Resources for Disabled Academics

AccessComputing

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
• More info: https://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/

Office of the ADA Coordinator (UW)

The Office of the ADA Coordinator offers accessibility guidance and information across the UW. Highlights include information on service animals, barrier reporting, and accessibility practices as well as 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: How to Report a Barrier Accessibility Practices Service Animals Campus Access
• More info: https://www.washington.edu/ada/

Aspirations in Computing

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 ed educators, K-12 educators
• Resources: awards, scholarships, internships, communities, free and easy-to-use resources
• More info: https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/apply-for-an-award

C-STAR 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
• More info: https://www.sralab.org/research/labs/cstar/projects/mentorship-funding

CMD-IT Academic Careers Workshop

The national Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology 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
• More info: https://bit.ly/3UdPZj5

DO-IT

The UW 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, …
• More info: https://www.washington.edu/doit/

Grad Cohort 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
• More info: https://bit.ly/3BcGGqY

Last Mile Education Fund

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
• More info: https://www.lastmile-ed.org/

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.
  • Resources: fellowship, guidance through the summer internship recruitment process, networking with corporate partners
  • More info: https://www.limeconnect.com/programs/page/the-lime-connect-fellowship-program

• Google Lime Scholarship program:
  • For: students with disabilities who are studying computing, networking opportunities with Google
  • Resources: scholarships of up to $10k
  • More info: https://www.limeconnect.com/programs/page/google-lime-scholarship