Resources for Disabled Academics

AccessComputing:
Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in computing fields

UW AccessComputing connects students with disabilities to mentors and professionals for internships, research experiences, scholarships and other resources and opportunities in computing fields.

• For: undergraduate students, graduate students
• Resources: mentoring, IT support, scholarships, internships

AccessSTEM Project:
Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in STEM careers

AccessSTEM is a DO-IT project that works with a leadership team that represents stakeholders including postsecondary institutions, precollege STEM educators, disability services, veteran associations, projects that broaden participation in STEM, and industry and career services.

• For: precollege STEM educators, disability services, veterans associations, projects that broaden participation in STEM, and industry and career services
• Resources: Policy advocacy and implementation; fostering of systemic changes through mentoring and peer support communities, job shadows, informational interviews, internships, and leadership events; and communities of practice.

National Institutes of Health:
Resources to Support Researchers with Disabilities

The NIH’s Resources for Researchers with Disabilities supports these researchers and reminds the community about reasonable accommodations that may be supported through an award’s budget or supplement opportunities.

Office of the ADA Coordinator (UW):
Accessibility guidance and information across UW campuses

The Office of the ADA Coordinator offers accessibility guidance and information across the UW. Highlights include high-level strategic work initiated by the ADA & Accessibility Steering Committee and ADA Coordinator Advisory Groups.  

• For: students, faculty, staff on all UW campuses
• Resources: campus access, service animals, barrier reporting, and accessibility practices

Aspirations in Computing:
National network of peers supporting success in technology

Aspirations in Computing strives to make sure technology is being developed by a population as diverse as its users. A program within the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT).

• For: students, higher education instructors, K-12 educators
• Resources: awards, scholarships, internships, communities, free and easy-to-use resources

C-STAR Collaborative:
Collaborative Mentorship Funding

The Center for Smart Use of Technologies to Assess Real World Outcomes (C-STAR) was born out of a need to equip investigators with the skills and knowledge to accurately employ technologies to measure and interpret data relevant to sensorimotor and cognitive function in the lab, clinic and real world. It is part of the Medical Rehabilitation Research Resource Network (MR3) of the National Institutes of Health. 

• For: early-career rehabilitation researchers
• Resources: mentoring from senior scientists and clinicians, financial and educational support

Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT:
Academic Careers Workshop

The national Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology, or CMD-IT, promotes innovation that enriches, enhances, and enables the African Americans/Blacks, Native Americans/Indigenous People, Hispanics/Latinx, and People with Disabilities communities, such that more equitable and sustainable contributions are possible by all communities.

• For: minorities and people with disabilities in information technology
• Resources: Academic Careers Workshop, Tapia Conference

The D Center:
Meeting space in the HUB and an inclusive community

The D Center (Disability and d/Deaf Cultural Center) is a space and community where students can celebrate disability and D/deaf pride and foster community at the UW and beyond. Located in the HUB, the center fosters community, shares resources, and hosts events.

• For: UW students, faculty and staff
• Resources: inclusive meeting space, networking, and social, cultural, and educational programming

The DO-IT Center:
Scholarships for students with disabilities

The DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility—in both the classroom and the workplace—to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive.

• For: high school students, college students, educators, employers
• Resources: scholarships, assistance with adaptive technology and resources, college and career readiness, networking, accessible instruction tools, communities of practice, …

CRA-WP IDEALS Workshop:
Workshop for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Leadership Skills (IDEALS)

Sponsored by CRA-WP, the workshop is two days of interacting with senior computing researchers and professionals who share pertinent information on graduate school survival skills, as well as more personal information and insights about their experiences. 

• For: graduate students with disabilities
• Resources: workshop, networking, connecting

Last Mile Education Fund:
Grants to support low-income grad students in need

The Last Mile Education Fund offers a disruptive approach to increasing diversity in tech and engineering fields by addressing critical gaps in financial support for students within four semesters of graduation.  

• For: low-income and underrepresented undergraduate students enrolled in computing-related degree program who face challenges beyond their control
• Resources: funding to complete undergraduate program

Lime Connect:
Fellowship and scholarship programs

Lime Connect is a non-profit organization concerned with rebranding disability through achievement by connecting professionals and students with disabilities to careers, internships, fellowships and mentoring with top fortune 500 companies across the United States and Canada.

• Lime Connect Fellowship Program For Students with Disabilities – for highly accomplished rising juniors with disabilities in the U.S. Provides fellowship, guidance through the summer internship recruitment process, networking with corporate partners.
• Google Lime Scholarship program – for students with disabilities who are studying computing. Provides networking opportunities with Google.
• The Tom Wilson Leadership in Disability Award – for young professionals with disabilities who have exhibited success and leadership in the disability space. Provides scholarships of up to $10, a mentorship year with a Lime Connect board member, service as a role model with Lime’s communities, etc.
• Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship – for undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and Ph.D. students with disabilities pursuing careers in STEM and health care.