WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:02.590 --> 00:00:04.290 I have a mobility impairment. 00:00:04.290 --> 00:00:06.470 I'm dyslexic which means 00:00:06.470 --> 00:00:10.840 I have difficulty reading and pretty bad handwriting. 00:00:10.840 --> 00:00:13.700 I became legally blind at 25. 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:17.179 I’m a graduate from the University of Washington’s 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:20.050 Master of Human Computer Interaction and Design program. 00:00:20.050 --> 00:00:22.760 My major is Human Centered Computing. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:26.410 I’m an undergraduate at Auburn University 00:00:26.410 --> 00:00:29.940 majoring in computer science and focusing in accessibility. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:38.860 I’m Richard Ladner, 00:00:38.860 --> 00:00:42.260 professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. 00:00:43.300 --> 00:00:47.000 We rely on computers, tablets and smartphones to do work 00:00:47.010 --> 00:00:49.670 and stay connected more than ever. 00:00:49.670 --> 00:00:53.969 Not only can technology provide access to people with disabilities, 00:00:53.969 --> 00:00:57.309 but people with disabilities can be part of the computing workforce 00:00:57.309 --> 00:01:01.250 as software and web engineers, systems administrators, 00:01:01.250 --> 00:01:04.100 usability engineers, and researchers. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:09.200 I am a software development engineer at Amazon. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:14.189 I started programming when I was around 15. 00:01:14.189 --> 00:01:16.490 I've always been really into computers. 00:01:16.490 --> 00:01:18.609 I used to play a lot of audio games. 00:01:18.609 --> 00:01:24.139 Those are basically like video games but they use sound instead of graphics. 00:01:24.139 --> 00:01:25.529 I was really into those. 00:01:25.529 --> 00:01:27.630 I really wanted to create games 00:01:27.630 --> 00:01:30.300 and that's what really got me into programming. 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:32.600 My name is Jessie Shulman 00:01:32.619 --> 00:01:36.200 and I'm an operations program manager in the web services field 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.539 and a graduate of the University of Washington. 00:01:38.539 --> 00:01:40.009 I have a learning disability 00:01:40.009 --> 00:01:41.630 so I struggle with language to begin with 00:01:41.630 --> 00:01:45.819 so learning a computer syntax like Java, 00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:47.289 all the problems I had, 00:01:47.289 --> 00:01:50.299 the struggles I had with English came up again with Java. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:53.659 So the early coursework was really difficult for me 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:55.459 but when I stuck with it I really enjoyed the 00:01:55.460 --> 00:01:58.040 data structure classes that came later on. 00:01:58.860 --> 00:02:01.960 I don't just have a passion for it. I live it. 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:07.209 I breathe and think what I can do with the computer or with computing systems 00:02:07.209 --> 00:02:09.610 and that's why I have six of them. 00:02:09.610 --> 00:02:11.629 I do everything imaginable with them. 00:02:11.629 --> 00:02:15.380 My goal is to see what can be done instead of what can't be done. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:18.940 There’s nowhere you can look in computing 00:02:18.950 --> 00:02:21.290 and not find a challenge. 00:02:21.290 --> 00:02:26.290 I’m the kind of person who when I come across one of those little challenges, 00:02:26.290 --> 00:02:29.560 I keep digging and digging and digging until I can find the answer 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:33.090 and figure out how to fix the problem I’m having. 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:36.739 I’m Sam Sepah. 00:02:36.739 --> 00:02:40.310 I am an HR professional and I have worked for a variety of tech companies 00:02:40.310 --> 00:02:42.959 over the last 10 years of my career. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:46.840 And now I’m focusing on recruitment for software engineers. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:53.520 Students are attracted to computing for a variety of reasons. 00:02:54.440 --> 00:02:58.480 My name is Cindy Bennett and I am a first year PhD student 00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:03.599 in the Human Centered Design and Engineering Department at the University of Washington. 00:03:05.320 --> 00:03:07.460 00:03:15.280 I am an undergrad at UW Tacoma 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:20.000 finishing my BS in information technology at UW Tacoma. 00:03:21.260 --> 00:03:22.480 My name is Jessie, 00:03:22.480 --> 00:03:28.400 and I'm a fourth-year student at the University of Washington, 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:34.159 majoring in informatics with a minor in diversity. 00:03:34.160 --> 00:03:37.560 And I identify myself as deaf. 00:03:38.310 --> 00:03:44.480 My disability is complex. 00:03:44.480 --> 00:03:48.519 There is one that is from birth which is my right arm 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:51.900 so I do everything with my left arm. 00:03:53.260 --> 00:03:57.560 Computing is interesting to me because 00:03:57.569 --> 00:04:03.560 I can combine my two passions to create an impact. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:09.730 So I have a passion for psychology and creating a user experience 00:04:09.730 --> 00:04:12.150 that people really enjoy. 00:04:12.150 --> 00:04:18.010 And I have a passion for using technology to improve people’s lives. 