In 2005, the Midwest al-liance joined the Nationalscience foundation’s (Nsf)

growing network of regionalalliances dedicated to increas-ing the participation andachievement of people withdisabilities in all fields of sci-ence, technology, engineeringand mathematics (steM). is

network, which works under the umbrella of the Nsf’sresearch in Disabilities education program, strives toclose accessibility gaps in steM by successfully dissem-inating findings, project evaluation results and provengood practices and products to the public.

Midwest alliance efforts in support of these goalshave centered on direct student interventions such asinternships, mentorships and immersion/enrichmentexperiences; indirect student interventions such asteacher or disability service provider training; and sys-tems interventions such as defining strategies for sup-porting students with disabilities in postsecondaryeducation. accomplishments in these areas include:

• establishment of active collaboration for all Midwestalliance programs among three postsecondary insti-tutions representing illinois, iowa and Wisconsin, in-cluding joint leadership, joint planning andmulti-campus implementation.

• Comprehensive programming to assist students withdisabilities to succeed in steM through mentoring,internships, enrichment activities and immersion ex-periences.

• exponential growth in success recruiting students toMidwest alliance programs.

• Participation by over 2,400 educators, staff members

and pre-service education students in more than 80workshops to improve their ability to teach steMsubjects inclusively.

• Publication of 15 journal articles, electronic publica-tions, conference proceedings, books and book chap-ters discussing topics related to opportunities andchallenges for students with disabilities in steM suchas comprehensive transitional support services,steM educator attitudes toward students with dis-abilities, strategies for inclusive teaching and assistivetechnology issues and impacts.

• More than 180 presentations at national, regional,state, and local conferences and workshops given byMidwest alliance staff, oen as co-presenters.

• a quarterly newsletter distributed to more than 2,700subscribers.

• Continuous evolution of a web presence, including awebsite and social networking sites to recruit studentswith disabilities to Midwest programs.

• Distribution and analysis of two national surveysthrough the association for Higher education and Dis-ability (aHeaD) to evaluate the state of comprehensivepostsecondary services for students with severe physi-cal disabilities and students with psychiatric disabilities.

• National workshops about Personal assistant serv-ices for students with severe Physical Disabilities andsteM, and students with Psychiatric Disabilities insteM. Work continues in these areas with publica-tions, presentations and online presence.

• Development of assistive technologies to enable stu-dents with severe physical disabilities to be successfulin both their living and learning environments.

• establishment of critical collaborations, includingpublic school systems, other alliances and two-year

First Five Years at Midwest Alliance Focus on outreach andSupport for STEM Students with Disabilities

midwestExplorEr Vol. 3, No. 4 Winter 2010

first five years continued on page 4

Midwest Alliance Staff

Principal Investigator:Jay K. Martin, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-MadisonProfessor, Mechanical engineering Director, UW Center for rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology(UW-Create)martin@engr.wisc.edu

Psychological Disabilities Coordinator:Kimberly D. Collins, Ph.D.University of illinoisClinical Psychologist, asst. Director Dreskdcollin@illinois.edu

Severe Physical Disabilities Coordinator:Brad N. Hedrick, Ph.D.University of illinoisDirector, Disability resources and educational services (Dres)bhedrick@illinois.edu

Education Coordinator:Gregory stefanich, ed.D.University of Northern iowaProfessor, Curriculum and instructiongregory.stefanich@uni.edu

Midwest Project Manager:amy B. fruchtman, M.s., CCC-sLPafruchtm@wisc.edu

Outreach Coordinator:Michelle Priddy, M.s.ed.mpriddy@illinois.edu

Outreach Coordinator:Dan Nordstrom, MssWdnordstrom@wisc.edu

Midwest Alliance main office:338 Goodnight Hall1975 Willow DriveUW-MadisonMadison, Wi 53706tele: 608-262-6467tty: relay through 711faX: 608-262-6466

e information contained in this publication isbased upon work supported by the National ScienceFoundation under Grant No. 0533197. Any opinions,findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s)and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

I it has been nearly five years since the National science foun-dation (Nsf) generously provided funds for the Midwest al-liance. e current support from Nsf will continue through

the end of august 2010. We have submitted a proposal to Nsf tocontinue the Midwest alliance for another five years.

it is appropriate at this point to take a moment to look atwhat has been accomplished in the Midwest alliance. We sharesome of this in this edition of e Midwest Explorer.

