DO-IT Success Stories
Johanna, AccessComputing
My high school didn’t have computer science classes; I had no exposure to computer science until I was 16 years old. That year, I was accepted into AccessComputing’s Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Computing, a nine-week program at University of Washington. When I learned about HTML and JavaScript, it was like a brand new world to me. I loved the puzzle of figuring it out and realized that computer science was a good match for me. I was invited back as a teaching assistant for the Summer Academy the following summer, where I learned about Java. It was amazing experience overall. I continued studying computer science at the University of Minnesota.
Angela, DO-IT Scholar
I attend Gonzaga University. I’m studying psychology to prepare myself for medical school. Between taking classes, having fun with my friends, and volunteering, I hold a student assistant job in one of the offices on campus and am an officer for the Gonzaga Environmental Organization. I have also completed a STEM internship through the Center for Neurotechnology at the University of Washington. I was born with muscular dystrophy, but this has only made me more aware of my abilities, which in turn makes me determined to utilize my college education to improve the lives of others. I currently plan on entering the medical field and specializing in pediatrics or psychiatry so I can help people with conditions similar to mine.
Vincent, DO-IT Mentor
My mother told me that the encyclopedias that still sit on the shelves in their house in my hometown were purchased because of my constant questions about how everything worked. Even playing sports, I always took the analytical route towards getting something accomplished. I’m sure that’s what started my journey into a STEM-related major and career. I often couldn’t find answers to my questions: instead, more intriguing and complex questions always unfolded. These days, I use my technical background to create modifications that would make me an efficient and productive worker.
Our Participants
Hundreds of DO-IT participants have achieved amazing goals. Participants are earning degrees in a wide variety of interesting and competitive fields, then gaining employment in challenging and world-changing careers.
To learn more about the journeys of DO‑IT participants, consult the resources below.
Perspectives of STEM Students with Disabilities: Our Journeys, Communities, and Big Ideas