends.
Hi! I'm from Vancouver, Washington. My disability of post-polio requires me to wear a leg brace to make walking easier. This autumn, I will be a senior at the University of Washington. My major is speech and hearing science. I have a job that I enjoy at UW's Speech and Hearing Clinic. I interact with clinicians, faculty, and of course, the clients. Having a computer helps me a lot, especially with arranging my classes, my rides with Dial-A-Ride, finding jobs, communicating with professors, doing my homework, and much more!
Hi. I live in Washington and I am 20 years old. I have a learning disability. I have trouble with word comprehension and spelling. I am going to Pierce Community College, studying to become a marine biologist or an oceanographer. My hobbies include alpine skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, and other sports. I was an Intern in DO-IT Summer Study.
I live in Missouri. I am 22 years old and I have a severe hearing impairment. I completed two years of an engineering program in Washington state. I worked in the UW Adaptive Technology Lab and was an Intern in Summer Study '96. I am going back to school in winter to attend Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. I'm thinking of pursuing the biomedical field involving technology. Despite my hearing loss I am musically talented. I can play trombone and baritone. I am interested in electronics, math, music, karate, and computers.
I graduated from The Evergreen State College in Washington state with a concentration in computer science. I was an Intern at Summer Study '95 and completed a co-op with Weyerhaeuser. I am blind, with two glass eyes, and use a guide dog (Mogul) for mobility. I use a computer with a speech synthesizer card and screen reading software to access the Internet, do homework, and take notes for classes. My hobbies include basketball, hockey, computers (of course), reading, taking long walks, and generally socializing. I became a married man in August, 1998 and I work full-time at Weyerhaeuser providing computer support.
Hi. I am from Idaho. I finished my freshman year at Utah State over two years ago, majoring in computer science. I enjoy computer programming, hanging out with friends, reading, listening to music, and driving my car. I'm finishing a two-year mission with my church so I have been off the Internet for a while. My disabilities include shortness (only 4' 7"), orthopedic problems in my legs and kidney and associated problems. Being disabled has affected my view of the world - and in most cases has improved my views and attitudes. Being in DO-IT has made me realize that I am not alone in being disabled, but also has made me aware of all of the various disabilities out there.
I live in Washington state and will be a senior this fall at the University of Washington. My disabilities are a health impairment, nervous system dysmorphia, and congenital scoliosis. My interests are physics, biology, theory of math, trigonometry, calculus, and computers. My hobbies are collecting stamps and reading books. The Internet helps me find information and gives me the ability to talk to people.
I am a visually impaired student at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. I hope to graduate with a major in psychology and a minor in criminology. One of my favorite times in college was last year when four other people and myself talked about our disabilities to an audience of college students. I am interested in psychology, math, genetics, Spanish, and the Internet. For fun I like to swim, play basketball, watch movies, listen to music and more. I was an intern at Summer Study '96.
I am working toward my bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington. Some of my hobbies are music, Internet, poetry, and laughing. My disability is a mobility impairment. I use a wheelchair to get around all day, seven days a week. I have learned a lot by being in the DO-IT program. DO-IT is the best teacher that I have ever had. Finally, my motto in life is: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Hi all! I am 20 years old. My disability is Muscular Dystrophy which attacks the muscles. But I get done what I need to. My hobbies include swimming, collecting baseball cards, watching TV, and working on my computer.
My disability is deafness. I work at a company called American Painting. I work as a roofer. I plan to go to community college around my town, and get a degree in manufacturing. I won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996. You all can call me "lewy," my nickname.
I live in Seattle. My interests include computer programming, reading, writing, and wasting time. My disability is Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita which means my muscles didn't grow to be fully capable, and my joints are frozen in the position they happened to be in when my biological mother caught the virus. I have received some computer programming training and have worked at the University of Washington Adaptive Technology Lab. I was a lab assistant in the 1995 DO-IT summer program at Camp Courage. I work as a telemarketer. I plan to return to college and study political science and journalism.
I work at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. In 1992, I suffered a gunshot wound to the right hemisphere of my head which paralyzed the left side of my body. I use a one-handed keyboard. I have lived many places, but I like Washington the best. I also won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996.
I will be a junior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this fall majoring in clinical lab science. My disability is a learning disability called Dyslexia which affects my reading, math, and spelling. The DO-IT program has helped me understand my disability and other types of disabilities. It has made me open more doors for myself in believing I can DO-IT for life!
Hi! I graduated from high school in Washington state in 1997. I attend Shoreline Community College. In the future, I would like to teach science. I also enjoy writing. I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I have a neurological disorder that causes low vision.
