Keynote Speaker

Sheryl Burgstahler

We are pleased to have Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler as our 2016 Faculty Retreat keynote speaker. Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler founded and directs the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center and the Access Technology Center (ATC) at the University of Washington. These two centers promote (1) the use of mainstream and assistive technology and other interventions to support the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary education and careers and (2) the development of facilities, computer labs, academic and administrative software, websites, multimedia, and distance learning programs that are welcoming and accessible to all. The ATC focuses efforts at the University of Washington; the DO-IT Center reaches national and international audiences with the support of federal, state, corporate, foundation, and private funds. The DO-IT Center was created in1992 by Burgstahler with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). She has secured over $50 million in external funding for DO-IT efforts that she has directed. Projects and research focus on the evidence-based practices that support the successful transition of students with disabilities to college and careers and on the application of universal design to technology, learning activities, physical spaces, and student services in educational settings. Dr. Burgstahler is an affiliate professor in the College of Education at the University of Washington. She has taught precollege and postsecondary mathematics, computer programming, assistive and accessible technology, and preservice/in-service courses for teachers on mathematics instruction and technology applications.

She is the author or co-author of eight books and more than sixty articles on development and implementation of technology tools and services that are accessible and usable by everyone including those with a disability. She is the editor of the book Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice. She has presented at national and international conferences that focus on universal design of distance learning, websites and multimedia, computer labs, instruction, student services, and other applications in education; and the management of electronic communities, work-based learning activities and transition programs for youth with disabilities. She is PI or Co-PI of several grants funded by the National Science Foundation. They include the Alliance for Students with Disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Access STEM), the Alliance for Access to Computing Careers (Access Computing), AccessCS10K: Including Students with Disabilities in Computing Education for the Twenty-First Century, Access Engineering, Access STEM CAREERS, the RDE Collaborative Dissemination project, and the Center for Universal Design in Education.
Dr. Burgstahler and her projects have received many awards, including the Professional Recognition Award for the Association for Higher Education and Disability, the National Information Infrastructure Award in Education, the President's Award for Mentoring, the Golden Apple Award in Education, and the Harry J. Murphy Catalyst Award.

Contact information for Sheryl Burgstahler:
DO-IT Center
University of Washington
sherylb@u.washington.edu