January 14, 2011
Finding the Overlap between Diversity and Disability 0
When diversity-focused study abroad events are held, we often leap at the chance to join the discussion— however, “diversity” event sponsors often say that their event is on participation of people of color and not disability. What about the third of college students with disabilities that comes from ethnic minority backgrounds? When forming disability-related study abroad panels or gathering stories and images, we include people of color who also have disabilities to show the full representation of issues and exchange participants.
Disability is a cross-cutting issue that affects all minorities, races, ethnicities, religions, and other protected classes. If ethnic diversity conferences aren’t also addressing disability-related barriers to international exchange, they are leaving behind a part of the population they are working to include (i.e. 8-15% of each ethnic minority group on campus is students with disabilities, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 2008).
What are the Points of Overlap?
- When racial and ethnic minority students with disabilities approach study abroad offices, program advisors may make assumptions about which programs students can or want to participate in based on their disability and race/ethnicity or both.
- Reaching out to families or finding scholarships is equally important to people with disabilities and people in minority communities. Role models may be especially significant for people of color who also have disabilities, as they often have no other family members with disabilities that have studied abroad.
- Campus minority and disability offices are often overlooked when disseminating information about international exchange opportunities, and underused as resources for planning on how to include more diverse students.
- Fear of racism and/or disability-related discrimination is a concern for some prospective participants and their families, and living overseas in a new culture and environment can be especially daunting if the international exchange program is not trained and sensitive to these concerns. -From our online tipsheet Encouraging and Recruiting People with Disabilities of Racial and Ethnic Minority Backgrounds to Go Abroad
Racial and ethnic minority students with disabilities are eager to gain the benefits achieved through international exchange. Being part of each other’s diversity conferences is an opportunity that should be embraced, to support these life journeys. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a good time to begin.
Participants from diverse backgrounds communicating in Sign Language during a class in Costa Rica.
