RASEM Squared: Assisting Students in their Transition to the STEM Workforce
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Keywords
transition, STEM, careers
Abstract
RASEM Squared works to increase the number of people with disabilities pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. To accomplish this goal, it provides funding directly to students to support their college education and to educators who accommodate students with disabilities in their STEM curricula. This paper describes several projects that illustrate RASEM Squared’s activities, and identifies six major issues that have arisen in its work. These issues involve student self-disclosure, transition from supports under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to those under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), training of special education and science education teachers, use of assistive technology (AT) devices, compatibility of software and hardware, and links between services.
References
American Youth Policy Forum. (2001). Twenty-five years of educating children with disabilities: The good news and the work ahead, 2002. Retrieved February 2, 2003 from http://www.aypf.org/subcats/erpubs.htm
National Science Board. (2002). Science and engineering indicators – 2002. (NSB-02-1). Retrieved February 4, 2003 from http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind02/pdfstart.htm
National Science Foundation. (1999). Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering: 1998. (NSF 99-338). Retrieved January 1, 2000 from http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf99338/start.htm
President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education. (July 1, 2002). A new era: Revitalizing special education for children and their families. Washington, DC: GPO.
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Ed Misquez, Associate Director, Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Ed Misquez is the associate director of the Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering and Mathematics - Squared for Students with Disabilities at the NMSU college of Engineering and has been an advocate for disability rights since l983.
Steve Stile, Professor Emeritus, Special Education, New Mexico State University
Steve Stile is Professor Emeritus for Special Education at NMSU and the external evaluator of the RASEM Squared program. Dr. Stile has conducted workshops and presented papers nationally and internationally, published texts on single subject research and self-concept, and has published numerous articles in professional journals.
William C. McCarthy, Interim Associate Provost, New Mexico State University
Dr. William C. McCarthy, Interim Associate Provost at New Mexico State University, is also a Registered Professional Engineer in New Mexico. A wheelchair user himself, Dr. McCarthy works with students with disabilities as Project Director and Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation-funded Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics - Squared, for Students with Disabilities.