Reid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreterReid Wilson and interpreter“Many events are held at the museum,” said Reid Wilson, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “But this is the most important one.” Wilson was referring to the SAS- and JMP-sponsored STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities held Oct. 17 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
JMP’s connection to the museum is long. We’ve held Discovery Summit dinners and internal teambuilding events there. John Sall has volunteered his time, JMP has had donated software to their scientists and researchers, and many Cary-based employees are regular visitors. Also, JMP has sponsored the Career Showcase annually since it began 10 years ago.
Why is the event important? Because among the attendees are future JMP users and prospective employees. They’re curious and smart. They’re scientists and engineers in the making. The annual event is an opportunity for JMP to connect with attendees, other sponsors, and with a community of people dedicated to making careers accessible to the differently abled.
Accessibility was clearly an important factor in event content and design. Each speaker, for instance, provided verbal cues like describing themselves for the visually impaired audience members. Sign language interpreters enabled the keynote to communicate with audience members who don’t know ASL, and for hearing impaired attendees to know what speakers were saying. Everywhere you looked, accessibility strategies and enabling technologies were at play.
Both in-person and online, the students (ranging from 6th grade to 12th grade) heard from and connected with role models with disabilities who have thriving careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).
Myles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionMyles de BastionThe keynote, Myles de Bastion, shared his journey from hearing musician to deaf artistic director and creative altruist who, through technology, creates art installations that “enable sound to be experienced as light and vibration.” De Bastion’s non-profit CymaSpace organization facilitates arts and cultural events that are inclusive of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. His recent work incorporates “sign language and AI-generated captions as a non-verbal means to craft social VR experiences.”
Panelists included Andi Nowakowski, Laboratory Scientist at LabCorp; Brendon Hildreth, Co-Director of The Accessible Icon Project in North Carolina; Shannon Garner, Senior Digital Analyst for Ablr; and Magnus Hedemark, CIO for Genius Within.
“Each one of us is inherently beautiful,” said Hedemark to loud applause and enthusiastic hand twisting. The panelist has autism, ADHD and is Hard of Hearing, yet has led a successful 30-year tech career. His candid comments of encouragement for the students were inspirational.
Ed SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd SummersEd Summers, currently head of accessibility at GitHub, was instrumental in the planning and orchestration of the Career Showcase 10 years ago and in years since. He was honored for his dedication to the event and to the cause of accessibility. Before moving to GitHub earlier this year, Summers was Director of Accessibility for SAS.
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Students program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibitStudents program a ball to knock down cups at a SAS exhibit
A student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentationA student looks around the room during a presentation
Students wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theaterStudents wandered the museum, including a 3D globe theater
The event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in personThe event was live-streamed for students who couldn't attend in person
All attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logoAll attendees received a bag that included the JMP logo
what a great story! Thanks for sharing Diana.
