DO-IT Programs and Resources
Learn about the DO-IT Scholars program for high school students with disabilities. View more videos.
Are you any of the following?
- A student with a disability who wants to attend college and pursue a career in a challenging field, such as science, technology, engineering, or mathematics?
- A high school or college student with a disability who wants to gain work experience while still in school?
- A two-year college student who wants to transition to a four-year postsecondary program?
- Someone who wants to mentor young people with disabilities?
- A teacher or faculty member who wants to more fully include students with disabilities in the classroom?
- An employer who would like to hire interns and employees with disabilities?
- Someone who wants to learn how technology can empower people with disabilities and how websites, distance learning courses, and technology can be designed to be accessible to everyone?
If you've answered yes to any of these questions, YOU can DO-IT!
What is DO-IT?
"DO-IT is great! I love the sense of common purpose and I love the information and sense of 'you can DO-IT'…."
- DO-IT Scholar
Many capable individuals with disabilities face challenges as they pursue academics and careers. They are underrepresented in many rewarding fields, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to
- increase the success of people with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers;
- promote the application of universal design to physical spaces, information technology, instruction, and services;
- freely distribute publications and videos for use in presentations, exhibits, and the classroom; and
- provide resources for students with disabilities, K-12 educators, postsecondary faculty and administrators, librarians, employers, parents, and mentors.
Who Does It?
"Every student gains something different from DO-IT: friends, confidence, empathy, new experiences and opportunities, independence, responsibility....My son gained all these things, but the most significant thing for him was finally getting to be part of a community around disabilities."
- Parent of a DO-IT Scholar
The following people are key players on the DO-IT team.
DO-IT Scholars are college-capable high school students with disabilities who have leadership potential. DO-IT Scholars learn to select and use adaptive technology, software, and online resources. They experience college life on a university campus in the summer, exploring academics and careers. Throughout the year, they network with peers and working professionals with disabilities; learn reasonable accommodations in school and the workplace; and participate in leadership opportunities that promote accessible environments, worksites, and community activities.
DO-IT Pals are teens with disabilities who participate in an online community of Scholars, Mentors, and DO-IT staff. They are supported in their efforts to explore and pursue postsecondary programs and career goals. The Internet is their door to the information and resources they need for success.
DO-IT Ambassadors are DO-IT Scholar high school graduates who are pursuing postsecondary studies and careers. They share their experiences with Scholars and Pals through DO-IT online communities, encouraging them to pursue their goals in college and employment.
DO-IT Mentors include college students, faculty, and professionals in a wide variety of career fields. Most Mentors have disabilities themselves. Mentors engage with DO-IT participants through online communities and support them as they pursue postsecondary education and careers.
DO-IT Staff, Interns, and Volunteers coordinate programs, resource development and dissemination, and research.
DO-IT Electronic Resources
DO-IT's online resources facilitate communication and provide access to research and information on a wide variety of topics.
To contact staff; request publications; ask questions about the program; or apply to be a DO-IT Scholar, Pal, Mentor, or volunteer, send email to DO-IT.
"DO-IT's resources are exactly what I needed. I am seeing more and more students with disabilities in my class. This is the type of information that I need to help me figure out accommodations."
- Educator
To discuss issues pertaining to individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of science, engineering, mathematics, and other high-tech academic programs and careers, subscribe to the doitsem discussion list.
For more information about DO-IT programs, to find publications and training materials, or to view videos, visit DO-IT's website.
DO-IT's website focuses on issues for people with disabilities, including universal design; accessible science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; postsecondary education; and careers. DO-IT's print resources, videos, and many presentations are available online. Popular content includes
- AccessComputing, a nationwide alliance that promotes computing careers for students with disabilities.
- AccessSTEM, an alliance on access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students with disabilities.
- Center for Universal Design in Education, web-based resources to help educators apply universal design to all aspects of the educational experience.
- Faculty Room, a resource to help postsecondary faculty make their courses accessible to students with disabilities.
DO-IT Products
"DO-IT opened my eyes to the world of disabled people living life like non-disabled people. Before DO-IT I had no concept of disabled people like myself getting advanced degrees, having successful careers, children, families, and living life to the fullest."
- DO-IT Scholar
DO-IT distributes materials to those who wish to undertake similar activities or enhance existing K-12, postsecondary, and employment programs. Products cover a wide range of topics, including universal design and the accessibility of distance learning, web pages, technology, and postsecondary education. Most products are available online. Print materials and DVDs can be ordered via telephone, mail, FAX, or online.
Publications
DO-IT publications are freely available in print or online and include newsletters, instructional brochures, proceedings from Capacity Building Institutes, and other useful resources. Topics cover accessible IT, academics, and careers, among others.
Videos
Videos cover a wide range of topics and are freely available online for streaming or download. DVD compilations of videos can be ordered and include accompanying print publications. All videos are open captioned for those with hearing impairments and are audio described for people with vision impairments.
Books and Training Materials
DO-IT has developed comprehensive presentation and program development materials to help make postsecondary education, electronic resources, libraries, science and mathematics classes, and careers more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Most include program development and presentation guidelines, videos, handouts, presentation templates, and other support materials. Most materials are available online; all can be ordered from DO-IT.
DO-IT Workshops, Presentations, & Events
"DO-IT prepared me for being on a large campus and gave me the skills to work with professors to achieve the best college outcome. Its continued support has provided me with an internship that has granted me with experience in employment as well as resume building and networking opportunities."
- DO-IT Ambassador
DO-IT sponsors programs and delivers presentations and workshops to enhance the lives of people with disabilities throughout the world. DO-IT activities are hosted at conferences, K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, corporations, and state agencies.
DO-IT delivers activities in the following areas:
- College Transition—helping pre-college students with disabilities, parents, teachers, and service providers develop college preparation and success strategies.
- Disability Awareness—ensuring access to educational opportunities for all students by providing educators and administrators the resources and the knowledge they need to be successful.
- Employment Access—making cooperative education programs, internships, and other employment opportunities accessible to people with disabilities.
- Library and Lab Access—making libraries, computer labs, and science labs accessible to people with disabilities.
- Online Communities—creating and sustaining successful communities on the Internet.
- Tailored—tailoring presentations to audiences interested in education, transition, employment, and technology for people with disabilities.
- Technology—demonstrating adaptive computer technology and showing how web pages, distance learning courses, and other online resources can be made accessible to everyone.
- Universal Design—making web pages, classroom instruction, distance learning courses, multi-media, and other electronic and information technology accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
DO-IT Awards
2007 TEAM INNOVATOR AWARD
from the University of Washington's College of Engineering for outstanding work toward increasing the participation of students with disabilities in computing careers.
2006 CATALYST AWARD
from the Trace Research and Development Center for promoting the development and use of technology for people with disabilities.
2001 EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAM AWARD
from the Association for Higher Education and Disability for efforts in helping people with disabilities succeed in postsecondary education and careers.
1999 GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
from KCTS television for exemplary contributions in educating youth.
1997 THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING MENTORING
for embodying excellence in mentoring underrepresented students and encouraging their significant achievement in science, mathematics, and engineering.
1995 NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD—EDUCATION
for those whose achievements demonstrate what is possible when the powerful forces of human creativity and technologies are combined.
Additional Information
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