Location: Columbus, OH

Website: http://ohiostemability.ning.com/

Member Since: April 2009

Americans with disabilities are one-tenth as likely to have STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers as their able-bodied peers and 50% less likely to pursue college. Ohio’s STEM Ability Alliance (OSAA) will expand the STEM pipeline to these students by targeting them in the Metro and Dayton Region STEM High Schools. OSAA will form networks of a university, public schools, and industry and government offices to increase number and quality of students with disabilities pursuing STEM degrees/careers. Such “QUADs” will customize best practices, technology and interventions into a progressive middle-to-graduate school model that maximizes learning and career opportunities of STEM students with disabilities.

iMentor Interactive’s application, evaluation, matching, prompts, and reporting features were exactly what the Office of Special Education and Transition Services at the Nisonger Center was looking for to set in motion the mentoring component of the OSAA. The National Science Foundation requires annual reports regarding its funded projects and iMi’s features will facilitate ease in this reporting task. Project staff will use iMi to monitor the mentoring interactions, train mentors and students and facilitate in-person meetings. Ultimately, it will allow OSAA to continue to strengthen and build a successful mentoring program for students with disabilities while achieving success in STEM careers.