Name: Jen Fitz-Roy

Age: Recent College Graduate

Assistive devices: Manual Wheelchair

Exchange Organizations: Mobility International USA

Program Countries: England, Norway, Germany, etc.

Program length: multiple exchanges with varying lengths. Two weeks to three months.

Program types: Leadership and study abroad

Like many students Fitz-Roy wanted to go abroad to experience the world; but fear held her back. "I was afraid of the unknown mostly."

She had heard rumors that Europe wasn't as accessible or as welcoming of an environment as the United States for people with disabilities, like herself, a wheelchair user.

"I was very much in my comfort zone at home where I was in control and independent. I was scared of going abroad because it would put me in a situation where I didn't know my immediate environment, and things wouldn't be quite as accessible and I’d need to ask people for help."

Through her association with the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) she heard about a three-week exchange program to England through Mobility International USA. The program was to participate in a cross cultural leadership development exchange program and offering scholarships for participants of low-income and/or minority backgrounds. She applied for the program and the scholarship funds and was accepted. The trip to England took her far out of her comfort zone and broke down some of her own preconceived notions about what is possible.

"I was able to do the things I wanted to with a little bit of creativity and help from others. It made me realize that I was more capable and flexible than I had originally thought. My experience in England made me much more confident in the things I was able to do. During the trip I saw how much I had to offer to other people, as well as how strong, and outgoing I really was."

Energized and confident after her experience in England, Fitz-Roy looked for other opportunities to go abroad that related to her studies in human development and a future career in social work. She was awarded several scholarships to attend the World Congress of Rehabilitation International, the 2004 International Children's Congress on Inclusion, and a series of youth workshops for a month in Norway. Within just a couple of years, Fitz-Roy had become a world traveler with a distinct purpose and a broadening horizon.

Fitz-Roy, reflecting on the expenses related to going abroad says, “"'ve been abroad three times, and I haven't paid anything from my own pocket. I've won scholarships and taken advantage of opportunities that came up."

To research ways you can fund your trip abroad, check out Financial Aid and Funding.

She encourages other students dreaming of adding an international experience to their education to be creative in how and where they look for funding. "Apply for scholarship money, get people to sponsor you, fundraise, and get involved in your community. Opportunities come to you as long as you stay connected, keep your options open, and be creative."

The NCDE Peer to Peer network consist of more than 300 members with experiences to share about traveling the world to study, work, volunteer, teach, learn, and live. If you are thinking about or actively planning your international exchange experience, request a peer and talk about your plans today!

 Peers are matched using some or all of the following as criteria:

• Country of destination
•  Disability type
• Program type
• Gender