Diversity & Disability

Information on outreach to and increased inclusion of people with disabilities from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, age groups, geographic location, and other underrepresented groups in international exchange programs.

Featured People

Become acquainted with people with disabilities who have gone abroad and learn how the international experiences have changed their lives.

Encouraging and Recruiting People with Disabilities of Racial and Ethnic Minority Backgrounds to Go Abroad

Resource lists of international exchange organizations' diversity projects and U.S. disability and higher education organizations focused on those from ethnic or racial minority backgrounds.

A Recruitment Guide to Outreach to People with Disabilities to Increase Diversity in Your International Exchange Programs

Adapted from ‘Building Bridges: A Manual on Including People with Disabilities in International Exchange Programs’ © 2006 Mobility International USA and the National Clearinghouse on Disability & Exchange

Improving Opportunities for Low-Income Students

Strategies showing how to find resources, choose programs and budget for going abroad regardless of financial need.

Study Abroad Funding Database with Diversity Links

New diversity criteria added to StudyAbroadFunding.org to help increase participation in study abroad by underrepresented groups

DeWitt-Wallace Youth Travel Enrichment Fund

Established by the founder of Reader's Digest Association, this fund is given to U.S. exchange organizations to assist in sponsoring young adults from diverse backgrounds to have an opportunity to go overseas.

International Public Policy Fellowship Program

The following is a great opportunity for young people to get started on an international career! Students with disabilities from minority backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applications are due each March!

News & Links

Global Information Access Net (GIANT)

This University of Pittsburgh online resource provides information on minority groups in international education and a database of international affairs organizations.

Project for Learning Abroad, Training and Outreach

The PLATO project provides study abroad offices, students and parents with diversity resources for outreach and support of minority students. Online pre-departure, mid-journey, and re-entry courses can be found at: http://www.globalscholar.us.

Building Global Skills

This issue of the Black Collegian online journal addresses how international internships and study increases in popularity as employers seek workers with foreign experience.

Programs Promoting Diversity in Study Abroad

This article from Inside Higher Education, June 2007, highlights study abroad programs sending high school and college students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds overseas on scholarships. It also includes national websites and projects related to increasing study abroad diversity.

Books linking Disability to Human and Civil Rights

A bibliography listing books and videos that focus on the social/civil rights model of disability.

Current Trends in Study Abroad & the Impact of Strategic Diversity Initiatives

A white paper published by Institute of International Education showing how resource allocation can influence the diversity of participants, geographic destinations, field of study and length of study. In addition, the paper also highlights institutions that have created specific program models that better facilitate a more diverse group of students participating in study abroad.

Disability Statistics

Links to national statistics that can be searched and cross-referenced by type of disability, race/ethnicity, gender, age, income level, and other diversity issues.

Bibliography of Research on Underrepresented Study Abroad Students

Compiled by David Comp of the University of Chicago, it includes links or references to many research studies and data collection surveys published on underrepresented students in study abroad (e.g. disabled, ethnic/racial minority, community college, sexual orientation, gender, non-traditional age, business/engineering/science/medical majors, etc.)

Who's Not Going Abroad?

An article published in the International Educator by Alan Dessoff looking at which groups are not participating in study abroad.

Apply Now for MIUSA's Program to Costa Rica this Summer

2010 US/Costa Rica: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Disability Rights Leadership Exchange Program -- Application Deadline: March 21, 2010

America.gov publishes article on inclusive Arabic classroom

In the summer of 2008, one STARTALK institute at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge brought together students with and without disabilities to learn Arabic and to explore Arabic culture through multimedia presentations, field trips and lectures guided by scholars from the United States and abroad.