Our cover story outlines our most significant accomplish-ments, all of which involved collaborations both with our formalpartners and countless others who share our mission to serve in-dividuals with disabilities. We’re very happy with what we’veachieved and hope that you realize that your involvement hasbeen key to our success.

increased accessibility is one of our fundamental goals. i’mfortunate that my dual roles as Principal investigator at the Mid-west alliance and as professor of mechanical engineering at theUniversity of Wisconsin allow me to direct some of our brighteststudents’ efforts to developing technology that can greatly benefitpeople with disabilities. is issue’s articles about the 2009 assis-tive technology expo and the arte (assistive and rehabilitativetechnology) Design class highlight two such efforts on this front.i am constantly amazed by the natural affinity and enthusiasmour students show for working on assistive technology.

finally, the three featured profiles of students who have takenadvantage of Midwest alliance programs and services andthrived are emblematic of what the Midwest alliance is all about.

Of course, we also are looking ahead to the next five yearsand ways we can continue to support students in steM. isnewsletter is packed with opportunities for students—please useour resources for assistance with pursuing these. in particular,we want to make certain you are aware of some upcoming Mid-west alliance events. is summer, we will host three immersioncamps for students in grades 9-12. two of the camps focus onengineering design and the third centers on three-dimensionalmodeling. More details about each are available at stemmid-west.org.

again, a heartfelt thank you for learning and working withthe Midwest alliance. We greatly appreciate it.sincerely,

Jay K. Martin Principal investigator

pI’s Corner

3

eNGiNeeriNG aCCessiBiLity continued next page

ARTe Design students give a progress report on a project that makes reading documents easier for peoplewith physical disabilities.

a ccessibility = Opportunity. On its surface, it’snot the most difficult equation that senior me-chanical engineering students grapple with at

the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But infuse “ac-cessibility” with engineering principles and you comeup with “assistive technology (at).” suddenly the sig-nificance of the equation becomes much more profound.

at allows individuals with disabilities to performfunctions that might otherwise be difficult or impossi-ble. e term applies to mobility devices such as wheel-chairs and walkers, as well as hardware and sowarethat make computers, communication and other infor-mation technology more accessible.

students first encounter the concepts behind at inthe arte Design course sequence, a capstone programProfessor Jay Martin created for the University’s Collegeof engineering. Capstone courses require students toapply creative and mechanical engineering skills andknowledge, along with learned knowledge and under-standing of the design process, to identify, solve and doc-ument the solution in a real engineering design problem.

e arte Design classes are one of several collabo-rations the Midwest alliance has with regional institu-tions; in addition to his work at the university, ProfessorMartin serves as Principal investigator for the alliance.

arte Design combines assistive and rehabilitativetechnology—the art in arte—with innovative designand product development and support. Objectives forthis two-semester course include:

• Provide an authentic design experience for seniormechanical engineering students;

• Provide an experiential learning environment inassistive technology, design of assistive technologyand disability;

• Contribute assistive technology designs and sys-tems that lead to more independence and choicefor individuals with disabilities.

“successful at design relies on solid engineeringand a thorough understanding of end-user needs andcapabilities,” Martin points out. “arte Design providesa master apprenticeship environment that allows theseskills and qualities to emerge within our students.”

Classes simulate activities in real-world firms, withprojects directed at assistive and rehabilitative technologyand all work performed for “clients” pro bono. Projectsare either suggested by individuals with disabilities look-ing to solve accessibility problems or by Martin himselfwhen he sees an issue that can be addressed through at.

Engineering Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities

Rach

el Do

lnIck

4

technical and community college systems in thethree-state area.

• Ongoing formative and summative evaluation using aneducative, values-engaged approach for the improve-ment and evolution of Midwest alliance programs.

