Gaining Experience at Home

The following suggestions are not only fun for youth to do, but they can be valuable for building skills towards an international career at any age. As you'll see, there are plenty of ways to learn about the world without leaving your own community. However, planning for an educational or other type of exchange program abroad will give people with disabilities the key qualifications needed in the international field. Youth can work with their parents, counselors and/or teachers to write these as goals (such as in an IEP, 504, transition or vocational rehabilitation plans) as one way to keep on target. Others can use the checklist below to build their global interests and experiences and then move on to the next step of finding an overseas program.

Fellowship Opportunity / Reasons to Study Abroad

INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

• Hosted an international student or visitor in our home
• Attended international festivals in my town
• Volunteered to teach my native language to children of immigrants or international visitors who are just learning the language
• Participated in summer camps or sports competitions that bring together people from all around the world
• Joined an online international network or pen pal program to write back and forth with those in other countries

EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL PROGRAMS

• Attended an informational session or fair on study or intern abroad programs
• Browsed websites to learn about volunteer abroad opportunities or international conferences overseas
• Asked my teachers, coaches, music instructors and others about educational trips overseas
• Read the Mobility International USA online stories by students with disabilities who went abroad
• Discussed with my family my interest in going on a short-term or year long educational or volunteer program to another country

PRACTICING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

• Participated in foreign language courses in school or the community 
• Listened to tapes, watched TV or read books online in other languages
• Attended summer camps that teach foreign languages or joined a foreign language club
• Applied for fellowships to learn a foreign language in another country

LEARNING INTERNATIONAL TOPICS

• Joined a Model United Nations program in my community
• Read international web pages focusing on global topics
• Explored international degree programs at colleges and universities
• Requested a mentoring or job shadowing experience with someone who works in an international organization

• Applied for an internship with the U.S. Department of State or other international office (Learn about internship opportunities and read stories from past interns.)

For contact information and resources to get you started, read the free Preparing for an International Career: Pathways for People with Disabilities online booklet (or request it in print or other formats from clearinghouse@miusa.org or 541-343-1284 v/tty).