I live in Oregon. I attend Mt. Hood Community College. I am without any vision. I use a PC with a speech synthesizer, scanner, Braille printer and, of course, a modem. My interests are in biology, communications, radio, and other electronics. I completed an internship with the Oregon Public Broadcasting System in the summer 1997. I had the opportunity to broadcast over the waves. I was also an Intern at Summer Study '95. I've worked at several University of Washington Computer Fairs for DO-IT. I also helped deliver a presentation at Work Now and in the Future in Oregon. I have an internship at the Oregon Commission for the Blind. I train students, install and troubleshoot programs, and do research projects on different types of adaptive equipment. A disability is not a problem as long as you know how to work around it.
Hi. I am currently working on my advanced degree in Science Education as well as my BS in Psychology at Oregon State University. I also teach general chemistry there. I love teaching and hope to someday be a high school or middle school science teacher. I spend my summers working with the DO-IT program as an instructor and tech support assistant. In my free time I enjoy hiking, skiing, swimming, music, and most everything else (except mushrooms and tuna fish!). I worked for DO-IT at Camp Courage in 1996, 1997, and 1998; at Camp Easter Seal in Colorado in 1998; and at the 1996-98 Summer Studies.
I'm beginning my fifth year at the University of Washington. My major is cellular and molecular biology, and I would like to go into genetic research. I am blind as a result of a cancer called retinoblastoma. Three summers ago I was paid to do research on retinoblastoma. I work in the UW Adaptive Technology Lab and I am active in helping in various DO-IT projects. My computer has been invaluable to me. It reads the screen to me. I could not write papers or do homework for classes without it. I use e-mail a lot, which I enjoy, and I have used other Internet resources. I enjoy origami, reading, listening to Mariner games, music, and watching X-Files.
Hi! I'm 21 years old and graduated from high school in 1995. I attend Rogue Community College. I plan to transfer to study mechanical engineering. I'd like to design and build wheelchairs. I have Cerebral Palsy and I use a power wheelchair to get around town; I have strong batteries, so I don't run out of power when I'm miles from home. I'm outfitting it with a laptop computer with communication software. I enter model bridge building contests with my dad, and we do quite well. Several years ago I participated in the Mock United Nations and Mock Political Convention. It was a lot of fun. I enjoy running around on the Internet.
I live on Bainbridge Island, Washington. I completed an Associate Degree and I work for a software company on the island. We specialize in the medical field. Some of our products include a continuous speech product, billing software, and a database system which stores records for pathologists. My disability is called quadriplegia. My hobbies include speaking, talking, and the opposite sex :).
My disability is chronic Lyme Disease. I am 20 years old. I am attending Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. My major is biology (premed). I also like piano and swimming. I have enjoyed being part of the DO-IT program; the best part is the people involved in running it and those who participate. One thing that DO-IT has done for me is to spark an interest in sign language; I am now a certified sign language interpreter.
I'm 21 years old and live in Renton, Washington. I have Dyslexia which messes up the things I read and write. I attend the University of Puget Sound and I am majoring in computer science and math. My favorite sport to play is soccer. DO-IT has been a very positive influence on my life, and I would not have accomplished many things without it. I helped with the 1996 and 1997 DO-IT Summer Studies and have helped deliver several DO-IT presentations.
I currently have a job with USDA Tree Fruit Research Lab in Wenatchee, Washington. I attend Wenatchee Valley College and I plan to transfer to University of Washington in Fall '98. I will be a music major. I was an Intern at the DO-IT Summer Study in 1995, and hope to become more involved with DO-IT when I get to the University of Washington.
I'm 20 years old and attend Seattle Central Community College, concentrating on computer science, deaf studies, and psychology. I have Cerebral Palsy as well as a number of other disabilities. I use several different adaptive technologies which include a large print program, an alternate keyboard, an alternate mouse, a voice input program, and voice output software. I love being on the Internet; it has opened a lot of doors for me. DO-IT has given me opportunities to demonstrate my wide variety of adaptive technologies at conferences including one in Washington, DC in 1996. I was also a DO-IT Intern at Summer Study '97. I work at the University of Washington Adaptive Technology Lab providing assistance to students with disabilities. This summer I am a working for the American Computer Experience computer camp teaching general computer skills, HTML Web page design and BASIC programming to students ages 8-17 on the UW campus. I won the Seattle Youth Hall of Fame Award in 1996.
You may know Andrew as one of our '95 DO-IT Scholars...bright, witty, upbeat, always ready for a new challenge.
Some of you may have only corresponded with him via electronic mail--you may recognize part of his email signature:
Andrew :)
"Nobody said life would be easy.