Planning for the next five years at the Midwest al-liance is underway and builds on these significantachievements. Dissemination of these efforts will begreatly enhanced through the addition of Purdue Uni-versity and iowa state University as partner institutionsand collaborations with far-reaching organizations suchas science Olympiad. Check stemmidwest.org oen forupdates about exciting programming and new opportu-nities already in development. �

several current projects aim to improve the func-tionality of wheelchairs. for example, tables and desksare oen not the right height for electric wheelchairusers; arte Design students are creating a stowablework surface so users can study or work right from theirchairs. accessible storage with manual wheelchairs isanother problem for some. Many use backpacks, whichcan cause damage when hung on the back of the chair,and are heavy and hard to reach. a team of students isevaluating a frameless pannier design with adjustableheight and width features, and the Madison spinal Cordinjury Group is assisting with prototype testing.

for engineering students who relish working onsouped-up engines and hot rods, the advanced chairproject holds lots of appeal. slated to be the “next gen-eration” power wheelchair, don’t be put off by the proto-type’s propane engine and curve-hugging fat tires. estudents have loaded it with high-tech design featuresthat make the chair more stable and adjustable.

students working on an air sling project point outthat product improvements could prevent injuries inboth individuals with disabilities and their caregivers,as back injuries are common with current products. edesign students’ system improves the caregiver’s bodypositioning to reduce back stress and minimize liingrequired to transfer individuals.

e ultimate goal in arte Design is to develop atthat has impact and that will get used by individualswith disabilities. e program’s sit ski design has metwith the most success so far.

Most recreational activities are difficult and/or ex-pensive for people with limited mobility to enjoy.Cross-country skiing can be accessible, but early equip-ment was custom made, expensive and not adjustable.students set out to design an accessible cross-countryski system with flexibility and manufacturability so thatmore people could have access to this sport. e resultis an award-winning design that is easily adjustable tovirtually any body type, disability and desired seatingposition. anks to a creative distribution plan, the skisas being distributed across the country to recreationaland ski centers.

Martin hopes that the sit ski production and distri-bution model will translate to the other arte Designproducts and is working on a website to showcase theclasses’ works in progress.

“We know these products don’t have huge target mar-kets or profit margins,” he said. “But some of them mightbe good product extensions for the right company.”

for Martin, seeing some of the University’s bright-est minds at work on at solutions is encouraging.

“it’s a small field, so there aren’t a lot of jobs focusedon at,” he said. “But arte Design may inspire them tolook at whatever design projects they work on as pro-fessional engineers with an eye toward improved acces-sibility for all users. and if that results in improvedaccessibility for students with disabilities in particular,then we’ve done our job.” �

first five years continued from page 1

The advanced chair project holds promise as the "nextgeneration" power wheelchair.

Rach

el D

oln

Ick

5

The Midwest alliance Mentorship Programmatches mentors who are college or universitystudents or alumni with disabilities with high

school or undeclared college-level mentees who havesimilar interests and backgrounds. face-to-face or in-ternet discussions focus on self advocacy, transitioningto higher education, academic accommodations andstudy skills.

e alliance’s internship Program supports highschool, professional and technical college and univer-sity undergraduate and graduate students who wish topursue steM or social science learning experiences orinternships at enrichment camps, businesses and re-search facilities. interns learn real-life skills, interactwith scientists and professionals and gain practical ex-perience in the fields of their choice.

Meet three participants who used these programsto leverage postsecondary and career opportunities insteM:

as a Midwest alliance intern in Dr. Kevin edward’slab at illinois state University (isU) last spring, Elsa Kr-ishnaswamy conducted genetic research on Drosophilamelanogaster, the common fruit fly. elsa is currently agraduate student in biotechnology at isU and continuesto work in Dr. edwards’ lab. she plans to use the resultsfrom her lab research in her master’s thesis. elsa also

serves as a Midwest alliance mentor to a freshman withdisabilities at the University of illinois. together they areexploring ways to ensure a successful first year of collegeboth inside and outside the science laboratory.

Jeremiah Swisher took advantage of both Midwestalliance programs to successfully transition from highschool to college. Prior to enrolling at the University ofWisconsin-Whitewater last fall, the Midwest alliancehelped Jeremiah secure an internship at Disability voice,a project based in appleton, Wisconsin. at the sametime, he worked with Mike Jones, a Midwest alliancementor and eastern illinois University graduate who hasa background working with computer databases. anksto these experiences, Jeremiah is now pursuing his inter-ests in computers and web design as well as advocatingfor people with disabilities. Mike and Jeremiah continueto stay in touch.

