Magazine Documents Experiences of Disabled Students at Universities Abroad
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) recently published the sixth issue of A World Awaits You (AWAY). AWAY is a journal describing the successful experiences of people with disabilities in international exchange programs including study, volunteer, internship and short-term work abroad.
"How accessible are overseas university sites for students with disabilities?"
"What resources will be available when I get there?"
NCDE often receives questions such as these from study abroad advisors and college students with disabilities who are interested in international programs. When selecting a program, students need as much information as possible in order to make informed decisions about what's right for them.
In order to increase the pool of information about accessibility abroad, NCDE coordinated site visits in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, Japan, South Africa, Spain and the United States - all common destinations for college students interested in international programs. These site visits were conducted to assess accessibility at local colleges, universities and other institutions involved in international exchange; meet with local affiliates of the international programs to find out about their experience including people with disabilities in their programs; and connect with local disability organizations in these countries.
This issue of AWAY features a heaping portion of the information gained through the site visits. Most of the assessments were done by study abroad participants with disabilities who were attending the universities. These students were very familiar with their respective campuses and communities and were able to provide a realistic picture of what students with disabilities could expect. In many instances, the reports are complemented with interviews or personal stories from other students with disabilities attending that university. The result is a compilation of diverse study abroad experiences.
NCDE, a project managed by Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, encourages people with disabilities to explore the wide range of international programs available to them. The articles featured in AWAY can assist study abroad advisors, disability service providers and students with disabilities as they plan for participation in university, college and language programs overseas.
To request a free copy of this latest issue of A World Awaits You, contact NCDE, PO Box 10767, Eugene, OR, 97440. NCDE can also be reached by Tel/TTY: (541) 343-1284, Fax: (541) 343-6812, or E-mail: clearinghouse@miusa.org. To read stories from this and previous issues of AWAY, to search our online database for international exchange opportunities or disability organizations worldwide or to learn about other NCDE initiatives and resources, visit www.miusa.org.
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