Mary Gates Endowment For Students

Kristin Bennet

Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship, Winter 2024

Research Project: Providing Curricular-Based Professional Development in Identifying Accessibility Challenges in the Workplace and Building Communication and Support Skills for Disability in the Workplace

Project Description: This work gives students the communication skills and emotional intelligence to navigate sensitive conversations surrounding disability by integrating assignments and lectures into the Chemical Engineering undergraduate Unit Operations lab courses. It educates students about federal and state employer responsibilities and employee rights, including what accommodations are and are not available to prepare them to work with, for, or become someone with a disability. We also created assignments to help students develop the skills to assess industrial or wet lab settings for accessibility and safety while challenging students with workplace scenarios to practice communicating and problem-solving with empathy. This project aims to encourage young engineers to become disability allies in the workplace, organically change the culture around disability equity, and promote more diversity in engineering.

What have you learned throughout your research project? Delivering this education module, including its lectures, has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I started this project with a vision to make engineering a more inclusive field for individuals with disabilities and to foster empathy and acceptance of diversity among future engineers. Watching students engage with the module and seeing their perspectives on disability evolve was truly inspiring. Their openness and receptiveness exceeded my expectations, leaving me optimistic about the future—a future where engineers with disabilities are embraced and empowered within the profession. I am excited to continue the program and have plans to expand it to other departments in the College of Engineering.

What piece of advice do you have for future applicants? If you’re thinking about applying and aren’t sure, just go for it! The application process itself is a valuable experience, and once awarded it is an incredible way to make a difference in your Husky community, and gain new skills for yourself along the way.