As I sat in the Newark airport waiting to board the flight for São Paulo, Brazil, my entire extended family was also there, waiting to bid their farewells. It was almost comical how long it took me to hug and kiss everyone goodbye – my Colombian family is rather large! I think it was especially hard for my mother; she worries about me a lot. I probably would too, if I had a daughter who used a wheelchair. However, it was my parents who taught me to always challenge myself and to never let anything, including my physical disability, stop me from doing what I wanted in life.

I went to the University of São Paulo (USP) with other American students on a Council on International Educational Exchange (Council) program. Before I left for Brazil, the Council staff was very helpful in answering my questions and assuring me that I would be fine. I believe it’s necessary to keep an open mind when living in another culture and country. Always be ready for challenges!

International Students with Disabilities

My favorite thing about Brazil was the woman I lived with, Ana Rita de Paula. She also uses a wheelchair, so it was very easy to get around her house. More important, my host mother and I became very good friends. She was instrumental in helping me adapt to life in Brazil. I admire and respect her so much. She’s a beautiful person with a strong and powerful spirit that motivated me many times.

De Paula has a progressive disease, allowing her limited movement, and she uses an electric wheelchair. She has been at USP for the past 17 years, where she has completed her undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology. She currently serves as a psychology professor and has a very positive attitude about her experience at USP. She mentioned that as a student she really liked how all her professors gave her attention and treated her as an equal to the other students. She also said that the librarians have been very helpful and assisted her when needed.

Difficult issues did arise when she first started studying at USP. Initially, other students did not accept her, but after they got to know her this changed and she now has many friends, both students and professors. Also, when she started at USP she was not able to participate in some elective courses in the education department because that building was not wheelchair accessible; years later, some renovations were made to accommodate wheelchairs. De Paula says any disabled student who is considering study at USP will need to "be ready to confront difficult situations and have an adventurous spirit." She also recommends that people with limited mobility either bring an attendant or hire one in Brazil (which is inexpensive).

Disabled Student Staff

Unfortunately, this department does not yet exist at USP. Students in need of learning, psychiatric, physical, visual or hearing services are usually left on their own to arrange accommodations. Some people volunteer to read books on tape for blind classmates. These tapes are kept in the COSEAS (Coordenadoria de Social Assistência) office in the Antiga Reitoria Building. Otherwise, there is no basic infrastructure for services or support for disabled students. However, this doesn’t mean that a student with a disability can’t get along at USP. People are friendly and very willing to help if asked. With some effort and a lot of patience, students can usually get the help needed.

Exchange Program Staff

Presently, any American student planning to study for a year and receive credit at USP will have to go through Council, based in Maine. The Council office in São Paulo is located on USP’s campus and is run by Ana Luiza de Coimbra. It is also possible for foreign students to study independently at USP through its International Cooperation Commission, and the University of Illinois has a summer program there as well.

Council provides students with orientation and handbooks prior to arrival. In my experience, the staff is very helpful with registration, housing, passport issues, etc. According to de Coimbra, Council will help students with everything they need and try to resolve any problems students may have. Although there is no set policy to receive students with disabilities, every effort will be made to do so. De Coimbra stresses that anyone considering this program needs to "contact us, explain their situation so we can evaluate each individual case and see if it is possible." She adds, "It is important to say exactly what you will need here … we don’t want anyone to be unhappy."

Campus Accessibility

USP’s main campus is located in the Cidade Universitária neighborhood of the West Zone of São Paulo, and the law and medical schools of USP are located closer to the city center. Each college has its own building, or group of buildings, where the departments of that college hold classes. The colleges tend to be far from each other on campus. Students take the free circular bus from one place to another, but none of these buses have wheelchair lifts. Some city buses have lifts, and since these are free to wheelchair users, students could take the bus when it passes through USP (it could be a long wait, though). Otherwise it is necessary to take a taxicab, which is very easy because every building has an attendant who will call for a taxicab. Students also may utilize transportation for people with disabilities (see Community Resources below), but this can get expensive.

There are many curb cuts on the sidewalks, but not always in the most convenient places. Sometimes curb cuts are on one side of the street and not the other, or even none at all, depending on the location. Some colleges are better adapted than others, and depending on their financial situation, some have made renovations that concord with ADA-type standards. There are no books in Braille at USP, nor Braille signage.

Housing

There is on-campus housing for disabled students and the apartments are actually very well adapted. Unfortunately, these are not available for international students as there is a long waiting list for regular USP students. Council will place a disabled student in a homestay with the proper accommodations.

Community Resources and Accessibility

There are various groups in São Paulo that work for the advancement of people with disabilities. Equipment and wheelchair repair options are limited, as most items are imported. There are no specific repair places, but there are many bicycle stores that can serve the same purpose. Council can help a student find counseling and health care services. The transportation I used is wonderful. It’s called HELP and in São Paulo the number is 813-7550 or 9909-2501. The driver has a van and a smaller car to drive clients anywhere and both are adapted for wheelchairs. I found his prices reasonable.

As far as the greater São Paulo community goes, be ready for some disappointment. Stairs, uneven sidewalks, no elevators, unequipped bathrooms, and narrow doors and aisles are common, but students would be surprised by some of the improvements that have been made. Newer buildings are better adapted than the older ones and many of the major shopping malls, cinemas, museums, bars and restaurants are well adapted. The Avenida Paulista, a major gathering center, is also very wheelchair accessible.

Conclusions

I really had a hard time at USP at first, but I knew beforehand that it was going to be like that. I want people who are thinking of going to know how things are so they can make the right decision for themselves. Honestly, for some people it will be very difficult because São Paulo is not yet prepared for everyone. As far as cultural attitudes and perspectives are concerned, it is a very open atmosphere. Brazilians in general are willing to help – sometimes too much – and everyone in my program was very helpful. I came across many challenges, but I was able to do a lot because I am able to walk with assistance. I feel I participated to the fullest, but I did have to sit out one or two activities. I hate to be left out, but sometimes it was just impossible and I had to accept that. Please be ready, but know that it can be done.

Through this experience I learned that I am tougher than I thought and that if I try hard enough, I can do anything I put my mind to. My Portuguese has also improved tremendously, and I hope to use my tri-lingual skills at home. I also hope that by sharing my experience, I can encourage others to pursue study abroad as well, and see what Brazil has to offer.

Contacts

Council on International Educational Exchange-USA Office
300 Fore Street, 2nd Floor
Portland, ME 04101
Tel: (207) 553-7600 or (800) 407-8839
Fax: (207) 553-7699 
Email: info@ciee.org; LatinAmerica@ciee.org
Web: www.ciee.org

Council on International Educational Exchange-Brazil Office
Universidade de São Paulo
Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, Travessa J, 374
Prédio da Antiga Reitoria, 2o andar, sala 206
Cidade Universitária

São Paulo-SP-BRAZIL
CEP: 05508-900
Tel: (55-11) 867-0790
Fax: (55-11) 867-0790
Email: cieeispb@org.usp.br
Contact: Ana Luiza de Coimbra

Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
General information: contact Ilza,
Tel: (55-11) 818-3529
Web: www.usp.br