Mobility International USA's National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) recognizes there can be additional concerns and barriers to participation in international exchange for people with disabilities who are of minority background.

Historically, people with disabilities and minorities have been excluded from international programs and this has contributed to a gap in recruitment, support and dissemination of accurate information. Prospective international exchange participants who have disabilities and are of minority background might face additional obstacles including insensitivity and discrimination in the international exchange field on a couple different levels. Minority students with disabilities might feel that when they approach study abroad offices, program advisors make assumptions about which programs students can participate in based on their disability, race/ethnicity or both. Additionally, minority and disability campus offices and services are often overlooked when disseminating information about international exchange opportunities and underused when planning how to best serve and prepare for diverse students.

Fear of international racism and discrimination is also a concern for some prospective participants and their families. While racism and discrimination in the United States exist, living overseas in a new culture and environment might leave participants feeling vulnerable to the possibility of facing different forms of racism. This can be especially daunting if the international exchange program is not trained and sensitive to these concerns.

However, while additional barriers might exist, minorities with disabilities are interested in gaining the benefits achieved through international exchange. Recognizing this, NCDE promotes the inclusion of all people with disabilities in international exchange programs. Through NCDE's information and referral service, our staff provide personalized information on the wide range of international exchange programs available to people with disabilities, and other resources to facilitate a successful exchange experience. NCDE also advises exchange programs on how to include people with disabilities in their programs. NCDE is committed to empowering people with disabilities of diverse backgrounds around the world through international exchange opportunities.

The following resources include exchange programs, disability organizations and other resources that focus on minorities, people with disabilities and minorities with disabilities. They are resources for minorities with disabilities looking for support to pursue international exchange, and exchange programs seeking to increase their understanding of minority and disability issues.

EXCHANGE-RELATED RESOURCES:

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
United States Department of State
301 4th Street SW, Room 234
Washington, DC 20547
Tel: (202) 619-4360 Fax: (202) 401-5914
Web: http://exchanges.state.gov

The United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is responsible for conducting U.S. public diplomacy efforts. The Bureau fosters mutual understanding between people from the U.S. and people from 140 countries around the world though educational and cultural exchanges and other programs. For answers to specific questions on its programming and people with disabilities or disability-related issues, contact David N. Levin, Senior Program Manager and Diversity Coordinator, using the contact information above or via email at dlevin@pd.state.gov.

Council on International Educational Exchange
300 Fore Street, 2nd Floor
Portland, ME 04101
Tel: (800) 40-STUDY Fax: (207) 553-7699
E-mail: studyinfo@ciee.org
Web: www.ciee.org

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) provides a variety of programs and services for students and teachers. CIEE has scholarships to encourage participation by underrepresented groups, including minorities and people with disabilities. CIEE also participates in a biannual "Committee on Underrepresentation" in international exchange.

Michigan State University Office of Study Abroad

109 International Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1035
Telephone: (517) 353-8920
Fax: (517) 432-2082
E-mail: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu

Web: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/people/studentsofcolor/intro.html
Web: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/forms/disabilities.html

Michigan State University has developed information on their study abroad programs specifically for students with disabilities and for multicultural students.

Mobility International USA
PO Box 10767
Eugene, OR 97440
Tel/TTY: (541) 343-1284 Fax: (541) 343-6812
E-mail: exchanges@miusa.org
Web: www.miusa.org

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) has led diversity and disability exchanges to Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico and England since 1995. For an update on this young adult exchange program, contact MIUSA or visit the website.

SECUSSA Committee on Underrepresentation in Education Abroad
E-mail: da.anderson@neu.edu
Web: www.secussa.nafsa.org/underrepresentation/

This committee offers a website, newsletter and listserv addressing the topic of populations that are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. The committee's work includes ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

U.S. Peace Corps Office of Minority Recruitment
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20526
Tel: (800) 424-8580
Web: www.peacecorps.gov

The U.S. Peace Corps Office of Minority Recruitment provides information and support for minorities interested in working as volunteers in more than 90 countries around the world. Peace Corps' mission is to help people in other countries live better through self-sufficiency. Peace Corps is open to U.S. citizens only.

University of Pittsburgh Study Abroad Office
801 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh PA 15260
Telephone (412) 648-7413
Fax (412) 383-7166
E-Mail larson@ucis.pitt.edu
Web: www.abroad.pitt.edu

The University of Pittsburgh's Study Abroad office has received grants and recruited interns with disabilities and from minority backgrounds to create online multimedia resources. These publications and videos are full of planning tips for study abroad participants with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds to make their overseas experience a success.