Matt Ward recently graduated from the Universityof Wisconsin-Madison. Despite his amazing gis inmath, Matt found it difficult to find regular employmentaer graduation. a Midwest alliance internship lastsummer provided Matt with the opportunity to work inDr. Morton ann Gernsbacher’s research laboratory athis alma mater. following completion of his internship,Matt was offered a position as a research assistant and hecontinues to work in the lab. �

Making a Difference

Elsa Krishnaswamy Matt WardJeremiah Swisher

6

Midwest Alliance Guide toSummer opportunities for Students

S ummer jobs don’t have to mean fast food or retail. Make the most of your summer by getting real work experi-ence as you earn money, explore science, technology, engineering and math and have fun. Many summer pro-grams are designed to increase opportunities and involvement for students with diverse backgrounds,

including income-status, disability, race and ethnicity. e following programs provide housing, food and, in most cases, travel funding. additional funding potential is

available through Midwest alliance stipends that offer high school students up to $500 (minimum participationlength of 40 hours) and college and university students up to $1,000 (minimum length of 80 hours) for internships.Contact the Midwest alliance at stemmidwest.org with questions or for application assistance.

Summer opportunities for High School Students:

____________________________________________Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented YouthAccelerated Learning ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: May 8, 2010ree-week academic program for students in grades9-12 that provides the opportunity to take one highschool or college-level course at an accelerated paceand earn credit, with school approval, upon successfulprogram completion. Cost: $1,600 (nonresidential) or$2,250 (includes housing). financial assistance available.More information: wcaty.org____________________________________________Independence First Youth Leadership SummitMilwaukee, WIDeadline: May 8, 2010Weeklong day camps for high school students or recentgraduates. food, transportation and a daily stipend isprovided (housing not provided). More information:alie Kriofske Mainella, aKriofske@independencefirst.orgor 414-226-8112____________________________________________People ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: April 2010ree- to six-week, all-expenses-paid residential summerprogram. students must be in either 6th grade (enrolledin the Madison public or Menominee indian school

districts) or 9th grade (enrolled in the Madison, Mil-waukee, racine and Waukesha public school districts orthe Ho–Chunk, Menominee, and Lac Courte Oreilles,Lac du flambeau and Bad river Nations indian Na-tions). More information: peopleprogram.wisc.edu

____________________________________________Summer Collegiate ExperienceUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: Spring 2010summer bridge program designed to help incomingfirst-year students make a successful transition fromhigh school to college. sCe participants attend threesummer session classes and receive a total of eightdegree credits. Cost for tuition, books and room and

board in a residence hall is covered for all participants.if you plan to attend UW-Madison this fall as a first-year student, you are eligible to apply for the program.More information: lssaa.wisc.edu/sce/

____________________________________________Engineering Summer ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: April 9, 2010six-week residential experience in which students gaina better understanding of engineering, prepare for therigors of undergraduate academics and learn about col-lege life. Cost: $30 non-refundable application fee, butthere is no cost to participate in the program. room,board, books and materials are provided. More infor-mation: diversity.engr.wisc.edu/esp

____________________________________________Summer Science InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: April 2010seven-week, all-expenses-paid residential experience inwhich students gain an understanding of biological/physical research while learning about college life.More information: cbe.wisc.edu/ssi/

____________________________________________Milwaukee School of Engineering Summer ProgramsMilwaukee School of EngineeringNo deadline but space is limitedfive-day residential summer camps in a variety of engi-neering fields for high school sophomores, juniors andseniors. fee to attend; scholarships and Midwest alliancefunding assistance are available. More information:msoe.edu/admiss/summer.html

____________________________________________Engineering Tomorrow's CareersUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDeadline: March 27, 2010Weeklong event that aims to stimulate interest in engi-neering and the sciences among high school girls whohave just completed their junior year. More information:engr.wisc.edu/studentorgs/swe/Webpage/etC.shtml

____________________________________________Discover EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDeadline: April 15, 2010Camp for high school sophomores interested in science,engineering and mathematics. Cost: $700. More infor-mation: engr.uiuc.edu/wyse/eyO/index.html

____________________________________________Exploring Your Options (EYO)University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDeadline: April 15, 2010Weeklong residential camp for high school juniors andseniors interested in engineering. Cost: $700. More in-formation: engr.uiuc.edu/wyse/eyO/index.html

