I grew up in a Deaf family. I attended mainstreamed schools in Chicago, and it was there that I developed an interest in becoming an exchange student.

I know a Deaf student who went to Thailand for one year. He lived with a hearing family and attended a Deaf school nearby. His experience fueled my desire to study abroad and also helped me to know better what to expect.

I was accepted into AFS's Germany program. AFS provided an ASL interpreter for our pre-departure orientation. They also placed me with Deaf parents and hearing brothers. My homestay family was great. I studied at a school for Deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired students.

My trip to Germany is one of the best memories I have. I learned about so many different things there: the German way of life, a new language and Deaf rights in Germany. I learned what life is like for Deaf Germans through my Deaf friends and through organizations for Deaf people. I even participated in a Deaf demonstration!

In Germany I learned to communicate effectively with people. I started out using gestures and left knowing four languages, including German Sign. The people there gave me a different perspective and taught me a few lessons in life. For me, one of the most important lesions was to appreciate America and its laws. Also, in Germany I learned to appreciate who I am and my background to a much greater degree than I did when I arrived there.

For most of us, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thanks to recent efforts, it is much easier for students with disabilities to participate in programs. Even if this article may not apply to you, think about the youngsters in your life: family, friends, students, and your children or grandchildren.

“That’s too far away!!!”

This is the first thought that enters most people’s minds when they think of living abroad. I admit, I had the same thoughts, and I didn’t let it stop me. The programs offer a lot of support to students living abroad. There is usually some sort of an orientation to familiarize students with their destination country before departure. There are also usually frequent activities where students living in the same region can meet.

“Where would I apply?”

Many high schools and colleges offer programs that are open to students. Contact your foreign language department to see if there is a program you can join. There are usually chapters of organizations that organize study abroad programs in cities or ask your school career or guidance counselor. The costs vary with the programs and colleges, but there are usually scholarships available.

“Are they all one year programs?”

No, some have summer-only programs, and others have six-month programs. There are shorter trips too, such as three-week programs.

“Do I have to learn a foreign language?”

It depends on where you are planning to go. I planned to go to Germany more than a year before I left. That gave me enough time to take introductory German courses. Full immersion usually helps students pick up the language faster than if the student were taking a course. Keep in mind English is used in many places of the world. You can opt to go to English-speaking countries.

“Who will my host family be?”

Study abroad programs carefully match students to families. Special requests can sometimes be accommodated, such as wheelchair accessible housing, deaf parents, or special interests. If families are incompatible, usually programs have a way to solve those problems.