They only said it would be worth it!"
On May 17, 1996 we lost our dear friend and DO-IT partner, Andrew. Andrew, who had muscular dystrophy, died of complications from pneumonia. He was sick for only a few days. Chuck, Andrew's dad, wanted us to know that "DO-IT was one of the best things in Andrew's life." I know I speak for all of us at DO-IT when I say Andrew will be missed, and he will always be part of our DO-IT family. As we face this tremendous loss, I think Andrew would say to us: "Nobody said life would be easy. They only said it would be worth it!"
Sheryl
Excerpt from Letter from Andrew's Family:
Dear Scholars, Ambassadors, Staff and Mentors:
We want to thank all of you for making this past year of Andrew's life so much more fulfilling, rewarding and adventurous. He was so excited by the vision that the DO-IT program offered him. He was always talking about how he was going to go to college and get a degree in computer drafting and he was going to grab the tiger of life by the tail. He was going to set up his own business here at home and conduct his business via all the latest in communication technology. Unfortunately, his life energy ran a little short of his ambitions.
Chuck, Connie, Jennifer and Jackie
DO-IT Pals are high school students with disabilities who form an electronic community on the Internet. They communicate year-round with each other and with DO-IT Scholars, Ambassadors, and Mentors, supporting each other in their efforts to pursue academic programs and careers.
Janet
Cerebral Palsy
Mark
Spina Bifida
Bob
Vision impairment and Dysgraphia
Edan
Deaf (Usher's Syndrome)
Wai
Cerebral Palsy
Aaron
Cerebral Palsy
Bergen
Attention Deficit Disorder
James
Cerebral Palsy
Andrea
Blind
Shannon
Hearing and visual impairment
Andrew
Blind
Dana
Cerebral Palsy
Ebony
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Alani
Muscular Dystrophy
Chris
Vision impairment, hemiplegia
Emilie
Health impairment
Bryan
Cerebral Palsy
Brandon
Cerebral Palsy
Sean
Cerebral Palsy
Mentors encourage DO-IT Scholars, Ambassadors, and Pals as they pursue academic programs and careers. Some Mentors are still in college; others are pursuing careers in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Most have disabilities themselves and share valuable experiences, insights, and resources with younger participants.
Denis Anson
Computer Access Specialist
danson@miseri.edu
Sean Barrett
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Assistive Technology Specialist
Washington Assistive Technology Alliance
sbarre@u.washington.edu
Kevin Berg
Cerebral Palsy
Web consultant
kberg@lenacres.org
Arthur Blaser
Quadriplegic
Lawyer
blaser@chapman.edu
Linda Bowman
Learning disability
Psychologist
lkb@sprynet.com
Karen Braitmayer
Mobility impairment
Architect
stupack@aol.com
Len Burns
Sasquatch Computer Services
lburns@sasquatch.com
Rod Chard
Low vision
US WEST Communications
rchard@uswest.com
John Cohen
Learning disability
Technology Specialist
Puget Sound Educational Service District
jcohen@whitecap.psesd.wednet.edu
Frank Cuta
Blind
Research Engineer, Battelle Pacific Laboratories
fm_cuta@pnlg.pnl.gov
Thomas Dreschel
Biologist/Science Education Coordinator
Kennedy Space Center
thomas.dreschel-1@KSC.NASA.GOV
Gregory Fowler
Blind
Software Engineer, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Fowler@cisco.com
Kathi Fuller
Mobility impairment
Coordinator, Specialized Student Services
Norwich University
kfuller@norwich.edu
Tony Hand
Teacher, Seattle Public Schools
ahand@u.washington.edu
Jeff Harris
Blind
Software Engineer
jharris@u.washington.edu
Roger Harris
Stroke
Associate Professor, Biological Structure
University of Washington
rogerh@u.washington.edu
Michael Herbert
Educator
mherbert@u.washington.edu
Dr. Todd Heywood
Hearing impairment
IBM Power Parallel Systems
theywood@kgn.ibm.com
Erich Ho
Cerebral Palsy
Intel
rogerfox@best.com
Michael Hood
Deaf
Purdue University
hood@ecn.purdue.edu
Kevin Hopkins
Mobility impairment
Graphics Technician
hopkev@u.washington.edu
Sharon Jodock-King
Cerebral Palsy
Advocate
bd168@scn.org
Ed Keller
Diabetes, mobility impairment
Professor, Biology Environmental Science
West Virginia University
u0072@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
Jeanne Marie Keller
Mobility impairment
Personnel Representative
jkeller@wasc.noaa.gov
Jarrett Knyal
Mobility impairment
Multimedia Interface Designer;
Pre-Med graduate student
knyal@ils.nwu.edu
Bernice Laden
Computing & Communications, UW
bladen@u.washington.edu
Richard Ladner
Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington
ladner@cs.washington.edu
Douglas Lefever
Cerebral Palsy
Life Instructor
coloboy@u.washington.edu
French Leger
Specific learning disability
Mechanical designer
leger@u.washington.edu
Mia Lipner
Blind
Technical Writer
mjl@drizzle.com
Steve Marquardt
Paraplegic
Instructor, UW
marquart@u.washington.edu
Dean Martineau
Blind
Math tutor, Internet Resources Assistant
deamar@u.washington.edu
Robert F. McKellar
Spina Bifida
Author: An Accident of Birth
Educator/Counselor
70314.2153@compuserve.com
Phillip Myers
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin
phillip@me.engr.wisc.edu
Lan Nguyen
Blind
Assistive Technology Specialist
lann@u.washington.edu
Katherine Pananen
Cerebral Palsy
Graduate student
University of Colorado
pananen@u.washington.edu
Bruce Parks
Hearing impairment
Teacher, Wilmington School District, Vermont
beparks@sover.net
Wendy Pava
Blind
Veterans Administration Medical Center
wendyp@u.washington.edu
Gay Lloyd Pinder
Deaf
Children's Therapy Center of Kent
glpin@u.washington.edu
Ed Pottharst
Deaf
Biologist, Environmentalist, Seattle City Light
edp@u.washington.edu
Richard Radtke, Ph.D.
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and
Planetology
radtke@hawaii.edu
T.V. Raman
Blind
Senior Computer Scientist, Adobe Systems
raman@adobe.com
Juanita Sloss
ADD, hyperactivity
Special education teacher
jsloss@northerntel.net
Greg Smith
Quadriplegic
Engineer, Microsoft
gregsmi@microsoft.com
Patrick Stayton
Assistant Professor, Center for
Bioengineering
University of Washington
stayton@bioeng.washington.edu
Dr. Bill Stilwater
Mobility impairment
Volunteer, Yakima School District
dr_bill@wolfenet.com
Bill Taylor
Software Engineer
WingNut 700@aol.com
Sue Ellen Walbridge
Spina Bifida
Program Specialist, Department of Energy
Sue-Ellen.Walbridge@mailgw.er.doe.gov
Dr. Stephen Wallin
Hearing and visual impairments
Physics Professor
University of Southern Colorado
swallin@uscolo.edu
Michael Wardin
Health, hearing, and visual impairment
Adaptive Training Specialist
University of Missouri
ccmikew@showme.missouri.edu
Bruce Wilson
Post-polio muscular/respiratory impariments
Manager, Human Interactivity Program
Boeing Computer Services
bruce.r.wilson@boeing.com
Jaromir Zak
Camp Courage Counselor
xzakj02@alfa.vse.cz
Dr. Paul Zaveruha
Surgeon
zavy@whidbey.net
William Zoller
Brain injury
Professor, Chemistry
University of Washington
zoller@chem.washington.edu
DO-IT Mentors
Mentors encourage DO-IT Scholars, Ambassadors, and Pals as they pursue academic programs and careers. Some Mentors are still in college; others are pursuing careers in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Most have disabilities themselves and share valuable experiences, insights, and resources with younger participants.
Sue Yasuko Abe
Cerebral Palsy
Graduate student
San Francisco State University
hisuechan@earthlink.net
Bapin Axbhatta
Deaf/blind
Political Science
University of Arkansas, graduate
axbhatta@ualr.edu
Shem Bingman
Low vision
Comparative Religions/Computer Science University of Washington graduate
shem@u.washington.edu
Jenna Clark
Mobility impairment
Psychology major
University of Washington
jclark@seattleu.edu
Minda Dentler
Mobility impairment
International Business student
University of Washington
mindadentler@hotmail.com
Imke Durre
Blind
Doctorate student, UW
imke@atmos.washington.edu
Steve Harper
Cerebral Palsy
Stevamundo@aol.com
Sungeeta Jain
Paraplegic
Engineering
University of Washington
geetu@u.washington.edu
Kjersti Johnson
Cerebral Palsy
Tacoma Community College
jault@gte.net
David Orvis
Nuclear Engineering student
Unversity of Washington
dorvis@tip.aa.washington.edu
To contact staff, request electronic copies of DO-IT NEWS, request publications, or ask questions about the program, send electronic mail to:
To discuss issues pertaining to individuals with disabilities and their pursuit of science, engineering, and mathematics (sem) academic programs and careers, subscribe to the doitsem discussion list at
http://mailman.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/doitsem/
For information resources related to DO-IT, disabilities, adaptive technology, science, engineering, mathematics, and post-secondary education, access the DO-IT World Wide Web home page at http://www.washington.edu/doit/
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education. DO-IT is a collaboration of UW Information Technology and the Colleges of Engineering and Education at the University of Washington.
