AccessSTEM

Yes. Here are a few examples:

No. Accommodations are designed to ensure a level playing field for all students. They do not guarantee success.

Once institutions provide equal access to an educational program, it is up to the student to do the work to be successful in class. It is possible for a student with a disability to make full use of the accommodations they are eligible for and still fail a class for the same reasons student without disabilities fail classes.

Resources for promoting success in college can be found in the following DO-IT Knowledge Base articles.

The following statistics were gathered by the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES), Special Education Regulation, in 2001.

Background

My name is Harry. I attend my local community college. I use an electric wheelchair because I have a physical disability. I would like to use the new gym facility on campus a few times a week to swim. Swimming is one of the best ways for me to maintain my upper body strength.

Many information technology (IT) companies provide public statements related to their products' accessibility to people with disabilities. Although some companies are criticized for publicly supporting accessible IT when it is not a genuine part of their practices, other companies provide leadership in the creation and support of accessible products.

Some of the reasons that companies provide public information about their commitment to accessibility are:

Georgia Boatman, a teacher at Southgate Elementary School in Kennewick, Washington, wanted to increase student participation in her classroom, particularly that of students with disabilities. In collaboration with DO-IT's AccessSTEM project, she acquired an interactive learning tool the Classroom Performance System (CPS) using funds from an AccessSTEM minigrant.

It is the student's responsibility to provide documentation required by a college or university. Postsecondary institutions may set their own requirements for documentation as long as they comply with relevant legislation. The assessments, screenings, and reports generated by precollege professionals may not meet postsecondary documentation requirements. Students should contact the schools they are interested in attending for information regarding documentation requirements.

Kelly Kerr is a teacher of students with visual impairments in the Central Kitsap School District located in Silverdale, Washington. Ms. Kerr wrote a proposal for an AccessSTEM minigrant to support students with visual impairments who are underrepresented in careers in math and science. In her proposal she emphasized that students often fail to pursue math and science because of the lack of accessible curriculum, labs, and manipulatives in these courses. Ms.

E-mentoring or online mentoring occurs when computers and networks are used as communication tools between mentors and proteges. This format has many advantages such as eliminating the time, geographic, and social constraints of in-person communication.

Although there are many benefits to e-mentoring, there are also negative aspects of electronic communication. Difficulties include clearly expressing ideas and feelings, managing high volumes of messages, gaining access to technology, and encountering technical difficulties.

Pete Darragh, a sixth grade teacher at Sidney Glen Elementary School in Port Orchard, Washington, was awarded an AccessSTEM minigrant to integrate a large interactive white board, called a Smart Board, and speakers into his teaching. Mr. Darragh says he applied for the grant as a way to add technology that would "hook" more of his students into learning, including those with learning challenges that result from disabilities.