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The DO-IT Center

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The DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center is based at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1992, DO-IT’s mission is to increase the successful participation of people with disabilities in postsecondary education, in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields and careers, and in computing fields and careers.

The DO-IT Center identifies the "critical junctures" students with disabilities face on their path to postsecondary education, STEM careers, and computing careers, and provides resources, projects and programs to help students successfully navigate each critical juncture (e.g., projects to develop STEM interests in students with disabilities at the "critical juncture" between high school and the transition to a four- or two-year postsecondary institution).[1] DO-IT programs include the DO-IT Scholars Program for Washington State students, the Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Computing[2] (open to all U.S. students), postsecondary preparation activities, and work-based experiences and internships.

DO-IT also promotes accessibility and universal design in learning environments and instruction through the online Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE) and by creating, collecting and distributing publications, training materials, and tutorials for educators and faculty.[3]

The DO-IT Center is a unit of Accessible Technology Services of UW-IT at the University of Washington, a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the College of Education and UW-IT. Primary funding for DO-IT and its projects is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education.


History

The DO-IT Center was founded in 1992 by Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Since its inception, DO-IT's mission has been to increase the successful participation of people with disabilities in postsecondary education at local, regional, national (within the United States) and international levels.[4]

In 1992, DO-IT launched the first DO-IT Scholars Program. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) funded the DO-IT Prof project, which created professional development materials and trained faculty and academic administrators in the U.S. to more fully include students with disabilities in their courses.[5] In 2005, OPE and the NSF funded DO-IT’s AccessCollege project,[5] which included creation of the web-based Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE), publication of the book Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice,[6] and the training manual Building Capacity for a Welcoming and Accessible Postsecondary Institution.[7]


Awards

Awards for the DO-IT Center include:

  • 1995 National Information Infrastructure Award in Education
  • 1997 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring[8]
  • 1999 KCTS 9 Golden Apple Award for excellence in education[9]
  • 2001 AHEAD (Association of Higher Education and Disability) Recognition Award for outstanding work for students with disabilities
  • 2007 Robert Greenberg Innovation Award for Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities[10]


DO-IT Programs for Students with Disabilities

The DO-IT Center serves students with a wide range of disabilities, including (but not limited to):


The DO-IT Center runs a number of programs for students with disabilities. These programs include the DO-IT Scholars Program for Washington State students, the Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Computing[2] (open to all U.S. students), computing workshops (under the AccessComputing project[11], and work-based learning experiences.

DO-IT Center programs help students with disabilities:

  • explore careers, particularly STEM, computing and business careers
  • identify "critical junctures" on their path to STEM and computing degrees and careers
  • develop self-determination, self-advocacy, and work-readiness skills
  • learn to select and use assistive technology, applications software, and Internet resources
  • network with peers and adult mentors
  • gain requisite knowledge to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.


The DO-IT Center website provides extensive information and online resources for students with disabilities and their parents, including the DO-IT Knowledge Base, a searchable, comprehensive online database of articles, case studies and promising practices related to accessibility of technology, postsecondary education, graduate school, and careers. Other DO-IT resources include information about assistive technology, financial aid, and resources for veterans.


Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE)

The online Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE), directed by DO-IT and established in 2005, develops and collects web-based resources to help educators apply universal design to all aspects of education, including applying principles of Universal Design for Instruction and Universal Design for Learning to instruction, and applying universal design to student services, information technology, and physical spaces.

CUDE is directed by DO-IT and funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.


DO-IT Resources for Educators & Faculty

In addition to the Center for Universal Design in Education (CUDE), the DO-IT Center provides extensive information, resources, training materials, and tutorials to educators, faculty, and others interested in accessibility and increasing the participation of students with disabilities in postsecondary education.

DO-IT articles, training materials, and tutorials address a wide range of accessibility issues, including:

DO-IT videos, publications and books are also available.

References

  1. ^ "Progress of Teens with Disabilities Toward Careers: Project Inputs Leading Students to Critical Junctures", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10
  2. ^ a b Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Computing
  3. ^ "AccessCollege: Postsecondary Education and Students with Disabilities", DO-IT Center
  4. ^ Burgstahler, S, "DO-IT Center Annual Report 1992 - 1993", DO-IT Center, 1993. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  5. ^ a b "AccessCollege: Systemic Change for Postsecondary Institutions", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  6. ^ Burgstahler, Sheryl (2008). Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice. Harvard Education Press. ISBN 9781891792915. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Building Capacity for a Welcoming and Accessible Postsecondary Institution", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  8. ^ "Presidential Awards Honor Mentoring Efforts of 19 Individuals and Institutions", National Science Foundation, 1997. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  9. ^ "KCTS 9 Golden Apple Awards", KCTS 9. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  10. ^ Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  11. ^ AccessComputing, DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10)
  12. ^ "Introduction to Web Accessibility", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  13. ^ "Ten Indicators of Distance Learning Program Accessibility", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  14. ^ Burgstahler, S.,"Academic Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities", DO-IT Center. Retrieved 2013-02-10.

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