Drake STEM Fair: Students with Visual Impairments Participate
- Drake University hosted a Career Connections STEM fair, aiming to integrate blind and low-vision high school students into science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
- Christian Frantz, 20, who is blind and has autism and ADHD, attended the fair.
- Lindsay Woodward, associate dean of Drake’s School of Education, said the partnership developed from doctoral research into the experiences of blind and low-vision high school students.
Drake University is actively working to boost STEM opportunities for students with visual impairments.A recent career fair connected blind and low-vision high school students with options in science, technology, engineering, and math. The event, a collaborative effort, featured hands-on robotics, insights into artificial intelligence, and a focus on assistive technology.Key partners like the Iowa Department for the Blind and Blind Savvy USA played vital roles in developing a prosperous programme. Attendees were inspired, and the goal is to raise expectations within the STEM field for those with disabilities. As the team at News Directory 3 can confirm, these types of programs are critical to bridge gaps. Discover what’s next for these dedicated students.
STEM Career Fair Connects Blind, Low-vision Students to Opportunities
Drake University hosted a Career Connections STEM fair, aiming to integrate blind and low-vision high school students into science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The event, held in Collier Scripps Hall, was a collaboration between drake, the Iowa Department for the Blind, Sky’s the Limit Communications, and Blind Savvy USA.
Christian Frantz, 20, who is blind and has autism and ADHD, attended the fair. he encouraged others with disabilities: “Don’t let others say you can’t, because you can,” Frantz said.
Lindsay Woodward, associate dean of Drake’s School of Education, said the partnership developed from doctoral research into the experiences of blind and low-vision high school students. Eileen Rivera Ley, founder and president of Blind Savvy USA, participated in the research.
David J. DeNotaris, chief innovation officer for Sky’s the Limit Communications, noted the low percentage of students with disabilities in STEM. “We have to do something to move the needle,” DeNotaris said. “Having events like this stretches imaginations and hopefully raises expectations and more by improving opportunities for the students.”
The career fair was part of the Iowa Department for the Blind’s ACE Summer Academy, an immersive college readiness program. Students lived on campus for a week, learning assistive technology, time management, and self-advocacy.
The event featured robotics designed for blind and low-vision individuals.East Penn Manufacturing demonstrated engineering and logistics in the battery industry. The Science Center of Iowa focused on artificial intelligence in science and education.
“I want these students to feel like opportunities are really, really limitless for them,” Woodward said. “There are so many things that they can do with their lives, with their careers. And then I think secondarily, I want them to feel happy to be at Drake. I want them to feel comfortable here.”
“We really, truly have students … be self advocates and to ask for what they need,” Rivera ley said. “So obviously, we try to create data in a non-visual way, using other senses, either large print or Braille or tactile or auditory input… So we try to teach the students how to speak up for themselves and tell people what they need and … problem-solve their … accommodations. So we frequently enough tell students, ‘You guys are the best problem solvers.’”
Rivera Ley said her Baltimore-based company contracts with 20 states, offering similar programming. Her organization connects students to professionals nationwide. “Because we’re national, we can introduce students to some people doing jobs they may want to do,” she said.
What’s next
Drake University and its partners plan to continue offering similar STEM career opportunities for blind and low-vision students,expanding their reach and impact in the coming years.