April 18, 2011
A Series of Starts 2
Mike* works in a study abroad office at a U.S. university and is thrilled to be working with Anne*, a student who is blind, and is applying for a study abroad program in Germany. Anne wonders if she should disclose her disability to the program’s faculty leaders right away, and whether or not she can bring her service dog with her. Although Mike is unsure himself, he smiles because he knows just who to call!
It Starts With a Conversation
Mike and Anne are only two out of the hundreds of individuals and professionals who contact the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) each year with questions about how people with disabilities can participate in international exchange between the United States and another country.
Through an initial conversation with Mike, NCDE staff learned about strategies Mike had already initiated and had a chance to clarify which resources would be most useful for Anne and him.
A Good Place to Start
Following a conversation, NCDE staff combs through its extensive resources and contacts. Which pages on the NCDE website are most relevant? Do we know any alumni with disabilities who can give peer advice? Are there organizations or contacts that can provide additional support?
NCDE staff contacted Mike with specific advice and several resources such as (click each one for the actual resource):
- Ideas for how Mike and his student can work with the disability services office on campus
- Advice on if and when to disclose a disability and request accommodation
- A sample assessment form that Anne and Mike can fill out together to help clarify Anne’s disability-related needs
- Tips that educators can use to accommodate blind or visually impaired participants during group discussions or lectures like using tape recorders, verbally describing gestures or illustrations, or assigning sighted partners
- Resources for providing materials in alternative formats (Braille, large print, and more)
- Tips for bringing service animals abroad
Starting Up Again
But the story doesn’t end here. The first stop on the way towards going abroad is actually a series of starts. Preparing for an overseas experience is an ongoing process, and we encourage feedback, follow-up questions, and best of all, success stories from exchange alumni with disabilities!
Mike continues to provide encouragement to Anne but he has since reported that Anne ultimately decided to opt out of the Germany program, due to a sudden jump in program fees. She has instead applied for a faculty-led study abroad program in Martinique, which will allow her to draw from her French language experiences.
Because most of the resources from NCDE were universally applicable, Mike has passed them on to not only Anne, but also to the university’s International Programs director, study abroad program advisor, the university’s Disability Services director, and the professor of the Martinique program. In light of this update, NCDE staff also contacted a French service dog organization to find out whether French laws pertaining to service dogs also apply in Martinique (they do) and provided a link to FAQs in English about the requirements.
Finally, NCDE staff were eager to unveil a new tipsheet for faculty leaders to make their programs more inclusive, and to help Anne’s advisors see her through her international experience.
Who knows? Maybe someday Anne’s story will be someone else’s “start.”
*Names have been changed
Ashley Bryant is a Project Assistant for the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange.
Jun 21, 2011 @ 01:45:41
hie Anne? I feeel encouraged by by your brave to come out of these deadwoods we experience as people with disability. I need to share my experience as person with disabilty and my ambitions to join the NCDE and study abroad particularly in USA, CANADA and EUROPE. I am person with physical disability called muscular dystrophy.Currently i’m studying psychology with distance learning.I am will be glad if i got the information and facilited by the NCDE. I am in Zimbabwe.
Jun 21, 2011 @ 10:58:38
Hello Simbarashe,
Thanks for your comment! Since you’re interested in studying in the United States, I invite you to visit our page on “Coming to the USA” to learn more about living and studying in the US, getting disability-related accommodations, and more! From there, you’ll also be able to learn about other kinds of exchanges, such as fellowships. For example, did you know that the United States Student Achievers Program has sent many young people from Zimbabwe and other countries to study at US colleges and universities?