WEBVTT 00:00:01.960 --> 00:00:05.390 [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:00:16.670 --> 00:00:20.270 How to apply for the DO-IT Scholars Program. 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.180 DO-IT Scholars are Washington State high school students 00:00:23.180 --> 00:00:25.040 with disabilities who are planning 00:00:25.040 --> 00:00:27.020 to continue their education after they 00:00:27.020 --> 00:00:28.770 graduate from high school. 00:00:28.770 --> 00:00:30.830 The Scholars Program helps prepare them 00:00:30.830 --> 00:00:33.720 for their transition to college and careers. 00:00:33.900 --> 00:00:36.860 Each Scholar is loaned a laptop and appropriate assistive 00:00:36.860 --> 00:00:40.020 technology that they can use at school, at home, 00:00:40.020 --> 00:00:41.160 and in the program. 00:00:41.160 --> 00:00:43.640 There is no cost to students who are selected 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.880 to participate in the program. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:48.150 My name is Rochelle. 00:00:48.150 --> 00:00:53.090 I joined the Scholars Program way back in 2016 now. 00:00:53.090 --> 00:00:55.610 I came from a very low income household, 00:00:55.610 --> 00:01:00.410 and they provide free assistive technology, which you 00:01:00.410 --> 00:01:02.460 can have on loan indefinitely. 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:06.160 So for me, once I was admitted and met 00:01:06.160 --> 00:01:10.180 with the assistive technology specialist-- 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:15.130 I have dyslexia and other sorts of learning disabilities-- 00:01:15.130 --> 00:01:19.930 I worked with them to decide which accessible tech was 00:01:19.930 --> 00:01:22.210 great for me. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:25.310 My name is Teresa, and I was born without arms. 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:28.725 I use a Bluetooth keyboard and a Bluetooth mouse without my arms. 00:01:28.725 --> 00:01:30.100 I have the keyboard and the mouse 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:31.930 on the floor and then the monitors 00:01:31.930 --> 00:01:35.828 just sitting on my table in my classroom. 00:01:35.828 --> 00:01:37.370 Throughout the school year, 00:01:37.370 --> 00:01:40.490 scholars connect with program staff, DO-IT mentors, 00:01:40.490 --> 00:01:43.490 and each other, online and in person. 00:01:43.490 --> 00:01:45.940 They have access to internships and receive 00:01:45.940 --> 00:01:49.850 valuable information and support for the transition to college. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.570 Applicants who are admitted into the Scholars Program 00:01:52.570 --> 00:01:55.670 take part in DO-IT Summer Study for three years. 00:01:55.670 --> 00:01:58.330 They attend classes, live in dormitories 00:01:58.330 --> 00:02:00.530 on the University of Washington campus, 00:02:00.530 --> 00:02:04.160 and explore careers, independence, self-advocacy, 00:02:04.160 --> 00:02:05.360 and leadership. 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:09.990 They also build a community within their cohort. 00:02:10.250 --> 00:02:13.590 The daytime activities, morning and afternoon activities 00:02:13.590 --> 00:02:17.940 are reserved for either presentations or workshops 00:02:17.940 --> 00:02:22.020 or other educational opportunities. 00:02:22.250 --> 00:02:23.740 In order to be considered, 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:28.030 an applicant must live or attend school in Washington State, 00:02:28.030 --> 00:02:30.700 be a high school sophomore or junior, 00:02:30.700 --> 00:02:33.480 and have a disability recognized by the Americans 00:02:33.480 --> 00:02:34.900 with Disabilities Act. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:36.720 But the applicant is not required 00:02:36.720 --> 00:02:41.400 to have an IEP or a 504 plan. 00:02:41.750 --> 00:02:44.530 The application process consists of a student, 00:02:44.530 --> 00:02:46.800 parent or guardian, and one teacher, 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:49.480 each responding to a few basic questions. 00:02:49.480 --> 00:02:51.810 The application can be completed online 00:02:51.810 --> 00:02:54.460 or submitted via fax or mail. 00:02:54.750 --> 00:02:56.640 Application materials may be submitted 00:02:56.640 --> 00:03:01.000 in the student's native language and in audio or video format. 00:03:01.250 --> 00:03:04.210 The applicant must also submit a current transcript, 00:03:04.210 --> 00:03:06.400 which can be an unofficial one. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:09.036 There is no minimum GPA requirement. 00:03:12.173 --> 00:03:13.840 My name is Scott Bellman. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.330 I'm the manager of the DO-IT Center. 00:03:16.330 --> 00:03:19.360 Application materials for the Scholars Program 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:23.540 really encourage people from different backgrounds to apply. 00:03:23.540 --> 00:03:26.350 We're looking for a variety of types of people 00:03:26.350 --> 00:03:29.680 to engage in our program, and so we offer materials 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.190 in different languages. 00:03:31.190 --> 00:03:33.910 We offer opportunities for applicants 00:03:33.910 --> 00:03:36.470 to reach out and ask for assistance. 00:03:36.470 --> 00:03:39.820 And we're really willing to work with families to make sure 00:03:39.820 --> 00:03:44.050 that the program is accessible to them, no matter who they are 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:45.236 or how they identify. 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:50.860 Advice that I would give prospective applicants 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:53.650 to the Scholars Program is to not 00:03:53.650 --> 00:03:57.670 think that you have to fit inside a box in terms 00:03:57.670 --> 00:04:01.520 of submitting your application and letting us get to know you. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:05.000 We have students with all types of backgrounds, 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.620 all types of goals, and so it's really important 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:13.723 to remember that your uniqueness does matter to us. 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:15.640 One of the most important things 00:04:15.640 --> 00:04:18.500 about Summer Study, whether it's in person or online, 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:20.820 is building community, making sure 00:04:20.820 --> 00:04:23.970 that students with disabilities that are headed to college 00:04:23.970 --> 00:04:28.320 feel like they belong, feel like they have other people like them 00:04:28.320 --> 00:04:29.940 out there. 00:04:30.200 --> 00:04:33.300 I wanted to join a community of people 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:36.360 who also share the same experiences as me 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:40.410 with a disability, and I also wanted to gain mentorship 00:04:40.410 --> 00:04:43.920 from people within the DO-IT community 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:48.300 to learn about how they navigate college. 00:04:48.750 --> 00:04:51.450 One thing that has me coming back 00:04:51.450 --> 00:04:53.760 to DO-IT all these years is just knowing that it's 00:04:53.760 --> 00:04:55.863 kind of where my roots are, especially 00:04:55.863 --> 00:04:57.113 as a person with a disability. 00:04:57.113 --> 00:04:58.950 [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:01.750 To learn more about the DO-IT Scholars Program, 00:05:01.750 --> 00:05:03.752 consult washington.edu/doit/programs/ 00:05:03.752 --> 00:05:05.916 do-it-scholars/applying. 00:05:15.150 --> 00:05:20.330 Copyright 2025, University of Washington.