My name is Andrew, and I am deaf. I am attending Western Washington University double majoring in psychology and computer science. In 2019, I interned as a web developer for a website called AbiliTrek, which shares reviews and information about the accessibility of businesses. I am currently learning Japanese and like to hike and play video games.
My name is Aspen. I am deaf and communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). I am attending Everett Community College majoring in communications, and I plan on transferring to a four-year university. I am also a teacher’s aid for ASL classes. My favorite leisure activities are reading, working out, and socializing.
Hi, my name is Brookelyn. I am a graduate of White River High School. I plan on taking online classes but for now, I run a farm at home and raise cattle. In 2019, I showed two small Dexter cattle at the Washington State Fair and got Reserve Grand Champion for one of the bulls, Finnian. When not farming, I draw on my computer. I love reading, sports, art, biology, singing, music, and animals. I have autism and learning disabilities.
My name is Chana. I graduated from Wilson High School and took Running Start classes at Tacoma Community College. I now attend the University of Washington Tacoma and am pursuing a degree in biomedical sciences. I have cerebral palsy. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, listening to music, watching movies, and playing Animal Crossing. I also enjoy musical theatre. I plan on attending law school with a focus on intellectual property law. I returned as an Ambassador during Summer Study 2021.
Hi, my name is Dewald. I graduated from Bellingham High School. I have cerebral palsy. I was born in South Africa as the middle kid of a set of triplets and weighed only two pounds when I was born. My favorite subjects are history and psychology. I am a fanatical follower of soccer and support the USA teams and the Seattle Sounders. I plan to attend Whatcom Community College before attending a four-year school. My goal is to become a social worker.
My name is Eli, and I have Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I graduated from North Thurston High School and earned an associate degree in science for kinesiology with a concentration in sports mangagement from Waubonsee Community College in Aurora, Illinois. In the fall, I am pursing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Saint Martin’s University. I play percussion and enjoy watching sports, playing video games, petting my cats, and watching anime. I have two cats and one dog; my dog looks similar to a baby bear.
Hello, my name is Emily, and I have motor neuron disease. After graduating high school, I participated in the NSF Young Scholars Program over summer 2016 at the UW Center for Neurotechnology. Over summers 2018 and 2019, I did undergraduate research in the Restorative Technologies Laboratory. To try something new, I joined the University of Oregon Business School’s management consulting group in January 2019. In June 2020, I graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in sociology with Departmental Honors, Phi Beta Kappa. I was offered the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in Sociology for 2021, but declined due to coronavirus-related reasons. I am currently focusing on personal health and figuring out what’s next. I enjoy playing golf, going to the gym, getting people to laugh, and hanging out with friends. I was the recipient of the 2021 DO-IT Trailblazer’s Award.
Hello, my name is Grady. I graduated from Puyallup High School, where I was involved in Key Club, National Honor Society, and Viking Knights. Before college, I worked two summers as a technology assistant for my local school district. I graduated from the University of Washington (UW) with a major in informatics and a minor in disabilities studies. I worked as a student assistant for Accessible Technology Services and DO-IT until this summer, when I started a job at DocuSign. I interned with Intel in their accessibility office as well as with the Associated Students of the UW Student Disability Commission as a universal design consultant. I helped with events and advocacy to improve accessibility and the inclusion of students with disabilities at the UW. I have congenital muscular dystrophy. I was the recipient of the 2021 DO-IT Trailblazer’s Award.
My name is Hailey, and I graduated from Cheney High School where I actively participated in leadership roles. I currently work for Lakeland Village with medically fragile clients helping people become more independent. I like cooking, listening to music, watching movies, enjoying the great outdoors (fishing, camping, boating, kayaking), and hanging out with friends. I have attention deficit disorder and a learning disability.
Hey, my name is Jonah. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism and minor in history and political science, with the long term goal of becoming a sports writer. For fun, I play video games and watch sports, with the New England Patriots being my favorite football team. My favorite bands are the Foo Fighters, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Arctic Monkeys. I have Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I returned as an Ambassador during Summer Study 2021.
Howdy, everyone! I’m Kaitlyn, but feel free to call me Katie. I have cerebral palsy and use a walker for shorter distances or a wheelchair for long ones. I enjoy listening to music, drawing, gaming, and writing stories. I graduated from Central Washington University with a double degree in psychology and sociology and am currently working toward a graduate degree in marriage and family counseling. I have also been a research assistant (as an undergraduate student) and had a part in the Defying Gravity: Experiences of Students with Challenges study.
Hi, my name is Katelyn. I am currently attending Penn Foster for a veterinary technician certification. I have myotonic muscular dystrophy, which affects my limbs and face. I enjoy being outdoors, going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and binge-watching shows. I absolutely love cats! Feel free to email me!
Hi, I’m Laszlo! I have cerebral palsy. I graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a bachelor of arts in communication focusing on journalism and public interest communication. I’m planning on writing for local news outlets such as Crosscut and South Seattle Emerald Converge Media. I’m also planning to apply to a certificate program here at UW. For fun, I like to play games and talk to friends on Facebook.
Greetings. I am London, and I have autism. I graduated from Spokane Falls Community College with a degree in computer numerical control and machining. I did some job training at Goodwill and am currently looking for a part-time job. I like video games, visual design, art, music, and fiction.
Hey there. My name is Max. I graduated from Gonzaga University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. I have Asperger’s syndrome. I really want to be a computer scientist. I like using my computer for fun, which tends to neatly overlap with linguistics research. I also play plenty of games. My main pleasures in life are learning about linguistics and attending my kung fu classes.
Hello, I’m Ryan, and I have a learning disability. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Whitworth University in Spokane where I also completed a master’s degree in athletic training. I currently work at Amazon as an industrial athletic trainer. My hobbies include rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, and outdoor adventuring in general. However, my greatest joy in life is brought to me simply by the people in it.
Hi, I’m Tasha. I finished high school early through Spokane Community College. I’m really into fitness, working out, and sports. I enjoy many sports, but my favorite is wrestling. My long term goals are to study kinesiology and become a personal trainer.