Personal Assistants

A Birthright Realized in Israel

Johana Schwartz, who travels with a wheelchair, realized her dream of visiting Israel when she applied for a program for Jewish youth with disabilities.

A Student Paves Her Path Through Perth

For Lauren Presutti, a sociology major at Central Michigan University (CMU), the personal discovery that came from studying abroad in Australia this summer was well worth the many months of planning, questioning and hard work.

An Enduring Connection: A Fulbright Experience in Japan

Kenny Fries, a creative writing professor at Goddard College in Vermont, USA, who has a physical disability, conducted research in Japan as a Fulbright Scholar.

Boren Scholar Will Study Language, Disability in China

Chinese-American student Ming Canaday, who previously studied in China through CIEE, will continue language studies at a Chinese University as a Boren Scholar. Read an article about her goals for the trip and her career improving the lives of people with disabilities on the University of Oregon website.

Featured Person: Fredericka Banks

Meet Fredericka, an active volunteer whose "travel bug" led her to teach in an orphanage in Thailand. Fredericka has a vision impairment and uses a cane.

Featured Person: Ming Canaday

Ming Canaday, a Chinese-American university student, observed very few people with apparent disabilities besides herself while studying in China. "This is not because China does not have disabled people," she writes. "Rather, it is a sign of how inaccessible China is for them." Read more about Ming's experiences in Shanghai, scaling the Great Wall, and working with others to find accessible solutions.

Featured Person: Reveca

Meet Reveca Torres, a fashion designer who has traveled to Costa Rica, France, England, and Mexico.

Immersion and Conversation in Costa Rica

Learn how Adriana, a student who is blind and uses a service dog, integrated herself into the rural and urban communities of Costa Rica while studying Spanish. Her vivid description of the textures and sounds experienced in the middle of a tropical rainforest are not to be missed!

Irish Studies at Trinity College, Dublin

Johana Schwartz, who has cerebral palsy, studied Irish literature and language at the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

Lessons from the Heart of Russia

Shanda Grubb distributed mobility equipment to people in Russia through the Wheels for the World organization.

My True Success Story

Armine Ghazaryan, a student from Armenia, who has a visual impairment, studied at a university in Michigan, USA, as a Global Undergraduate Exchange Program participant.

Observing Inclusive Education in Italy

A special education course led Robin to Italy, whose education and health care systems reflect the cultural attitudes towards integrating people with disabilities.

Researching Spain’s Vibrant Past and Present

Radwan Daoud, a student at New York University who uses a wheelchair, earned a study grant to research one of Spain's historical figures in Madrid. While there, he learned about municipal efforts to make the city and its cultural treasures more accessible to people with disabilities.

Speaking Up: Critical Language Study in Russia

Joseph Ford, a graduate student from Illinois, USA, who has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user, studied Russian at a university in Russia under the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program.

The Pearl of Africa: Sharing Expertise and Learning from Others in Uganda

Dr. Salam, who is blind, quietly challenged many preconceptions about disability during his time in Uganda, as a volunteer specialist.