I decided to study abroad while doing my college search in high school, and met with the study abroad coordinator in the second semester of my freshman year.

My disability advisor teases that I had my eye set on taking a study abroad leave before I even had both feet in the door at my home college. But she and I both knew, even as humorous and true as my eagerness was, this was the best way. You have to approach your study abroad experience in the same fashion you are approaching your college search. After all, the college at which you study for a semester or year overseas becomes your college during that time. So, you will have to make sure that all of the accommodations and/or assistance that you receive at home will be in place abroad.

I spent Spring semester of my junior year in the United Kingdom, living, playing, traveling, immersing myself in the culture -- and of course studying  -- at Queen Mary College University of London. During those absolutely amazing five months, I learned many invaluable lessons academically, culturally, personally, socially, and also with respect to disability-- specifically blindness-- and studying abroad.

One of the most helpful things for me when planning was that I visited England twice before I studied there. This may not seem feasible and in some cases it may not be, but it absolutely can be for many. So, don’t rule it out! I first experienced Scotland and England in high school during a group trip with my high school’s professional exploration program called the Law Academy. The contact with another culture and getting to see all the things I studied about in high school like Big Ben. Seeing all those things right there in front of me, I can’t put to words the value of it. It just makes it very real; it makes the world small but makes it seem that everything is within reach.

The trip was very scheduled. That’s what my parents were comfortable with. We got the itinerary – we’re going to lunch here, etc. – so if anything looked "iffy" to me I could say, "I’m not so sure about this." In that way, I could plan for most things. Looking back on it it was good for my first time going over and it was good because we stuck to the schedule. 

I came back much more confident. I knew that I wanted to travel and go places, so it forced me to be more independent and to think seriously about using my cane and learning how to navigate airports and transportation.

Then, during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I participated on a cross-cultural exchange to England with an organization that seeks to promote involvement of people with disabilities in international exchange called Mobility International USA (MIUSA). On the exchange, I stayed with an English family to experience day to day life, in addition to meeting with various local boards, organizations, and programs regarding disability issues.

Not only did I have a wonderful time, I acquired a great deal of informational resources and contacts that enabled me to better plan for my later study there. In some ways I am lucky, because my summer exchange took me to the country in which I wanted to study. However, having personally traveled in other European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, after my study in London, I can say that the experience with MIUSA did give me a lot of first hand exposure to international travel and exchange with a disability that I think is generally applicable and transferable to a wide range of locales.

I found that participating in short international exchanges or travel breaks is a good way to “test the waters” and develop confidence before going on a longer-term program. There are a number of organizations and institutions that offer short-term study or volunteer opportunities abroad and they are quite easy to find through some basic internet research. Also, MIUSA manages a project called the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange. Through its free information and referral services, you can learn about short-term and long-term international exchange programs of all types. You can also check with your study abroad office for summer or spring break opportunities.

Overall, studying abroad makes for an incredible experience for anyone as I'm sure you've already heard time and time again. In an increasingly global society, studying abroad gives you a new and different perspective on culture and nationality that can make you extremely marketable, career-wise. While, the exposure to a different higher educational system stretches you academically and forces you to think outside the American intellectual box, the experience also broadens your horizons personally. I learned so much and made so many close friends in England that it feels almost like a second home to me. I definitely plan to return many times within the coming years. And after law school, I would like to work for a firm or company with a satellite office in England, which would give me the chance to live there on a longer-term basis.