Statewide Program Encourages Students with Disabilities to Seek Careers in High Tech

A new program, funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the Choose Ohio First Scholarships program, has brought together several state universities with the mission of encouraging students with disabilities to prepare for high-paying, high-tech careers.  The Ohio STEM Ability Alliance is focused on increasing the number of students with disabilities who receive degrees in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. 

Participating schools in the program include Ohio State, Columbus State, Wright State and Sinclair Community College.  Last year OSU graduated approximately 100 students with disabilities with degrees in STEM disciplines. 

According to Margo Izzo, OSU program director, nothing prevents students with either physical disabilities (such as blindness and deafness) or developmental disabilities (autism, Asperger’s, etc.) from pursuing high-tech careers.  Often, she says that students are steered away from these avenues by teachers or parents who want to protect them. 

The program makes grants ranging from $1500 to $4700 available to qualifying students. Another key component of the program is mentoring of the students by professionals with disabilities who are actively working in high-tech careers. One such mentor is Dennis DeVendra who is blind and holds a technology position with AEP. 

“He has high expectations,” says Izzo of DeVendra.  “Dennis doesn’t accept ‘no’ as an answer.  He just expects students to rise up to a very high level of being independent and getting out and participating in the world as fully as possible.” 

For more information on the program, see the OSU story.

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