DO-IT Scholar Profile: Dustine

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

SHERYL BURGSTAHLER: Hello,
I'm Sheryl Burgstahler,

and I direct the DO-IT Center--

Disabilities, Opportunities,
Internetworking and Technology.

And in that center, we
have numerous programs

funded by different agencies,
and the sole purpose

is to increase the
success of people

with disabilities,
particularly in college

onto careers but
everything else.

In DO-IT's Scholars
program, we've kind of

become like an extended family.

One of our DO-IT
Scholars, Dustine,

started the program in 2013.

DUSTINE: My name is Dustine,
and I'm a student here

at the University of
Washington School of Law,

pursuing a Juris Doctor degree,

hoping to graduate in June 2024.

From the classes, what I've
learned is learning how to--

well, one of the big things
is to be a self-advocate.

You've got to
advocate for yourself.

I joined DO-IT when I was
a junior in high school.

So that was around
spring time, 2013.

I went back to DO-IT
the following summer.

It became somewhat of a
summer tradition for me

at least because I went
back to summer study,

helped out as a member
of the staff for--

through, I think,
summer 2018,

which was right around the time
I graduated undergraduate

at the University of Washington.

One thing that has me coming
back to DO-IT all these years

is just knowing that it's
kind of where my roots are,

especially as a person
with a disability, Asperger syndrome,

or autism spectrum
disorder as it's now known.

But also just knowing
that with DO-IT,

it's also where I first
learned about disability rights

and history.

And so in undergrad I took up
disability studies as my minor

along with Law,
Societies and Justice,

and Political
Science as my majors.

But with disability
studies, I was able to get

more and more
involved with knowing

about those types--

that type of history.

And so it actually
influenced the type of law

that I want to practice today,
which is disability rights.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]

Several activities that I've
done over the years

of me being undergrad at least--

first and foremost,
the Husky Marching Band.

I was actually in the marching
band as a member of the piccolo section

all four years.

["TEQUILA" SUNG IN UNISON]

I worked at the Commuter and
Transfer Commons in the HUB

during my junior
and senior years,

being there for anyone who has
any questions or inquiries.

It's a huge honor to be
selected for the Husky 100.

I looked at my phone.

I saw an email and it says,
"Congratulations, you just

got selected for the Husky 100."

And I was just like--

I was like-- I was like this.

I was like, I can't
even believe it.

I can't even believe
I got nominated for--

I got selected
for the Husky 100.

This past summer, I interned at
Washington Civil and Disability Advocate

The first-year law
school students, they have a class

called Legal Analysis, Research and Writing,

or LARW for short.

And so I was able to take what
I've learned from that class

during my first year
here at law school

and to apply it towards
drafting motions,

basically asking the
court to do something

in favor of your clients.

The DO-IT community has been
incredibly supportive of me.

They've been there
whenever I needed help

with getting accommodations
in undergrad.

They've been there for
me whenever I needed help

with personal statements and

even if I just needed to talk to someone.

So I want to give back.

And that's and being able to be a,
being a disability rights attorney

and hopefully causing
societal change for the good

would allow me to give back
to the disability community.

One of my first friends
that I met at DO-IT

is someone who has a
vision-related disability.

And so over time,
I've gotten the chance

to get to know her and have
conversations with her.

Having that type of
connection does kind of,

I guess, does kind of like bring,

I guess really increase my
motivation to become more,

I guess, aware and to educate
myself around those things.

And that has also
been impactful.

I just wanted to express
a moment of gratitude

for all of my mentors,
my friends, family members

and my parents for helping me

get to where I'm at right now.

Thank you for all that
you've done for me.

DO-IT, you are an inspiration.

You are an inspiration.

And I'm very fortunate to
be a part of that, be a part of that group.

And I hope I'm
making you all proud.

I really do.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]