He was interested because the kids were all interested in science, Burgstahler says. Using a computer and a speech synthesizer, Hawking, who was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease at age 21, spent two hours answering student's questions. While a few questions dealt with science and Hawking's education, wrote DO-IT mentor Kevin Berg in the program's newsletter, the majority of the students asked for advice on how to overcome disabilities. Scholars Program seeks to recruit young people with disabilities into engineering, science, and mathematics study and careers. What makes UW's program distinctive may be not only its target group but also its approach.
Technology is a mainstay of the program.
They can also access the program's Gopher server, which can link them to information on engineering, science, and math and to resources on disabilities. Though Burgstahler checks regularly to make sure students are using the equipment, it usually isn't a problem to get them involved, she says. Students are particularly eager to share experiences with on another, she say, and they ask mentors about everything from planning for college and careers in engineering to coping with disabilities. So far, summer workshops have covered such diverse topics as robotics, recycling consumer electronics, genetic engineering, creativity and entrepreneurship, and heart surgery. DO-IT staff help recruit and prepare faculty volunteers to work with the students, many of whom have significant disabilities including blindness, hearing impairment, and mobility or orthopedic impairment.