Straive Accessibility Scholarship

There's a lot of different ways, both positive and negative, that digital accessibility has influenced my academic and career goals and experiences, especially as a person with Autism and ADHD. First, I'd like to start with some of the negatives. One of my greatest struggles brought about by technology has been a decrease in my ability to stay focused. I find myself checking Discord and tumblr almost constantly, waiting to see my online friends update and post and message so that I can respond. I've also found myself binging YouTube videos in bulk in the background of pretty much my entire day, trying to keep myself stimulated far more than I should be. Even right now as I write this, I keep getting distracted by the video I'm listening to in the background, but I can't get myself to stop. However, the positives of digital accessibility have also been a major help to me figuring out what I wanted to study in school and what I want to do as a career. In High School, I found myself taking multiple Computer Science and Computer Programming classes, and taking to them really well. I even took an electronics class and a couple robotics courses! All of this led me to decide on majoring in Computer Science, which has been going really well for me so far! Other positives of my digital accessibility is, wrapping back around to one of the negatives, my time on tumblr and Discord. Through these channels, I've managed to build myself an online support system who I can trust and who trust me in turn, and these friends have been a big help to my mental health. Having people I can vent to about my issues or share how I'm feeling with, or show my silly ideas to, has been a big help to me, especially in cases where I can't talk to anyone in real life about things like this. I've also been able to use technology to help me remember what to do throughout my day, like setting alarms and reminders for myself, or writing notes on what I need to do. I can remind myself where and when my classes are, set alarms for when I need to log onto my current job as an online tutor, and keep track of my to-do list all from my phone. After I graduate, or even before, I want to find some form of employment in the fields of Computer Science. I'm not entirely decided on what I'd specifically like to do, but I know that my dream job would be working on video games, probably at a smaller studio so that I wouldn't have to deal with big corporations and the poor working conditions. I might even try to release games myself as an indie dev on the side, with a more stable programming job or something similar. All in all, while I definitely struggle with technology taking over my life sometimes, it's been far more of a net positive in helping me figure out what I want to do in my education and career going forwards.

I grew up on closed captioning. It was hard for people to understand why I needed captions on when watching a show or movie. I'm not hard of hearing or deaf; my hearing is above average. Those who knew me, though, knew that I needed them on because I could not understand what people were saying. Sometimes, I thought I was being messed with or hearing another language. It wasn't until high school, when my immune system started attacking my nerves, that anyone thought it was a real issue. As years have gone on, people have been more understanding. Maybe because instead of seeing a nine-year-old in seemingly perfect health, they see a nineteen-year-old paralyzed in one leg and reliant on forearm crutches to get around. Teachers started turning on auto-transcription in classes without me having to ask, and people no longer complain when I turn on captions during movie nights. In high school, taking classes on Zoom was especially bad because of the interference, delays, and videos freezing. Newer technology, like automatic transcriptions, was implemented near the end of my second school year with the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was astronomically different. Though I still struggled with isolation, distractions, and being in my home nearly 24/7 with my younger brother, being able to participate in class, answer questions, and engage in group discussions was life-changing. By my senior year, I was participating more in class than I had in my life. Enjoying classes made it easier to make friends, and through them, I was able to engage in extracurriculars, with my favorite being technical theater. Having something to do, especially in a tight-knit community like the theater department, made me excel more in my social life. I joined clubs, which I was previously not confident enough to do, and ended up leading one in my senior year. The university I attend, the University of Denver, has also helped me with my audio processing issues by letting me record lecture audio and giving me access to their transcription software. This software has let me study after lectures, as I find it very difficult to figure out what people are saying and take notes on nodal analysis, Taylor series, or CAD systems. It has also given me more free time, time I spend reading, meeting with friends, or on personal projects, because I no longer have to attempt to teach myself from the snippets I understood during class. I chose to major in electrical engineering because I believe that there is a way to make everyday life more accessible through technology. My first project in college was designing a prototype of a wrist guard to help the elderly and those with bleeding disorders interact with overly friendly dogs. Though you could tell four first-year engineering students made it, it was functional enough to make me confident that I could, someday, be responsible for creating something that changes lives.

