Letter from the Director

Spring 2025

By Scott Bellman, DO-IT Director

Spring is winding down and we are approaching the end of another academic year. For many, this is a time of transition, appreciation, and reflection. Within this context, I want to share some things I’m grateful for.

I am profoundly grateful for the dedicated staff at the DO-IT Center, whose tireless efforts help ensure that disabled people have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in all aspects of society. Their work drives meaningful and lasting change toward equal access to educational environments, places of work, and community activities. I also extend my gratitude to the volunteers on our Advisory Board and Mentor network, as well a multitude of colleagues and collaborators. Their thoughtful contributions are essential to achieving our mission.

I’m appreciative of the students we work with, and am often struck by their creativity, resiliency, and courage. I’m often reminded that mentoring is a two-way street, and I’m grateful for what I’ve learned simply from slowing down and listening carefully to what students have to say. 

I’m thankful for our place at the University of Washington, which is recognized as one of the most innovative public universities in the world, and the incredible leadership we have within UW-IT and the College of Engineering. Mary Mulvihill, Executive Director of Accessible Technology Services, has brought leading edge ideas and expertise to DO-IT related to information technology, policy, strategy, and resource management.

As I reflect, I am especially grateful for our founder, Sheryl Burgstahler, whose tireless work over the past 30+ years has laid a solid foundation for the DO-IT Center. As we look ahead at the years to come, we face unknown challenges and so much work yet to be accomplished. But I have unwavering faith that together we will continue to make progress toward our mission of helping empower people with disabilities through technology, advocacy, and education.