Supporting disabled students in research: AccessComputing discussion

Event interval: Single day event
Accessibility Contact: blaser@uw.edu
Event Types: Diversity Equity Inclusion,Information Sessions,Lectures/Seminars
Event sponsors: AccessComputing
Link: https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/JMkgqE94R2qKuYs29t5vZg#/registration

AccessComputing invites you to join us for an online (Zoom) community discussion about supporting disabled students in research. 

We'll have an interactive discussion about the 2022 article Students with Disabilities in Life Science Undergraduate Research Experiences: Challenges and Opportunities by Gin, Pais, et al (check out the abstract below!) and how the computing community can benefit from the findings.  Registrants may wish to read the paper in advance of the meeting.

Registration Required


Accommodation Note: Zoom auto captions will be enabled. For ASL, CART, or additional accommodations contact Brianna Blaser at blaser@uw.edu. 

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Students with Disabilities in Life Science Undergraduate Research Experiences: Challenges and Opportunities. Gin LE, Pais D, Cooper KM, Brownell SE. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2022 Jun; 21(2): ar32.


Abstract: Individuals with disabilities are underrepresented in postsecondary science education and in science careers, yet few studies have explored why this may be. A primary predictor of student persistence in science is participating in undergraduate research. However, it is unclear to what extent students with disabilities are participating in research and what the experiences of these students in research are. To address this gap in the literature, in study 1, we conducted a national survey of more than 1200 undergraduate researchers to determine the percent of students with disabilities participating in undergraduate research in the life sciences. We found that 12% of undergraduate researchers we surveyed self-identified as having a disability, which indicates that students with disabilities are likely underrepresented in undergraduate research. In study 2, we conducted semistructured interviews with 20 undergraduate researchers with disabilities. We identified unique challenges experienced by students with disabilities in undergraduate research, as well as some possible solutions to these challenges. Further, we found that students with disabilities perceived that they provide unique contributions to the research community. This work provides a foundation for creating undergraduate research experiences that are more accessible and inclusive for students with disabilities.


This discussion is supported by AccessUR2PhD. 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 Computing Research Association or the DO-IT Center.