EAGER: STEM Identity & Computer Education: Overcoming the Intersectionality of Culture, Poverty & Disability

可使各类身体残疾者无障碍地使用信息技术和编码，以此作为获得高薪就业的途径。公司需要计算和编码人才。这些技能可以应用于各种职业，在竞争激烈的就业市场中提供优势，并为创造力和创新提供机会。残疾人在包括计算机科学在内的STEM领域的代表性不足，这对他们参与STEM职业生涯造成了障碍。该项目的目标与NSF的目标一致，即通过将残疾青年与STEM专业人员联系起来，让他们担任导师，并向学生介绍各种职业和机会，从而提高教育和多样性。该项目旨在确定阻碍代表性不足的残疾学生充分参与STEM教育（特别是计算机科学）的具体障碍，并将确定向各种残疾人教授编码的最有效方法和工具，该项目提议让生活在种族，性别和残疾状况等边缘化身份交叉点的学生参与进来。该项目将从康涅狄格州的一个城市学区选择24名8-12年级的先天性或后天肢体残疾学生参加该项目，该项目将包括一系列介绍性讨论，练习（基于计算机和不插电），项目以及与STEM残疾专业人员的同步指导。课堂讲座、培训视频、在线工具和实践练习的结合将教授计算机科学和编程的基础，强调逻辑思维和解决问题的能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响力审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Information technology and coding can be made accessible to people with various types of physical disabilities as a path to higher-wage employment. Companies need computing and coding talent. These skills can be applied to a variety of careers, provide advantages in a competitive job market, and offer opportunities for creativity and innovation. People with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM fields including computer science and this creates a barrier to their inclusion in careers in STEM. The goals of this project align with the NSF goal of increasing education and diversity by connecting disabled youth to STEM professionals who will serve as mentors and introducing students to various careers and opportunities. The project intends to identify specific barriers that prevent underrepresented disabled students from fully engaging in STEM education (specifically computer science) and will identify the most effective methods and tools for teaching coding to persons with various disabilities.The project proposes to engage students who live at the intersection marginalized identities such as race, gender, and disability status. The project will select 24 students in grades 8-12 with congenital or acquired physical disabilities from an urban school district in Connecticut to participate in the project, which will consist of a series of introductory discussions, exercises (computer-based and unplugged), projects, and concurrent mentoring with STEM professionals with disabilities. A combination of in-class lectures, training videos, online tools, and practical exercises will teach the foundations of computer science and programming, emphasizing logical thinking and problem-solving skills.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.