Are there e-mentoring programs to support students with disabilities interested in careers in design fields?

The Institute for Human Centered Design has an e-mentoring program for students or entry-level professionals with disabilities interested in design fields such as architecture, computer aided design, industrial design, graphic and information design, interior design, and landscape architecture and design. Participants are matched with a mentor who is a design professional.  The majority of communication between mentors and proteges is done online.  Students interested in participating should contact Ruth Lusher.

The Institute for Human Centered Design is an international non-governmental educational organization committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design. The e-mentoring program is part of their initiative Access to Design Professions.

Students with disabilities interested in design may also want to consider joining the AccessSTEM Team. AccessSTEM Team members are a part of an e-mentoring community of students and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) fields. STEM includes design-related fields such as architecture, web design, and information systems. AccessSTEM is hosted by the DO-IT Center at the University of Washington.

AccessDesign has been developed in partnership with Access to Design Professions, Institute for Human Centered Design, (IHCD) Boston, MA and funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).