Living with a learning disability has significantly influenced my educational journey, presenting challenges that have required resilience, adaptation, and determination. One of the most significant obstacles I’ve faced is the need for extra time in test-taking and task completion. Tasks that may come easily to others often require more time for me to process and complete, making academic environments particularly demanding. However, with the right tools and strategies, I’ve learned to adapt and overcome these challenges, demonstrating that I am fully capable of mastering the same concepts as my peers, even if my path to understanding them is different. The advent of technology has been transformative in my ability to manage academic demands effectively. Assistive tools like Speechify, a text-to-speech software, have revolutionized my approach to studying and learning. Notetaking, which has traditionally been a slow and challenging process for me, has become much more manageable with the ability to record lectures and convert them into notes that I can review at my own pace. This has allowed me to ensure a deep understanding of the material being taught, significantly enhancing my memory retention by engaging with the content multiple times. These technologies have not only made my learning process more efficient but have also empowered me to keep pace with my peers in the fast-paced academic environment. Despite my learning disability, I have been able to achieve academic success and actively contribute to the learning environment. My time at the University of California, Davis, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, is a testament to my perseverance and commitment to academic excellence. During my time at UC Davis, I was involved in various clubs and activities, such as the STF (She’s the First) Club and the Bird Watching Club, which enriched my college experience and helped me develop a well-rounded set of skills and interests. Additionally, my role as a research assistant in the Adolescent Peer Relations Lab allowed me to participate in meaningful research, further refining my analytical and problem-solving skills. My professional experiences have also significantly shaped my career aspirations. As an in-home supportive services caregiver, I provided medical care to elderly patients, including scheduling medical appointments, monitoring vital signs, and administering medication. These experiences have solidified my passion for healthcare and my desire to become a physician. Additionally, my role as a part-time medical receptionist provided me with valuable firsthand experience in a medical setting, further fueling my ambition to serve others through medicine. I am now applying for a post-baccalaureate program to further strengthen my academic foundation and prepare for medical school. This program represents a critical next step in my journey toward becoming a physician. However, the financial burden of this program is significant, and I am actively seeking scholarships to help alleviate these costs. Winning this scholarship would be instrumental in helping cover tuition expenses, allowing me to focus on my studies and clinical experiences without the constant worry of financial strain. My learning disability has taught me the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the value of finding strategies that work for my unique needs. While my path may require more time and effort, I am confident in my ability to succeed. With continued support through scholarships and the use of assistive technologies, I am determined to achieve my dream of becoming a compassionate and skilled physician. This scholarship would not only support my immediate educational goals but also help pave the way for a future where I can make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field, serving underrepresented communities with the care and dedication they deserve.

My name is Natalya Hammond. I am attending San Jose State University and my major is Information Science and Data Analytics. I plan to get my BS and stay on for my Masters in Library Science (MLIS) to obtain my career goals of becoming a Librarian Archivist. I have always identified as a good student. I love going to school. When I was younger, I was the kid in school that got upset if I got a B instead of an A on my assignments or tests. I made the honor roll frequently and was in the GATE Program. However, in high school I began to struggle in math and saw my A’s drop; all the way down to a “D.” This performance was not normal for me. I worked with tutors. And we had several assessments done. I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. I was also diagnosed with a learning disability in math called dyscalculia, which is like dyslexia. I struggle with key concepts like left vs. right, bigger vs. smaller, and I have a hard time with basic math problems like fractions and more complex math like algebra. Oddly though, I am great at geometry! Knowing that I was not stupid and that I had a legitimate disorder, or two, made me feel better. And I continue to thrive in school and at my job at the library with appropriate accommodations in place. I now have accommodations in place for me at SJSU through the AEC, Accessibility Education Center which include: e-text, natural reader, read and write, “notaker” and Glean. With these accommodations in place, I am able to be successful in keeping up with my lessons, notes, assignments, and tests. It levels the playing field for me and helps me to be present in my lectures using the services to aid in the rest. Then I can refer to the notes and the AI tech with Glean to help me with exam review and study. I now have the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a Library Archivist. This would not have been possible without accommodations. My family champions advocacy and my mother volunteers her knowledge to help other parents navigate the minefield of free and appropriate education (FAPE), and the rights of their students. I am so happy my mother and father advocate for us and for all of the people in our community that need a voice. My family's kindness, love and support of me, my brother, and everyone has rubbed off on me. I do not know if my voice will be as loud since I also suffer from social and generalized anxiety, but I know one day I will get there. Mom says it just may take longer for me. I am studying Information Science and Data Analytics. SJSU is the only school in California offering this specific program for an undergraduate major, and this will build a solid foundation for my Master of Library Science degree, which I intend to pursue immediately after receiving my BS degree. I have always loved going to the library, for as long as I can remember. I became a Library Aide my junior year, and I just knew I wanted to work for Libraries as a professional. I am working at the Watsonville Public Library now as a part time page. I am on my way to reaching my goals. And with your scholarship, that makes my goal much more obtainable. Thank you for your consideration.