00:04:18.010 --> 00:04:22.310 It is important for people with disabilities 00:04:22.310 --> 00:04:27.139 to pursue careers in science because we have 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:32.780 really unique life experiences and skills that we can offer 00:04:32.780 --> 00:04:38.590 and it’s important for us to be stakeholders in projects 00:04:38.590 --> 00:04:41.360 and for us to be represented on the market. 00:04:42.080 --> 00:04:46.800 What I would like to do is to go into security 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:50.660 which is becoming a hot subject today. 00:04:51.770 --> 00:04:55.920 I think that it's really important for people with disabilities, 00:04:55.930 --> 00:05:00.240 like me, myself, to be included in the computing field, 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.560 because technology has created a huge role 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:08.640 in helping us to access the larger world. 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:12.340 So for example, the cochlear implants help me hear, right? 00:05:12.380 --> 00:05:21.060 But also, the text systems we use for phones, computer message systems. 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:25.180 People with disabilities can receive accommodations 00:05:25.190 --> 00:05:29.820 and use technology to help them in school and in the workplace. 00:05:29.820 --> 00:05:34.800 My main accommodations would be extended time on tests, 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:39.879 having my books available as eText format 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:45.470 which means I can use a screen reader to read out the books to me 00:05:45.470 --> 00:05:49.990 so even though when I'm reading it myself I may not be able to understand it. 00:05:49.990 --> 00:05:53.300 The computer is telling me exactly what those words are. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:56.919 Many devices come equipped with accessible features 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:02.229 including larger text, text to speech, and spell checking. 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.960 I use a typical computer like everyone else 00:06:07.970 --> 00:06:13.860 but it has an additional piece of software called a screen reader loaded onto it. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:17.340 The screen reader tells me what is on the screen 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:21.310 and I use the keyboard to navigate. 00:06:21.310 --> 00:06:24.090 Basically the information that comes up on the screen 00:06:24.090 --> 00:06:26.690 gets converted to information I can hear 00:06:26.690 --> 00:06:29.780 or it can then be converted into something 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:33.220 I can use a Braille display to read with as well. 00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:40.759 Another accommodation I use almost every day is called CART, C-A-R-T, 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:45.930 which stands for Communication Access Real Time. 00:06:45.930 --> 00:06:51.370 So what it is, is a captioning device that's real time captioning, 00:06:51.370 --> 00:06:54.680 that I can read the transcript on the screen 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:58.259 while the professor is talking in real time. 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:01.840 The accommodations that I used in school 00:07:01.849 --> 00:07:03.780 included books on tape, 00:07:03.780 --> 00:07:06.830 I used a note taker for certain classes, 00:07:06.830 --> 00:07:11.370 and I used dictation software for my writing tasks. 00:07:11.370 --> 00:07:16.580 At work, I use text to speech for some of my written tasks, 00:07:16.580 --> 00:07:18.539 for writing emails, large papers. 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:22.280 It helps me proofread and write more quickly. 00:07:23.440 --> 00:07:26.800 People with disabilities can be valuable team members 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:31.360 who bring fresh perspectives to classrooms, labs and workplaces. 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.880 Regardless of your ability, you can create, 00:07:36.880 --> 00:07:40.750 you can be an innovator in the space. 00:07:40.750 --> 00:07:43.180 Being a problem solver 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:47.439 is really important when you're a software developer. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.610 And if you're someone with a disability 00:07:49.610 --> 00:07:52.479 that's something that you have to do pretty regularly 00:07:52.479 --> 00:07:56.020 since we’re faced with challenges all the time. 00:07:56.020 --> 00:07:57.520 We have to find solutions to them 00:07:57.520 --> 00:07:59.729 so that probably makes us better problem solvers. 00:07:59.729 --> 00:08:04.620 That's definitely a good trait to have when you're working in this field. 00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:08.740 I work in an environment where it's not who you are, 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:10.590 it's what solutions you bring to the table. 00:08:10.590 --> 00:08:13.080 Are you willing to work with other people? 00:08:13.080 --> 00:08:15.129 Are you thinking about all of these different teams, 00:08:15.129 --> 00:08:17.660 all of these different options? 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:20.460 Candidates with disabilities 00:08:20.460 --> 00:08:24.819 have a unique thought process to bring to a company. 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:26.050 Our country is diverse 00:08:26.050 --> 00:08:29.180 so the marketplace needs to attract a lot of diverse people 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:34.340 who will use the products that we’re selling or the services we’re providing. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:40.580 If a country is diverse, your team needs to be diverse as well 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:44.000 to parallel what our country’s demographics are.