Perspectives of Stanford Students with a Disability
Benjamin S. Woodford, Sylvia Colt-Lacayo, Gene Sung-Ho Kim, and Austin Gregory Brotman

Panelists for 2020:

Benjamin S. Woodford

Benjamin S. Woodford is a doctoral candidate in the GSE. Having lived for almost 17 years with a T4 complete spinal chord injury, Ben will share a bit of that journey with the class. Research interests currently center around understanding cultural biases towards mathematics learning. Previously a high school math teacher, before that a commercial contractor. Also, he hosts Modern Education, a show on 90.1 KZSU Stanford which addresses learning in the modern age.

Sylvia Colt-Lacayo

Sylvia Colt-Lacayo is a freshman at Stanford Univerity. While she is currently undeclared, she is interested in studying political science or international relations. Sylvia has been making films for the past five years, most of which discuss various social justice topics and her own disability. She wants to involve art in her future studies. Sylvia is passionate about advocacy and did lots of work this summer bringing awareness to the issue revolving around medical care that many physically disabled people face. This Los Angeles Times article - She got a full scholarship to Stanford. But can she afford the care she needs to go? - was published about her journey.

Gene Sung-Ho Kim

Gene Kim is a freshman exploring Symbolic Systems, Creative Writing, and Mechanical Engineering as potential areas of study. Due to a genetic retinal detachment condition, he gradually lost his sight while growing up, and became completely blind during his sophomore year of high school. Although challenging at times, alternative approaches to engaging with the world has enabled him to serve as a summer camp counselor, learn how to speed-solve Rubik's cubes, compete in the National Japan Bowl competition, and pursue his other academic and personal interests. Currently, he serves as secretary for the California Association of Blind Students (affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind of California), which is an activism and support community. For the future, he is interested in helping pioneer new assistive technologies to increase the scope and quality of accessible living for the impaired.

Austin Gregory Brotman

Austin Brotman is a sophomore studying Symbolic Systems. After a diving accident during the summer before his sophomore year of high school fractured his C6 vertebra and left him paralyzed from the chest down, he found direction in his education and learned to use assistive technology to make up for the limitations imposed by his disability. Hoping to ease the financial burden of these technologies for others hoping to pursue further education, Austin founded the Spinal Cord Injury Scholars’ Fund in conjunction with Craig Hospital in Denver, to provide education related assistive technology to students following a spinal cord injury. Looking forward, he is interested in exploring the ways the discipline of computer science can improve the lives of those with limited mobility.