____________________________________________Illinois Aerospace InstituteUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDeadline: April 15, 2010Weeklong residential summer camp for students enter-ing grades 9-12 who are interested in learning aboutthe fields of aerospace engineering and aviationthrough classroom sessions, laboratories, demonstra-tions and hands-on activities. Cost: $700. More infor-mation: ae.uiuc.edu/iai/program.html

____________________________________________Young Scholars ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDeadline: Spring 2010summer and academic-year program for incomingfreshman to the University of illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ere is no cost; benefits include tuitionand books, up to nine credit hours and competitiveperformance-based scholarships. More information:students.aces.illinois.edu/ysp

paid research opportunities For College

and University Students:

____________________________________________AAAS EntryPoint!Deadline: Spring 2010full-paid summer internship opportunities throughoutthe United states. eligibility: full-time undergraduateor graduate student with a disability majoring in a sci-ence or engineering field and a B average or higher.More information: ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint/ �

7

Two Sites for Exploration by Design: How Stuff Worksattention tinkerers and dismantlers! if figuring out theinner workings of things is something you enjoy, don’tmiss “exploration by Design: How stuff Works,” athree-day immersion experience for students with dis-abilities who are interested in science, social sciences,technology, engineering and math (steM). instructorsfrom the University of illinois and the University ofWisconsin will guide participants in hands-on activities,experiments and discussions to unlock the mysteriesbehind how everyday objects function. Participants alsowill gain valuable insights about careers, postsecondarytransition, accommodations and assistive technology.

Campers can attend one of two sessions; session onetakes place at the University of illinois in Champaign-Urbana on July 20-22 followed by session two at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison on July 27-29. eachsite can accommodate up to 20 students and their par-ents or guardians.

Participants must be current or graduating highschool students in grades 9-12, U.s. citizens or legalpermanent residents and must have a verifiable disabil-ity. all expenses, including food, housing and trans-portation within iowa, illinois and Wisconsin will beprovided for students and up to two parents or guardians.

Midwest Alliance offers New options for Exploration by Design Summer Camps in 2010

New! Exploration by Design: How CAD WorksHave you ever wondered how three-dimensional objects are made? Do you like to work on computers?en come join Professor Hazel Marie fromyoungstown state University to learn how Computeraided Design or CaD is used to design and produceproducts. at “exploration by Design: How CaDWorks,” you’ll use CaD to design your own productand then actually produce it using a rapid prototypemachine.

this five-day immersion day camp takes placefrom 8 a.m.—noon on august 9-13 at the Universityof Wisconsin-Madison. space is limited to 15 students.

Hurry—registration is underway and filling fast!register for each camp online at the Midwest alliancewebsite, stemmidwest.org.

for more information, visit stemmidwest.orgor contact Midwest alliance outreach coordinators Dan Nordstrom, (608) 890-0992 ordnordstrom@wisc.edu, or Michelle Priddy, (217)or mpriddy@illinois.edu. �

Students work together to figure out how everyday objects operate during the Midwest Alliance’s two-day camp last summer.

Midwest Alliance Joins Forceswith Science olympiad

a recently formed partnership with science Olympiad(sO) gives the Midwest alliance a new avenue forreaching and supporting students with disabilities in

science, technology, engineering and math.sO offers enhanced standards-based science learning for students in kindergarten through grade 12 and their

teachers. Last year, nearly 6,000 middle and high school teams from 47 states participated in science Olympiad tour-naments throughout the United states.

e collaboration, which helps both organizations meet goals for increased participation in steM among stu-dents with disabilities, will launch when the 2010 science Olympiad National tournament is held at the University ofillinois on May 21-22.

following the event, Midwest alliance staff will work with sO state directors to discuss ways to recruit, accommo-date and coach students with disabilities during programs and events. Midwest alliance will offer direct support forstudents with disabilities who participate in science Olympiad and also provide outreach to their teammates.

access to science Olympiad students and programming provides yet another way for the Midwest alliance tonurture interest in steM among younger students with disabilities. Many sO alumni who have pursued steM ca-reers aer college indicate that their participation in sO programming played a key role in choosing these paths. �

Midwest Alliance Broadens reach with I-STEM partnership

o ne of the Midwest alliance’s key goals is system impact through the creation and dissemination of successfulpractices in disability service provision and assistive technology. e alliance achieves this goal through col-laborations with other organizations similarly focused on improving steM education and participation. a

new partnership with the i-steM education initiative at the University of illinois at Urbana-Champaign is designedto further enhance the scalability of Midwest alliance initiatives.

