JSET ejournal
Page 2 Technology-based Support
DO-IT Overview
The DO-IT Scholars program was selected to be evaluated in
this study because it has many characteristics of successful
programs:
1. It has won several prestigious awards, including the President's
Award of Excellence for Mentoring in Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics fields; an outstanding program award from Association
of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the professional
association for postsecondary disabled student services officers
nationwide; and the National Information Infrastructure Award
for exemplary use of the Internet to further education.
2. It has sustained operations for more than a decade.
3. It has well-defined components that lend themselves to comparative
analysis (Burgstahler, 1994; Burgstahler & Cronheim, 2001)
4. More than seventy articles have been written about DO-IT in
magazines and newsletters by authors who are not DO-IT staff
(e.g., DO-IT and the Internet, 1995; Roos, 1994-1995; Mentoring
on the Internet, 1995)
5. It has flourished with increased funding from government,
corporate and private sources to continue proven practices and
add features to the program over the years.
The DO-IT Scholars program, since its inception in 1992, has
provided services to more than 200 students with a wide range
of disabilities during their transition from secondary schools
to postsecondary schools and employment environments. DO-IT is
housed at the University of Washington and is primarily funded
by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department
of Education, and the State of Washington. DO-IT was initially
funded by the NSF to increase the participation of students with
disabilities in academic programs and careers in science, engineering,
mathematics, and technology. After this initial six years of
funding for the experimental project, the State of Washington
funded ongoing efforts with Washington residents, but increased
its scope to include other challenging academic and career fields,
such as business.
Interventions for DO-IT Scholars
DO-IT Scholars are college-bound high school students who
face significant challenges to pursuing postsecondary studies
and careers due to their disabilities. DO-IT goals for the Scholars
include development of self-determination skills (including self-advocacy),
social skills, academic skills for pursuing postsecondary studies,
and career/employment skills. Use of computers and the Internet
plays a key role in reaching these goals. The DO-IT Scholars
program employs three primary interventions: (a) technology-enriched
summer study, (b) year-round computer and Internet activities
(see Figure 1), and (c) work
experiences. Program activities in all three areas employ strategies
that make significant use of technology. Scholars are provided
with home computers and adaptive technology to access information
and human resources on the Internet. Participants practice self-advocacy
and develop technical skills as they work with a DO-IT technology
specialist to configure the system they think will work best
for them. Adaptive technology used by scholars includes speech
output systems for participants who are blind or have disabilities
that affect their reading ability, and speech input and alternative
keyboards for participants who do not have full use of their
hands.
Technology-enriched Summer Study.
In their first year, scholars participate in a face-to-face,
live-in, technology-enhanced summer study program at the University
of Washington in Seattle for two weeks. They are introduced to
other participating young people with disabilities and adult
mentors. They are trained in computer and Internet use, they
socialize, and they participate in a wide variety of activities
to prepare for college, careers and other aspects of adult life.
Activities include student services presentations, working in
groups, resume-writing, mock interviews with professors and employers,
academic and career explorations on the Internet, electronic
communication with mentors, academic lectures and discussions,
and science labs. Much of the Summer Study work is done in a
computer lab equipped with adaptive technology identical to the
systems DO-IT provided in their homes. DO-IT Scholars communicate
year-round with each other and adult mentors online and return
for a second Summer Study session. Internships are available
as a third year summer option. Scholars also have additional
opportunities to participate on panels, in conference exhibits,
in internships, and in other work-based learning activities.