DISABILITY AND MINORITIES:

American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center
The University of Montana Rural Institute:
Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services
52 Corbin Hall, The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812-7056
Tel: (866) 424-3822 Fax: (406) 243-2349
Web: http://aidtac.ruralinstitute.umt.edu

American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC) provides information and technical assistance to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages to help their members with disabilities live healthy, integrated lives within their communities. To request technical assistance, call the number above or e-mail Valerie Costilla at costilla@selway.umt.edu.

American Indian Parent Network
8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437
Tel: (800) 537-2237 or (952) 838-9000 Fax: (952) 838-0199
TTY: (952) 838-0190
E-mail: pacer@pacer.org
Web: www.pacer.org

The American Indian Parent Network, affiliated with the Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights, assists Native American families of children with special needs.

American Indian Rehabilitation Newsletter
Northern Arizona University
PO Box 5630
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Tel: (928) 523-4791 Fax: (928) 523-9127
TTY: (928) 523-1695
E-mail: priscilla.sanderson@nau.edu
Web: www4.nau.edu/ihd/airrtc/

The mission of the American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (AIRRTC) is to improve the quality of life for American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities through research and training that will result in culturally appropriate and responsive rehabilitation services. AIRRTC also seeks to improve employment outcomes and facilitate access to services for American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities, and to increase the participation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the design and delivery of rehabilitation services for employment outcomes.

Association on Higher Education And Disability
University of Massachusetts - Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Tel: (617) 287-3880 Fax: (617) 287-3881
TTY: (617) 287-3882
Web: www.ahead.org

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) offers a video titled "A Culture Undiscovered: The Impact of Learning Disabilities on Racially and Ethnically Diverse Students" and a publication titled "Expanding Postsecondary Options for Minority Students with Disabilities." Additionally, AHEAD's Diversity Special Interest Group aims to increase the awareness of AHEAD members on issues of diversity pertaining to students from historically underrepresented groups (contact RoseMary Watkins, rwatkins@facstaff.oglethorpe.edu).

Black Disabled Listserv
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlackDisabled/

Black Disabled Listserv is a forum to discuss the unique experiences of African Americans with disabilities. To subscribe send a message to BlackDisabled-subscribe@onelist.com.

Division of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners
1110 North Glebe Road, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-5704
Tel: (888) 232-7733 or (703) 620-3660 Fax: (703) 264-9494
TTY: (866) 915-5000
Web: www.cec.sped.org/dv/ddel.html

The Division of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL) is the official division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) that promotes the advancement and improvement of educational opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse learners with disabilities.

Howard University Research and Training Center for Access to Rehabilitation and Economic Opportunity (HURTC)
Holy Cross Hall, Suite 100
2900 Van Ness Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 806-8086 Fax: (202) 806-8148
TTY: (202) 244-7628
E-mail: swalker@law.howard.edu

HURTC conducts research and training to facilitate an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to the needs of persons from multicultural communities with disabilities.

National Asian Deaf Congress
PO Box 78
Dekalb, IL 60115
E-mail: nadcusa@aol.com; rcplue@niu.edu
Web: www.nadc-usa.org

The National Asian Deaf Congress (NADC) is a non-profit organization with a mission to define and address the cultural, political and social issues experienced by Asians who are Deaf or hard of hearing. As such, the NADC advocates and provides a network of resources and training opportunities for employment, education and leadership, and promotes cultural and ethnic identities. NADC also provides immigration and acculturation assistance and support for recent immigrants to the United States. NADC's President, Cynthia Plure, is a national Deaf Asian leader specializing in literacy and Deaf immigrant issues. NADC's website also lists Asian Deaf related links to many countries in the Asian and Oceania region of the world.

National Black Deaf Advocates
246 Sycamore Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Tel: (404) 687-8290 Fax: (404) 687-8298
TTY: (404) 687-9155
E-mail: secretary@nbda.org
Web: www.nbda.org
The mission of National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) is to promote the educational, cultural, social and economic advancement of deaf and hard of hearing African Americans. NBDA is the oldest and largest consumer organization of Deaf and hard of hearing black Deaf people in the United States.