Midwest alliance representatives recently met with Professor Lizanne Destephano, Director of the i-steM edu-cation initiative, and other members of the staff. i-steM is a campus coalition created by the University of illinoischancellor to:• improve steM educational outreach across the spectrum from preschool to postsecondary;• improve steM teacher training and professional development; • promote undergraduate and graduate steM education reform;• enhance participation of diverse students; and • shape educational policy and advocate for steM education.

Current i-steM collaborators include the Colleges of education, Liberal arts & sciences, engineering, agricul-ture, veterinary Medicine, applied Health sciences, Medicine, Library and information sciences and social Work atthe University of illinois at Urbana-Champaign. e National Center for supercomputing applications, Beckman in-stitute for advanced science and technology and the institute for Genomic Biology are also i-steM partners. formore information, visit istem.illinois.edu. �

9

M onica Kamalrossaemphasizes the im-portance of assistive

technologies (at) for personswith disabilities by asking aquestion: “How many of youcan live without your shoesevery day, every season—yes,even in winter?”

Kamalrossa, coordinator ofthe spinal Cord injury Groupin Madison, Wi, explains, “Ourcanes, wheelchairs and com-puters are how we navigate toget to school, work and placesof worship.”

“assistive technology is a foundation to the qualityof life that almost all persons with disabilities require,”says Kamalrossa, who injured her spinal cord in a 2001skiing accident and uses wheelchairs to get around.such technologies enable more people to participate intheir communities, which benefits the entire commu-nity, she adds.

Kamalrossa organized the 25th annual assistivetechnology expo last November, which was held on theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison campus. e exposhowcased some of the latest advances in technologythat can offer people with disabilities new opportunitiesto participate in school, employment and communitylife.

“We were very excited to have UW students fromdifferent departments showcasing their projects,” saysKamalrossa. “is year we added a Health and Well-ness panel with four people with disabilities discussingadaptive kayaking, sit skiing with the Birkebeiner lastyear, hand cycling and adaptive camping.”

e expo debuted in 1985 when the southwestWisconsin rehabilitation association (sWra) and therehabilitation Psychology Program in UW-Madison’sDepartment of rehabilitation Psychology and specialeducation (rPse) launched the event to benefit rehabil-

itation professionals, people with disabilities and thecommunity in general, says Norm Berven, UW-Madi-son professor of rehabilitation psychology.

Berven, who coordinated the expo for 20 years, saysabout two dozen organizations that marketed or usedtechnology related to disability and rehabilitation par-ticipated in the inaugural event. More organizationshave participated since then, and the number of spon-sors has grown, he says.

“technology has changed dramatically since 1985,when apple iie computers were among the most widelyused, and cell phones, the internet, and GPs technologywere still years away,” Berven says. “advances in tech-nology have opened many possibilities for people withdisabilities, and it is these advances that are highlightedat the expo.”

He credits the active participation of UW-Madison’sCollege of engineering for taking the expo to a newlevel, especially Jay Martin, a professor in Mechanicalengineering and Biomedical engineering. Martin di-rects UW-Create (Center for rehabilitation engineer-ing and assistive technology), which engages inengineering research, design and education to help pro-vide additional independence to individuals with dis-abilities.

“Professor Martin has involved a number of facultyand programs in engineering and has also organizedposter presentations by his students, demonstrating in-novations that they have been involved in developing,”Berven says. “He has also brought some importantkeynote speakers and panels to give presentations atthe expo.”

Kamalrossa became acquainted with Martin andother members of the expo’s planning committeethrough her active involvement in adaptive fitness andrecreation and assistive technology projects.

“i have attended a few at expos over the years be-cause it is such an important event,” she says. “i am al-ways curious about what is new and i want to try outthe ‘solutions’ and ask questions.”

“e expo has always sought to attract a diverse au-

10

Assistive Tech Expo Showcases possibilitiesfor persons with Disabilities

Monica KamalRossa

dience, and several hundred people typically attendeach year,” Berven says. attendees include many faculty,staff and students from rehabilitation-related majorsand engineering, computer science and technology.e expo also attracts entire classes from other postsec-ondary institutions from the Madison area and Univer-sity of Wisconsin system, as well as professionals fromrehabilitation agencies, health organizations and ele-mentary and secondary schools.

