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Opinion
STEM, NCLB, MIDWEST & UD: What's With the Acronyms and Our Nation's Future?
10/16/2006
MIDWEST is the latest alliance to join three other NSF-funded STEM regional alliances that are working together to level the playing field for students with disabilities. MIDWEST’s collaborators include:
- AccessSTEM, the Northwest Alliance based at the University of Washington in Seattle,
- EAST, Eastern Alliance at the University of Southern Maine, New Gloucester, and
- RASEM 2 (Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering, & Mathematics – Squared) at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
These more seasoned regional alliances are invaluable to MIDWEST for resource sharing, and for strategizing ways to promote an increase in the number of students with disabilities who will succeed in STEM academic programs and careers. Together, we refer teachers and students to a searchable knowledge base and collaborate to identify common data elements for program participants.
“We will infuse resources and teaching tools at all levels, from middle school to the university level, and also will help students transition more smoothly into the workforce,” says Mark Leddy, who is on leave of absence to direct the Research in Disabilities Education Program at NSF. When I took over Mark’s position in September, I focused on “starting early” and am continuing efforts to develop a mentoring program that includes a network for students and their families, research paid internships, and other activities.
The student mentorship model at MIDWEST relies on face-to-face mentoring, online computer mentoring, and a hybrid of the two – whatever works for the student. This mix of approaches is unique to the MIDWEST Alliance. MIDWEST researchers work with middle school and high-school teachers to better anticipate the needs of students with disabilities in STEM curricula. The project administers grants and scholarships to students, regional educators, and care providers to promote student participation or make housing or classroom settings more “disability-friendly.” The program helps new graduates secure paid internships at prestigious research venues such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Instructors, support staff, counselors, and employers receive training for creating accessible facilities and electronic resources to fully include students with disabilities. This project is underway as part of a larger Universal Design (UD) initiative/intervention.
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