Overcoming Barriers in Science

Growing up, Devitz was drawn to the outdoors, constantly exploring, learning about nature, and competing as a cross-country runner and horseback rider. But just before she graduated high school, she fell ill and began losing mobility. As she entered college, her symptoms worsened, and she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—a group of inherited genetic disorders affecting connective tissues.

Losing mobility also meant losing hope.

“In the space of a few years, I lost a lot of mobility, and with it my aspirations of becoming a field scientist,” Devitz shared in an article for the University of Minnesota. “I had never seen a field scientist with a disability, much less one who used a wheelchair. How could I study wildlife in environments I could not physically access?”

Despite these challenges, she remained passionate about science. By her junior year of college, she was using a wheelchair—but she didn’t let that stop her from studying animal behavior. What did slow her down, however, was the skepticism from professors and doctors who suggested she pursue a different career path.

“Not every person I encountered said those things, but there was an attitude of, ‘You’ve got a disability, and there’s not a place for you in a science field, especially in field research,’” Devitz recalled in an interview with the University of Michigan. “I got to a point where I felt guilty even asking professors for accommodations because I felt like I was asking for too much. It was devastating because biology was what I always wanted to do. This condition had already taken so much from me, and I knew I couldn’t let it take this too.”

Finding a Path in Urban Ecology

Determined to carve out her place in science, Devitz joined the Frontier’s Master’s Program at the University of Michigan. There, she led a lab team studying behavioral differences between fox squirrels in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Through this work, she discovered that urban ecology—examining how people and wildlife interact in cities—offered an accessible way for her to conduct field research.

Today, Devitz is pursuing her doctorate in ecology, evolution, and behavior at the University of Minnesota. On top of continuing her studies to learn how urban environments impact squirrels, she’s passionate about breaking down barriers for other students with disabilities to pursue science.

Paving the Way for Future Scientists

Representation in STEM matters—especially for those with disabilities. According to the CDC, more than a quarter of adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. Yet, accessibility in science remains a significant challenge.

To help change that, Devitz is working to secure funding for Equipment Repositories for Accessibility at colleges. These repositories would provide adaptive equipment so that students with disabilities can participate in field research without financial or logistical barriers.

“With the right support system in place, students with disabilities can access science,” Devitz told the Bell Museum after receiving the 2021 Graduate Award and Fellowship from the University of Minnesota. “Find what you are passionate about and go after it, no matter what.”