Resources

The AccessEngineering website contains

• information about project goals, objectives, activities, and project partners;
• evidence-based practices that support project goals and objectives;
• resources for students with disabilities; and
• educational materials for teachers and administration.

AccessEngineering maintains a searchable database of frequently asked questions, case studies, and promising practices related to how educators can fully include students with disabilities in computing activities. The Knowledge Base can be accessed by following the “Search Knowledge Base” link on the AccessEngineering website.

The Knowledge Base is an excellent resource for ideas that can be implemented in engineering programs in order to better serve students with disabilities. In particular, the promising practices articles serve to spread the word about practices that show evidence of increasing the participation and success of people with disabilities in engineering.

Below are examples of Knowledge Base case studies, promising practices, and questions:

• Conference Engagement via Robot: A Case Study in an Option for a Student Unable to Travel
• Collaboration Struggles in an Engineering Lab: A Case Study About a Student with Autism
• An Assistive Technology Course: A Promising Practice in Including Disability-Related Topics in the Engineering Curriculum
• ATHack: A Promising Practice in Promoting Accessibility Among Engineering Students
• Can people who have visual impairments work in a machine shop?
• How can engineering departments be welcoming and accessible to students with disabilities?
• How can I include people with disabilities in the broader impacts statement of my NSF grant proposal?
• Individuals and organizations are encouraged to propose questions and answers, case studies, and promising practices. Contributions and suggestions can be sent to doit@uw.edu.

For more information on AccessEngineering, universal design, and accessible STEM education, review the following websites and brochures:

• To learn more about and get involved with AccessEngineering, visit the website.
• To find more information on universal design, visit the Center for Universal Design website.
• For resources specifically designed for faculty, consult The Faculty Room.
• To learn how to create accessible engineering labs, departments, and makerspaces, review the following publications found at this website:
  • Checklist for Making Engineering Labs Accessible to Students with Disabilities
  • Equal Access: Universal Design of Engineering Departments
  • Equal Access: Universal Design of Engineering Labs
  • Making a Makerspace? Guidelines for Accessibility and Universal Design
• For proceedings from engineering-related capacity building institutes, visit the resources page.