HRD-9450020 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Mark G. Strauss, Ph.D., Principal Investigator "Project PRIMES: Promoting & Retaining In Math, Engineering & Science" ABSTRACT This Experimental Project is designed to address the underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) careers and those actively pursuing degrees in these fields. Project PRIMES has two main goals: (1) increasing the enrollment and retention of students with disabilities in SEM at the high school and college levels, and 2) increasing the understanding of the factors which contribute to this inequity. The goal of increasing the enrollment and retention of students with disabilities in SEM in high school and college levels are to be addressed through three tasks. (a) Workshops will be conducted for high school math and science teachers and guidance counselors, high school students with disabilities and their families, and state vocational rehabilitation counselors. The workshops will discuss methods to overcome handicapping conditions in an academic pursuit of SEM. Topics covered include: state and federal regulations governing educational access; funding availability at the local, state and federal levels; availability of technology to increase access to laboratories and computers; availability of referral and human resources to identify and assist in reducing or eliminating handicapping situations; teaching the necessary preparation for successful transition from high school to college. The high school students with disabilities participating in these workshops will be targeted for direct recruitment by SEM college departments. Internet and e-mail access will be provided for the high school via the University of Illinois Computer Service in order to facilitate peer-to-peer support between students in different high schools and mentoring support provided by college students with disabilities w ho are enrolled in SEM. Mini-grants will be awarded to math and science teachers to provide necessary access technology and to develop either new teaching/laboratory modules or to modify existing ones to increase the integration of students with disabilities. (b) The SEM department faculty at the University of Illinois will be provided educational workshops on how to teach for students with disabilities. Many of the issues addressed in the workshops will be discussed. Similar mini-grants to college professors will be offered to improve the quality of the educational experience for students with disabilities enrolled in SEM. One professor in each SEM department will function as a mentor and advocate for the students with disabilities in the department. (c) A region-wide awareness program is planned. A professionally developed poster illustrating persons with disabilities successfully engaging in SEM fields at the high school, college and post-graduation levels will be sent to high school math and science departments and guidance counselor offices in Illinois and to children's and science museums in a five state region. The second goal related to increasing understanding of the factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in SEM will be addressed by collecting and analyzing data from anonymous pre- and post- surveys completed by workshop participants. The surveys will ask participants to express their experiences, views and attitudes about people with disabilities in SEM careers. The most important and impeding issues will be integrated into future workshops and disseminated through national publications and presentations. The knowledge gained in this project should act as a model for other high schools and colleges to follow to increase the enrollment and retention of students with disabilities in SEM.