Grants and gifts fund DO-IT publications, videos, and programs to support the academic and career success of people with disabilities. Contribute today by sending a check to DO-IT, Box 354842, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-4842.
Your gift is tax deductible as specified in IRS regulations. Pursuant to RCW 19.09, the University of Washington is registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of State, state of Washington. For more information call the Office of the Secretary of State, 1-800-322-4483.
To order free publications or newsletters use the DO-IT Publications Order Form; to order videos and training materials use the Videos, Books and Comprehensive Training Materials Order Form.
For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, request materials in an alternate format, or to make comments or suggestions about DO-IT publications or web pages contact:
DO-IT
University of Washington
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195-4842
doit@uw.edu
www.uw.edu/doit
206-685-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
888-972-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
206-221-4171 (fax)
509-328-9331 (voice/TTY) Spokane
Founder and Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
My name is Sheryl Burgstahler and I am the Director of DO-IT. I have a husband, Dave, and a son, Travis, who are both DO-IT volunteers. I have a Masters degree in mathematics and a Ph.D. in higher education. I am an Assistant Director within Computing & Communications and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Washington. I am particularly interested in how computers can help people with disabilities achieve high levels of independence, productivity, and participation.
sherylb@cac.washington.edu
My name is Kristin Otis and I am a Counselor/Coordinator for DO-IT. I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and am the youngest of five children. During my freshman year of college, it was discovered that I have Dyslexia. Through an excellent college mentoring program and experimenting with new learning strategies, I was able to discover how to work with my learning style. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Communicative Disorders. Before DO-IT, I worked as a speech and language specialist.
kristino@u.washington.edu
My name is Kathy Cook. I am a Counselor/Coordinator for DO-IT. I served on the Advisory Board for DO-IT for many years, and have always been very impressed with DO-IT's accomplishments, and now I work full-time for the program! I was born in Seattle, but grew up in Bellingham, Washington. I have a B.A. degree in Human Services, and have spent the past fourteen years working with people who have disabilities.
kathyann@u.washington.edu
Hi. My name is James O'Connor. I have worked in DO-IT summer study programs for four years. I grew up in Ontario, California the youngest of four kids. Throughout my life I've struggled with Dyslexia. I recently received a B.A. of Education from Central Washington University. In the fall 1998 I will begin my teaching career at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Washington.
oconnorj@u.washington.edu
I'm Dan Comden. When not serving as the head technical nerd for DO-IT, I manage the Adaptive Technology Lab at the University of Washington. I have a wife, Louise, who is a pediatric intensive care nurse, and a son, Zane. Apart from work and family, any spare time is spent working with my search and rescue dog.
danc@cac.washington.edu
My name is Marvin Crippen. I help Dan out with technical support, work on the DO-IT World Wide Web home page, and work in the UW Adaptive Technology Lab.
mcrip@cac.washington.edu
My name is Doug Hayman. I'm the technology specialist working with DO-IT Scholars, Pals, and Campers in Washington state. When not at work, I play guitar, hike, and hang out with friends.
dhayman@u.washington.edu
My name is Steve Nourse. I am a Counselor/ Coordinator for DO-IT. Prior to holding this position I was a Transition Systems Specialist and worked on the Washington State Systems Change grant in transition. My background includes teaching as an adjunct professor at Seattle area colleges in the field of special education. I have a doctorate in special education. I have a spinal cord injury.
graduate@ptinet.net
My name is Julie Smallman. I coordinate the DO-IT CAREERS project. CAREERS helps students with disabilities get involved in work-based learning activities such as internships and cooperative education. I have a husband named John who is a graphic designer and a very spoiled cat named Mr. Roboto. I received my Bachelor's degree in 1994 from Western Washington University, Fairhaven College with a major called "Behavior and Independence: Service Strategies for People with Disabilities."
smallman@u.washington.edu
My name is Lyla Crawford. I am a Counselor/Coordinator for DO-IT. I work on two DO-IT projects. I help students transition from 2-year to 4-year colleges with DO-IT 2-4. I also support DO-IT efforts on the east side of Washington state. I work in Spokane, I have a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology, and I am also trained to administer and interpret psycho-educational and psychological assessments. I have a husband, Shawn, and a son, Joshua.
lylac@u.washington.edu