“We have had elementary school classes attend as adisability-awareness activity, and we once had a highschool class that was working on projects to design ac-

cessible spaces to accommodate people with disabilities,”Berven says.

from the general public, many people with disabili-ties and their family members come to learn about ad-vances in technology that might be of benefit to them. e 2010 at expo will take place in October at UW-Madison. visit stemmidwest.org for updates about thisevent. �

Adapted from an article by Kerry G. Hill that originallyappeared on the University of Wisconsin-Madison’sSchool of Education website. Used with permission.

M idwest alliance staff convenes a meeting of itsadvisory Board at least once a year to discussalliance operations with stakeholders. e

meetings also provide disability service providers andothers on the Board with a venue to offer suggestionsand guidance to Midwest’s personnel. On October 23,2009, the advisory Board met in Madison or via tele-conference to share highlights from year 4 operationsand hear from participants.

Highlights included the exploration By Design:How stuff Works camp held in Champaign, illinois lastJune for high school students. Camp instructors fromthe University of Wisconsin-Madison presented in-structional strategies, content and student discoveriesand experiences; the Board also heard about evaluationresults from the event. Board members encouraged thecontinuation and expansion of the camp for this com-ing summer (see page 8 for for dates), made suggestionsabout how to target outreach and recruitment and sug-gested ways to maximize benefits gained by studentsand families.

to help advisory Board members learn about the

alliance’s student participant opportunities, currentMidwest interns and mentors discussed their experi-ences. students candidly discussed the challenges theyhave faced and overcome, and ways in which Midwestinternship and mentorship opportunities have allowedthem to contribute (and help others succeed in steM)and encouraged them to continue on their educationaljourney. advisory Board members appreciated thefocus on “ability” and “difference in ability” and the ideathat a student diagnosed with asperger syndrome, forexample, could turn what might be seen as a liability(i.e., careful attention to patterns and details) into anasset in a work situation, such as a research laboratoryneeding to make corrections to the labeling of differentbrain parts in an Mri scan.

When asked by Board members if more of thebarriers in the transition from high school to postsec-ondary education are perceived or actual, one Midwestparticipant said “actual,” one replied “50/50” and onesaid, “Not sure!” What better evidence for the need forthe individualized support services the Midwest al-liance offers? �

11

Midwest Alliance Advisory Board

Continued from previous page

Mark Your Calendar!Join the Midwest alliance for informativeprograms for students, parents andacademic personnel and otheropportunities benefiting students withdisabilities. click on the links below formore information.

Wisconsin State Tournament ofodyssey of the MindMarch 27, 2010Madison area Technical collegeMadison, WIMore information:wi.odysseyofthemind.org

Badger State Science & EngineeringFairMarch 27, 2010Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WIMore information: bssef.org/

Midwest Alliance offices closedfor University of Wisconsin-MadisonFurlough Day: April 2, 2010

Illinois/Iowa Association on HigherEducation and Disability (IlloWAAHEAD) ConferenceApril 15-16, 2010hawthorn Suiteschampaign, IlMore information:ahead.org/affiliates/illinois-iowa

opening Horizons ConferenceMay 7, 2010University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WIMore information:uww.edu/csd.conf2010.html

Exploration by Design: How StuffWorks*Session 1July 20-22, 2010University of Illinois at Urbana-champaignUrbana, IlMore information: Michelle Priddy,mpriddy@illinois.edu or (217) 244-1571

Goodnight Hall 3381975 Willow Dr.Madison, Wi 53706

Senior mechanicalengineering studentsat the University ofWisconsin-Madisondesigned an improvedwheelchair storagesystem as part of acapstone coursefocused on assistivetechnology. See page 3for the full story.

Rach

el D

oln

Ick

Exploration by Design: How Stuff Works*Session 2July 27-29, 2010University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WIMore information: Dan nordstrom,dnordstrom@wisc.edu or (608) 890-0992

Exploration by Design: How CAD Works*August 9-13, 2010University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WIMore information: Dan nordstrom,dnordstrom@wisc.edu or (608) 890-0992

*See page 8 for details.