National Council on Disability
1331 F Street NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 272-2004 Fax: (202) 272-2022
TTY: (202) 272-2074
E-mail: mquigley@ncd.gov
Web: www.ncd.gov

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has produced reports on serving minorities with disabilities which are available online, including Meeting the Unique Needs of Minorities with Disabilities (www.ncd.gov/newsroom/
publications/minority.html) and Lift Every Voice: Modernizing Disability Policies and Programs to Serve a Diverse Nation (www.ncd.gov/newsroom/
publications/lift_report.html).

Office of Minority Health Resource Center
PO Box 37337
Washington, DC 20013-7337
Tel: (800) 444-6472 Fax: (301) 251-2160
E-mail: info@omhrc.gov
Web: www.omhrc.gov

Office of Minority Health Resource Center is a national resource and referral service on minority health issues, including disability issues.

World Blind Union's Committee on Blind Indigenous People
c/o South African National Council for the Blind
PO Box 11149
Hatfield
0028 Pretoria SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: (27-12) 452-3811 Fax: (27-12) 346 1177
E-mail: rowland@sancb.org.za
Contact: Dr. William Rowland
The World Blind Union's Committee on Blind Indigenous People promotes the improvement of conditions and access to resources for indigenous people who are blind or visually impaired.

EDUCATION AND MINORITIES:

Black Issues in Higher Education
10520 Warwick Avenue, Suite B-8
Fairfax, VA 22030-3136
Tel: (800) 783-3199 or (703) 385-2981 Fax: (703) 385-1839
E-mail: subscriptions@cmabiccw.com
Web: www.diverseeducation.com

Black Issues in Higher Education is a bi-weekly magazine focused on minority issues in higher education. The magazine includes articles on the diverse education community, including African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans, as well as Americans with disabilities and women.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
8415 Datapoint Drive, Suite 400
San Antonio, TX 78229
Tel: (210) 692-3805 Fax: (210) 692-0823
E-mail: hacu@hacu.net
Web: www.hacu.net

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 300 colleges and universities in the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain that are committed to supporting access to higher education by people who are Hispanic.

Hispanic Outlook
210 Route 4 East, Suite 310
Paramus, NJ 07652
Tel: (201) 587-8800 Fax: (201) 587-9105
E-mail: pub@hispanicoutlook.com
Web: www.hispanicoutlook.com

Hispanic Outlook journal focuses on issues related to higher education for people of Hispanic heritage. It includes regular features on international issues.

Office of Diversity, Equity and Global Initiatives
Association of American Colleges and Universities
1818 R Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: (202) 387-3760 Fax: (202) 265-9532
E-mail: musil@aacu.org
Web: www.aacu.org/
Contact: Caryn McTighe Musil, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Global Initiatives
The Association of American Colleges and Universities' Office of Diversity, Equity and Global Initiatives provides a variety of resources on diversity in higher education, and helped create Diversity Web (see Websites section below).

Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity (CAREE) 
American Council on Education
One Dupont Circle NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 939-9395 Fax: (202) 833-5696
E-mail: omhe@ace.nche.edu
Web: www.acenet.edu/programs/caree

The Office of Minorities in Higher Education (OMHE) supervises American Council on Education's Minority Initiative, which was launched in 1987 in response to declining rates of minority participation in higher education. OMHE organizes the annual Educating All of One Nation conference, produces annual reports on minorities in higher education and provides a number of other resources.

WEBSITES:

www.diversityweb.org
Diversity Web was developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and the University of Maryland, and provides resources related to diversity in higher education.

www.4women.gov/wwd
The National Women's Health Information Center has a range of information for women with disabilities on their website. 

www.proyectovision.net
Proyecto Visión is a bilingual website for Latinos with disabilities. The site is designed as a resource focusing on employment opportunities, but it also contains information on scholarships, education and links to other resources for Latinos with disabilities in the United States.

www.miusa.org/ncde/spoltlight/muslimdisability

The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange's Muslim World Initiative lists contacts for Muslim American groups in the United States.

NOTE: This information sheet primarily focuses on resources for U.S. ethnic or racial minorities with disabilities who are interested in international exchange, and the disability services staff and international exchange staff that work with them. NCDE recognizes that some people with disabilities who are participating in exchange programs to the United States may find that they are part of an ethnic or racial minority while in the United States. There are many U.S. organizations that provide support and advocacy for ethnic and racial minorities. Additionally, many universities and colleges have associations for international students from particular countries or regions, as well as for U.S. students from minority backgrounds. Exchange participants with disabilities in the United States are encouraged to seek out these resources in their host community, or to contact NCDE for personalized resources.

_{Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.}